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After more than two weeks of striking, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1110 union members continue to fight for wage changes.

As the Illinois State University administration and AFSCME did not come to an agreement at their most recent meeting, individuals signed a petition that aimed to urge the university to renegotiate.

Nearly 7,000 ISU students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff signed the petition to show their support of the university’s building services, grounds and dining services employees.

State Sen. Dave Koehler, State Rep. Sharon Chung and union workers delivered the petition to ISU President Aondover Tarhule’s office at 3:15 p.m. on Friday.

AFSCME Local 1110 President Chuck Carver expressed his frustrations with the university.

“For two weeks, we have been on strike for a fair contract for fair pay,” Carver said. “We aren’t on strike because we want to be. We are on strike because we have to; because the university administration won’t pay fairly.”

As of right now, no further bargaining sessions between AFSCME and the administration have been scheduled.

Chung said that she supports the union workers in their fight for fairer wages and hoped that the administration would renegotiate with them.

“I’ve been very disappointed in what I’ve been seeing, and I want to make sure that they are doing the right thing as well by paying their workers,” Chung said.

Chung believes that the union members’ work is essential to the university, while they receive little credit for it.

“The university is not just the buildings here, it’s the people,” Chung said. “[Union workers] are making this university run day in and day out. The students know this, and the community knows this.”

Koehler delivered a message to Tarhule and the administration in support of the striking workers.

“To President Tarhule and to ISU, your choices are hurting this university and this very community at this time. Please make a better choice,” Koehler said.

“Come back to the bargaining table, address the concerns of these workers and let’s end this strike,” Koehler continued.

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April 25, 2026 at 01:31AM