Northern Illinois University
NIU IS DEAD LAST..(and wants to keep it that way!)
We want a fair and full pay for NIU Food and Building Service Workers. We are AFSCME LOCAL 963!
AFSCME Local 963 representing the food and building service workers at NIU is currently in contract negotiations with the univeristy. Workers are seeking a fair contract and a fair wage package from NIU which includes reducing the number of years it takes a food and building service worker to reach top pay. Currently, it takes a full six years to reach full pay, even though workers of both bargaining units are performing the full duties of thier jobs almost from the time they are hired.
So, what we did was hold a rally at the Holmes Student Center "MILK" commons area on August 15, 2003, to not only protest this unfair and unequalness in top pay rates but, also to protest managements behavior at recent negotaitions held on August 8, 2003. We kicked off at 1:15 and we had a fair turn out with most of our membership showing up ater 3pm. Altogether we got a lot of signitures from both members of the student body, fellow staff and facualty members here at NIU, and also from Illinois tax paying residents of our great state.
At todays E. Board meeting it was discussed how we can garner even more support, and we did come up with some more good ideas. One of the things decided was to hold another MATT TEAM committee meeting to be held on Wednesday September 3rd. All MATT TEAM members will be getting calls from the captains soon.
All members should understand that management, supervisors, and foremen will do anything they can to BUST UP the union and will go so far as to say completely outlandish things. They will even try to manipulate, cheat, and out lie to you. If you have any questions or you hear something that your supervisor or foreman has said to you that doesn't really make sence or sound not right, then call your steward, capter chair, or either the Vice President or President. To pass of what they say to be "truths" would really be doing not only yourself wrong but, also doing wrong to your fellow union brothers and sisters. And that's exactly what they want you to do. So lets BUST management back with the facts!
The facts are if yu don't have it in writing or it's not presented to you by a steward or an elected executive board member. Then disregard what they have to tell you.
Peg Karmeen
Pete Suffield
John Ernest
Priscila Kaprun
Brenda Smith
Brian Young
Plumbers Hall located on 11th street in Dekalb, Illinois. The meeting times have changed in regards to the new summer work hour schedule. We will now be meeting at 4:30 instead of 3:30. We will resume our regular schedule of meeting times in September.
Next Negotiation meeting is Sept. 10 and 16@ 1:00 in H.R.
Aug. 26 E.Board meeting, Sept.2 labor mgmt meeting @ 1:30, and membership meeting @3:30 Plumbers hall,Sept.30 E.Board @ 1:30, Oct.7 Labor mgmt meeting @ 1:30 and Membership meeting @ 3:3