Statement in Solidarity with SEIU Local 73

GEO stands in solidarity with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73, which represents 763 building and food service workers, as they bargain their contract for a fair wage. On Aug. 28, after seven months of negotiations, SEIU 73 members voted down a tentative agreement with UIUC administration. After an overwhelming vote to authorize a strike on July 24, and their contract’s expiration on Aug. 31, SEIU 73 workers could go on strike as soon as within the next few days.

Members of SEIU 73 rejected the tentative agreement offered by the administration for its failure to provide a fair wage that keeps pace with rising living costs. While food and building service workers at UIUC are seeing heightened costs for parking and insurance premiums, the administration offered lower pay increases compared to their 2022-24 contract.

UIUC administration has also refused to take steps that would alleviate the burden of record-high student enrollment — so high that students faced a housing crisis and were forced to relocate — which is falling disproportionately on the workers responsible for feeding the students and cleaning the buildings. If the administration paid higher wages, they could recruit additional workers instead of exploiting already overburdened SEIU 73 workers. “If they want us to do more, then they need to pay more,” said Melody Decker, Chapter 119 President and Building Service Worker.

Food and building service workers are the backbone of the university and make the campus run. Without their labor, our graduate student offices, labs, and classrooms would quickly become unclean and unsafe. Our undergraduate students would come to class hungry. Bathrooms would become unusable. The work required to sustain tens of thousands of individuals’ presence on campus would grind to a halt. SEIU 73’s working conditions are our learning, teaching, and living conditions!

Here’s how you can support SEIU: The purpose of a strike is to show the employer how vital workers' labor is to the functioning of the workplace. By withholding their labor, SEIU is highlighting how much worse our campus would be were it not for the work they put in day after day. If SEIU 73 workers strike, do not take up any of the work done by service workers, like cleaning facilities and taking out trash! Post about any worsening building conditions on social media and tag @SEIULocal73, @geo_uiuc, @illinois1867, and any relevant media (e.g., Daily Illini, News Gazette, etc.)! GEO will keep members updated on any additional do’s and don’ts regarding SEIU 73 picket lines. Sign up here to receive updates on how you can support SEIU 73 as a GEO member and join picket lines with your fellow GEO members: https://forms.gle/FjeeWwRDoqfkp4Py9 Email Chancellor Jones to show your support for a fair wage for SEIU 73 workers: https://act.seiu.org/a/email-chancellor-jones

Where to check for updates: Follow SEIU’s website and social media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, Tik Tok: @SEIULocal73 Follow GEO on social media: Instagram/Facebook: @uiucgeo Check your email/texts for updates from GEO, and fill out this form