U of Illinois union for non-tenured faculty considers strike

URBANA, Ill. (AP) - About 500 University of Illinois faculty members plan to vote on a potential strike.

Members of the Non-Tenure Faculty Coalition Local 6546 say that their negotiations with the university are not progressing after meetings with a federal mediator.

The union represents faculty members who are not part of the tenure system and are paid less than tenure-track faculty. It is trying to reach its first contract with the school after winning recognition a year and a half ago.

Dorothee Schneider is a history instructor and spokeswoman for the union. She tells The News-Gazette in Champaign (http://bit.ly/1qaSSmb ) that the union hopes members will authorize a potential strike to help break the deadlock when they vote over the next week.

University spokeswoman Robin Kaler says the university remains optimistic about a deal.

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Information from: The News-Gazette, http://www.news-gazette.com