UIC full-time faculty reach tentative contract deal with school, averting strike

The union representing full-time faculty at the University of Illinois at Chicago reached a tentative contract agreement Monday with university administration, preventing the second major strike to hit the campus during April.

Talks resumed between UIC United Faculty and school officials Monday afternoon, a university spokeswoman said. The union was preparing to strike the next day if negotiations failed.

UIC United Faculty represents 1,200 full-time tenured and non-tenured employees at the Near West Side campus. Around 93% of the union voted to authorize a strike in early April after nearly a year of unsuccessful contract negotiations with administration. The faculty's last contract expired in August.

The two sides compromised on several issues since negotiations started but struggled to find common ground regarding annual merit raises.

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