The Support Staff chapter of UPI Local 4100, which represents culinary, clerical and custodial workers at UIS, entered its 11^th month of negotiations with the administration this April. Both the Support Staff union and United Faculty voted to authorize strikes on March 19, but the staff union has not initiated a work stoppage at this time. The last bargaining meeting between support staff and the administration was April 7, and a date has not been set for the next session.

“We started bargaining in the first week of June 2025 and still have been given nothing from administration to work with that isn’t a complete and gross insult to all of us,” said Thomas Gebhardt, president of the UIS support staff union and building service worker foreman.

A few of the staff union’s bargaining items echo those of United Faculty, specifically their demand for higher pay. The University’s current offer includes a 1% wage increase, which amounts to an extra 16¢-18¢ per month.

Union members say this proposed increase does not address the rising cost-of-living and that current pay is not enough for workers to support themselves or their families.

“We don’t make enough money to actually earn a living. A lot of us have to work two jobs or live with family just to make ends meet. And that just doesn’t seem right,” said Allan Bettis, a building service worker and member of the staff union.

The University’s collective bargaining page for the staff union points to the institution’s $19 million deficit as one of the primary reasons for its financial limitations.

 “To sustain our mission, we must bring revenues and expenses back into balance and focus on long-term financial stability,” said a statement on the bargaining website.

The staff union’s other demands include having paid time off for days when the campus is closed during severe winter weather. Under the union’s previous contract, staff are required to use a vacation day or a sick day to remain at home, even when campus is closed due to blizzard conditions.

According to Gebhardt, the administration has rejected all bargaining items proposed by the union.

“The university has absolutely not been receptive or understanding to anything we have asked, all we get is a complete “no” across the board,” said Gebhardt.

The University maintains that it is open to ongoing negotiations and is ready to bargain in good faith.

“We remain willing and able to stay at the table as long as necessary to reach an agreement,” said a statement from the UIS collective bargaining page.

Gebhardt calls on students who wish to support the staff union to reach out to the UIS administration. He also encourages anyone sympathetic to their cause to contact the Illinois Times and other media to spread the word about the union’s current situation.

Gebhardt said that the support staff at UIS continues to work hard and take pride in their jobs, even though the union considers themselves understaffed and underpaid.

“We are doing our jobs to the best of our abilities, with so few of us on campus, we do way more with a small staff than should be expected. We believe in students and we want to encourage them and keep them safe and healthy while they are at UIS. Unlike the chancellor and many higher ups, we care and we always will,” said Gebhardt.

Some members of the UIS Support Staff Union have made appearances on the United Faculty picket lines, giving speeches and marching, to show solidarity with striking faculty. The UIS Support Staff Union is not on strike and is currently working to schedule their next bargaining meeting with UIS administration.