ISU, striking workers reach tentative contract agreement after 12 hours of negotiations

NORMAL (25News Now) - A tentative settlement has been reached between the union representing hundreds of Illinois State University employees and ISU’s administration, possibly ending a nearly one-month strike.

The tentative agreement was reached late Monday after a 12-hour bargaining session with the federal mediator, but details have not been released pending a union ratification vote.

About 350 dining, building services, and grounds crews, represented by AFSCME Local 1110, went on strike April 8 in a pay dispute.

Key areas of disagreement included AFSCME’s demand that union workers receive the same or greater pay increases than non-union employees, and whether raises should be retroactive to July 1, 2025.

The two sides have been negotiating since April of last year.

A spokesperson for AFSCME Local 1110, Anders Lindall, said the strike continues pending union ratification of the deal, but picketing is suspended.

Administrators requested the bargaining session May 1, saying they were willing to negotiate in good faith after Gov. JB Pritzker urged the two sides to return to the bargaining table.

Until Monday, the two sides had not met since April 15. The marathon session was the sixth meeting with the federal mediator.

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