Columbia College Chicago Union Votes To Strike Over Contract Talk

CHICAGO — Members of the union representing Columbia College Chicago staff voted in favor of authorizing a strike Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Illinois Education Association told Patch.

According to staff at the private, nonprofit college, the union has been negotiating with the college board for almost three years. Members of the union have been working without a contract since August of 2018.

According to a written statement, the group's main concerns include positions being cut, lagging salary increases and professors leaving for local universities and colleges.

"Clearly, we don't want to go on strike," said United Staff of Columbia College President Craig Sigele. "We've spent three long years trying to avoid this. But enough is enough. Our students' futures are at stake. We are willing to do whatever it takes to protect their education."

In between 2015 and 2019, the college came under fire for cutting 331 staff positions due to budget constraints. There are currently over 360 people in the union.

According to Sigele, salary increases for staff have also lagged, totaling 11 percent from 2009 to 2019 while inflation rose by around 18 percent during that time. USCC members are also asking college officials for retroactive pay for the three years the group has been without a contract and updated health insurance options. None of which, Sigele said, were included in the board's latest counter offer.

"Under their offer, we'll actually be making less money than we are right now. This is completely unacceptable," he said.

Columbia College Chicago did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

USCC represents staff in administrative, academic, residential and financial services. The latest bargaining session took place Thursday afternoon.