Faculties at 3 public Illinois universities picket, urge more state education funding

Professors from universities including Chicago State, Eastern Illinois and now Governors State in the south suburbs are demanding fair pay and reduced workloads.

During a rally at Governors State on Tuesday, the leader of University Professional of Illinois, the state faculty union, John Miller, said administrators have put themselves first.

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“They are harming our students by disinvesting in those classrooms, by disinvesting in the people who do the work day in and day out. It is time to reverse this to put the priorities right in this state, in higher education. The priority is our student.”

University administrators cite financial challenges brought on by the pandemic and declining enrollment.

State funding for higher education has been cut nearly in half in the last two decades in inflation-adjusted dollars.

At Governors State on Tuesday, professors from three state universities rally for fair pay and reduced workloads. Union leaders are calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to intervene and said administrators have put themselves first. “They are harming our students by disinvesting in those classrooms,” said leader of the state faculty union John Miller, “by disinvesting in the people who do the work day in and day out. It is time to reverse this to put the priorities right in this state, in higher education. The priority is our student.” | Lisa Philip/WBEZ

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Professors from Chicago State, Eastern Illinois and now Governors State in the south suburbs are demanding fair pay and reduced workloads Tuesday at a Governors State. | Lisa Philip/WBEZ

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Governors State University student Lluvia Hernandez joins a rally Tuesday on campus with professors from the south suburban college, Chicago State and Eastern Illinois Universities to demand fair pay and reduced workloads. | Lisa Philip/WBEZ

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Professors from Chicago State, Eastern Illinois, and now Governors State in the south suburbs are demanding fair pay and reduced workloads in a rally Tuesday at Governors State University. | Lisa Philip/WBEZ

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Governors State University student Lluvia Hernandez joins a rally Tuesday on campus with professors from the south suburban college, Chicago State and Eastern Illinois Universities to demand fair pay and reduced workloads. | Lisa Philip/WBEZ

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