UPI support-staff president urges trustees to secure fair pay for front-line workers

Thomas Gebhardt, who identified himself to the board as the UPI 4,100 support-staff president, used his public-comment time to press trustees to secure higher and fairer wages for clerical, culinary and custodial staff across the system.

"We are the front line," Gebhardt said, describing long hours and low pay. He told the board that support staff wages at UIS lag behind counterparts at other state universities, citing a difference of roughly $4 per hour in starting pay at some institutions and saying the gap can grow to $7 over two years. "We demand that you fight for us and have fair and equal pay to those who do the same work across the state of Illinois," he said. He also criticized a one-percent offer he said was currently on the table for faculty and support staff.

A timekeeper reminded Gebhardt when his three minutes had expired; his remarks were recorded as public comment and the board thanked him for his participation. Trustees did not take immediate action during the public-comment segment; Gebhardt said the issues he raised are currently being negotiated as part of collective bargaining.