ECC faculty warns of possible strike

Several Elgin Community College instructors were outside college buildings Monday morning to tell students they have been without a contract since Jan. 1, 2011.

The faculty union held an informational picket throughout the day to express its dissatisfaction with the progress of contract talks, which began in early October.

“Ultimately, this kind of thing can lead to a strike and a disruption of the semester,” union spokesman Gary Christenson said.

The union membership voted last week to authorize a strike, but the leadership has not filed a strike notice as required by law.

Only a few faculty members were handing out fliers Monday morning that warned of a possible strike if negotiations did not improve, in their eyes.

“If representatives for ECC’s Board of Trustees continue to stall, faculty may be forced to strike,” the flier reads. “We will do everything possible to avoid a job action, but, sadly, sometimes we have no alternative if we are to maintain a fair and equitable bargained agreement.”

Board members dispute that they have delayed negotiations and say they are proceeding much as they have in the past. The sides are scheduled to meet Feb. 2 and 15; a union spokesman said last week that the outcome of those sessions will determine whether the union calls a strike.

“Our intention was (informational picketing) would continue until we saw improvement at the table,” Christenson said.

The faculty is seeking increases in salaries, summer school pay, overload pay and professional development. They have declined to provide specifics.