Nontenured instructors at U of I want to unionize

URBANA, Ill. - Nontenured faculty members at the University of Illinois' flagship campus have filed a petition with the state saying they want to unionize.

Union supporters at the Urbana-Champaign campus say they filed notice Wednesday with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board. The board oversees collective bargaining involving universities and other schools.

The board is expected to holding a hearing on the petition within several weeks.

The News-Gazette reported that union organizers say they collected signatures from a majority of the more than 400 instructors on campus who lack the tenure and job security of professors.

Brian Dolinar, a visiting lecturer and a unionization proponent, said union supporters would like better pay and multiyear contracts.

University spokeswoman Robin Kaler declined to comment because the school hasn't seen the petition.