Staff rejects contract |
Anthony Watt |
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The Professional Staff Association has rejected SIUE's final offer at the bargaining table. The PSA, one of two bargaining units organized by the Illinois Education Association and representing some 400 workers on campus, rejected SIUE's terms last week. "We are declaring an impasse," Mike Cook, UniServ director for Region 45 of the IEA said. "The university gave us what they considered their best, final and last offer. Our members overwhelmingly rejected it." Kenneth Neher, SIUE's vice chancellor for administration, could not be reached for comment Monday. Cook said employees have been without a contract since July when the previous agreement expired. Both sides had been working toward a contract to last until June 2002. According to Cook, the PSA's bargaining council will meet Wednesday to discuss options. "We could try to go back to the bargaining table to get this thing resolved," he said. "We have told the university what it would take to resolve this issue." PSA President LaDonna Holshouser said there are a number of subjects holding up the negotiations. According to a PSA statement, items still open include a reduction in sick leave benefits for new employees, a reduction in vacation benefits for 12-month Head Start teachers and teachers' aides and proposals on salaries. The PSA statement charged that university officials said unless the unit accepted the latest offer last week, Head Start employees would get only a 2.75 percent cost-of-living increase, even though money had been set aside for a 5-percent hike. The statement also said the university offer included a proposal to release SIUE from its obligation to reimburse members of the IEA bargaining units for increased parking fees. Union members have said higher parking fees are negotiable as a condition of employment. In December, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in favor of the IEA after a two-year court case.
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