Illinois community college braces for potential strike

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) - Heartland Community College in Normal is bracing for a potential faculty strike but the school's president intends to hold classes whether it happens or not.

According to The Pantagraph in Bloomington (http://bit.ly/1ltxyWl ), the Heartland Faculty Association has filed a notice with the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board that it intends to strike.

But both administrators and faculty say they will continue to negotiate and will next meet on Friday with a federal mediator.

The faculty association has said it wants 4.75 percent pay raises but says the school has offered 1 percent increases.

Faculty members also complain that the school's 66 administrators are too many for a school with about 90 full-time instructors.

Heartland President Rob Widmer says he intends to hold classes even if there is a strike.

___

Information from: The Pantagraph, http://www.pantagraph.com