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Illinois State University
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Status of Negotiations with AFSCME Local 1110

Fiscal Year 2026 Successor Contract Negotiations Status

Illinois State University has been notified that the AFSCME Local 1110 membership ratified the tentative agreement reached on Monday, May 4, 2026, after nearly 13 hours of negotiations with the assistance of a federal mediator. With this ratification, all AFSCME 1110-represented employees are expected to return to work on Wednesday, May 6, at the beginning of their regularly scheduled shift. 

“I’m pleased the bargaining teams reached agreement and the union members voted to ratify the contract,” said Illinois State University President Aondover Tarhule. “The University appreciates the efforts made by both bargaining teams as they worked late into the night to reach this agreement, which reflects a collective commitment to moving forward together. I encourage our campus community to unite in the spirit of collaboration, respect all individuals' rights and choices, and work to heal differences of opinion, real or perceived, so that we may reestablish our sense of shared values and mission.” 

Entering the last negotiation session, the three remaining key issues were the union’s demands for higher wage increase percentages, retroactive pay increases to July 1, 2025, and “better of” campus wage program language. 

Highlights of the ratified contract include:

  • Duration: 5-Years, ending June 30, 2030 
  • Wage Increases*: 
    • Effective with ratification: 3.50%
    • July 1, 2026: 3.00%
    • July 1, 2027: 3.00%
    • July 1, 2028: 3.00% 
    • July 1, 2029: 3.00% 
      * For the 2028 and 2029 increases only, if the Campus Wage Program for non-Union employees is higher than the negotiated 3.0% increase, employees will also receive the difference between the negotiated increase and the Campus Wage Program
  • Signing Bonus: $1,500  payable to each of the 350 employees on the bargaining unit upon ratification
  • Shift Differentials: increase to $0.40/$0.60 per hour effective July 1, 2028
  • Market adjustments: Two positions received an additional market adjustment, above the negotiated 3.50%, effective upon ratification