This is a strike fund set up to support the members of NTFC (Non Tenure Faculty Coalition) who were forced out on strike by university administration.
The faculty are concerned with providing the best quality higher education possible, here are a few of the outstanding issues that if agreed to would improve conditions for faculty and students
Currently faculty are hired on temporary 9-month contracts. Many of our members have been “temporary” faculty for decades! Multi-year contracts mean faculty who are able to focus on teaching and preparing their courses rather than the anxiety of wondering if they will have a job in the fall. Multi-year contracts mean faculty members who are here at UIUC to write the recommendation letters for our students. Multi-year contracts bring stability to the faculty, student and campus community at large. (UIC in Chicago was successful in achieving this in their contract)
Appointment/reappointment- right now faculty are not notified until very late in spring semester or even summer before knowing they have a job next fall. Also, faculty at UIUC work for up to a month before their appointment is approved by the board of trustees. Imagine working for a month without knowing you have the job!
Rather than respond to the strike authorization with additional bargaining dates, the administration simply sent an email saying they valued the faculty and would be docking strikers pay!
Your support means that our members, many of whom earn far less than public K-12 teachers earn will still be able to pay their bills while also exercising their rights