ISU faculty union files unfair labor practice complaint amid AFSCME strike

https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2026-04-16/isu-faculty-union-files-unfair-labor-practice-complaint-amid-afscme-strike

WGLT | By Braden Fogerson
Published April 16, 2026 at 3:59 PM CDT
Updated April 16, 2026 at 5:08 PM CDT

Illinois State University's faculty union said Thursday it's filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the university and its Board of Trustees after its members were allegedly asked to do the work of striking workers from another union.

When the strike began, United Faculty of Illinois State University [UFISU] was reminded their contracts do not permit any members to join in a labor stoppage. Keith Pluymers, associate professor and UFISU's vice president, said the union has complied with that request.

“And we also made it very clear to them that we absolutely would not, under any circumstances, be performing AFSCME bargaining unit work,” said Pluymers. “We do not have to do their work, and we absolutely will not serve as strike breakers.”

But UFISU bargaining unit members in the Department of Chemistry allege they were directed to conduct lab cleaning work, which is normally the job of AFSCME workers.

FULL story at link above. (I'm a retired AFSCME member)