UIS tenure/tenure‑track faculty and administrators negotiated for three hours on Saturday in an attempt to end a professors’ strike that began Friday, but no deal was reached, and the sides aren’t planning to meet again until Monday, UIS officials said.

A statement on the University’s bargaining website indicated both sides on Saturday did reach one tentative agreement on an unspecified issue, while the faculty union rejected another University proposal.

Saturday’s session came a day after members of the UIS United Faculty union kicked off a work stoppage to protest stalled contract talks and demand higher wages and improved working conditions.

During Friday’s opening day of the strike, faculty members, students and other supporters marched outside several campus buildings, holding signs that read “On Strike for a Fair Contract” and “Students and Teachers First,” while chanting and engaging passersby.

“The reason the strike is happening is because (UIS administrators) have not negotiated a fair contract,” Dathan Powell, the union president and an art, music and theater professor, said Friday. “… They have money for their priorities, though. If the chancellor wants to hire another highly paid administrator, she can do that. If they want to invest in all of their pet projects, she can do that. We want them to invest in our students and our faculty.”

Groups of striking faculty and supporters gathered near prominent campus walkways, creating a visible presence that stretched across the grounds. One group marched in an extensive line past the Student Union, holding green and white signs and wearing apparel identifying them as union members. Others gathered near the colonnade, where an inflatable figure wearing an “On Strike” sash stood as a symbolic focal point of the demonstration.

Several signs carried during the demonstration underscored the union’s message that the issues at the bargaining table directly impact the quality of education and the university’s ability to retain experienced instructors.

Other signs included detailed information about union demands and grievances related to faculty pay. According to the union, the university offered a 1 percent pay increase while administrators received cost-of-living raises. These issues come at the same time that Jill Wilberg, UIS vice chancellor for finance and administration, announced the university will end the current fiscal year with a $19 million deficit.

“From the University’s perspective, a strike does not change the fiscal constraints that limit what the University can ultimately provide in a new contract,” says a statement on the University’s bargaining website.

The atmosphere of the strike was orderly yet resolute. Faculty members of various departments walked together, some carrying coffee mugs and wearing jackets against the cool morning air, while others helped distribute signs and supplies from small carts set up along the route. Support staff and allies were also present, wearing bright safety vests and assisting with coordination as marchers moved across campus.

Classes and normal campus operations were visibly disrupted, with picket lines forming near common entrances and gathering spaces. While university buildings remained standing quietly behind the moving lines of demonstrators, the presence of the strike was difficult to ignore, signaling a significant moment in the university’s labor relations.

Faculty members stated their goal is not only to secure a contract they believe is fair, but also to draw public attention to broader issues in higher education, including rising workloads, compensation that has not kept pace with inflation, and challenges to maintaining academic quality. By striking, they hope to pressure university administration to return to negotiations with renewed urgency.

University officials said they will update the campus community by 10 p.m. Sunday on the status of negotiations and plans for classes on Monday. Earlier the week, the University offered this advice to students if a strike is still active.

• Students should keep attending all scheduled classes unless notified by the professor that it is canceled. The strike only affects tenure/tenure-track professors, not instructors or adjuncts. In addition, some tenure/tenure-track professors may choose to participate in the work stoppage.
• Students whose classes are canceled should follow and complete assignments as detailed in their course syllabi.
• Students in classes that have required hours to complete as part of an internship or clinical experience, should  continue to report to that experience.
• Graduate assistants supervised by striking faculty should continue their work and reach out to their respective dean’s office for guidance with supervisory questions.
• Students with questions or concerns about canceled course or other changes brought on by the strike should contact the Dean of Students’ Office.