Update: SEIU Service and Maintenance Negotiation Session 7

September 11, 2020

The University and SEIU met for a full day of bargaining. The session ended approximately at 9:00 p.m. This is the fourth session with Federal mediator Stephen George. UIC began the session by presenting its first non‐economic counterproposals on Article 3 (Negotiations and Exclusive Recognition), 5 (Benefits), 7 (Working Rules and Conditions), 8 (Discipline), 9 (Grievance Procedure), 16 (Dues Deduction), 17 (No Strike or Lockout). After numerous exchanges, the non-economics were agreed to and supposedly closed; although no TAs were signed. The parties then exchanged 5-year term economic proposals and used much of the remaining session to discuss the bases for their proposals and make further exchanges. SEIU currently sits at 4.25% wage increase across the board over a 5 year term, plus step increases at 3% increments. UIC’s last proposal sits at CWP (2%), CWP (currently 0%), 1% or CWP, 1% or CWP, 1% or CWP and if CWP is less than 1% then a wage reopener. SEIU also seeks newly created annual “step” increases as well as the expansion of existing and creation of new pay differentials and premiums. After initial economic discussions, SEIU raised a non-economic issue that it wanted to revisit, then made a totally new non-economic proposal for the University’s consideration. The parties agreed on the former but have not finalized agreement on the latter.