Chronology of Negotiations
FY2026 Successor Contract Negotiations between Illinois State University and AFSCME Local 1110 began on April 3, 2025. The following Chronology of Negotiations will be periodically updated as negotiations continue.
Timeline
February 11, 2026
The University was notified on February 11, 2026, that AFSCME Local 1110 membership rejected the University’s January 30, 2026, last, best, and final offer in response to all remaining open proposals. The AFSCME Staff Representative for Local 1110 indicated she will reach out to the University on or after February 23, 2026, to discuss next steps. The University anticipates a third mediation session with the federal mediator will be scheduled. The result of the vote February 10, 2026, is disappointing as the University believes its last, best, and final offer is a very strong and competitive offer.
January 30, 2026
On Friday, January 30, the parties met for an additional mediation session with the federal mediator. The University provided its last, best, and final offer in response to all remaining open proposals. The Union will present the University’s final offer to the union membership for a vote on February 10, 2026.
January 28, 2026
On Wednesday, January 28, the parties engaged in mediation with the assistance of a neutral federal mediator. The parties discussed their respective positions and agreed to meet again on January 30, 2026.
December 1, 2025
On Monday, December 1, the parties met for their twenty-sixth negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions and shared counter proposals. One proposal was withdrawn. The parties jointly requested mediation through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) and will meet again with the federal mediator on January 28, 29, and 30, 2026.
November 17, 2025
On Monday, November 17, the parties met for their twenty-fifth negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions and shared counter proposals.
November 13, 2025
On Thursday, November 13, the parties met for their twenty-fourth negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions, and the University shared a counter wage proposal.
October 15, 2025
On Wednesday, October 15, the parties met for their twenty-third negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions and shared counter proposals. Two negotiation meeting dates were scheduled and confirmed for the month of November, and one negotiation meeting was scheduled and confirmed for the month of December.
October 8, 2025
On Wednesday, October 8, the parties met for their twenty-second negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions and shared counter proposals.
September 30, 2025
On Tuesday, September 30, the parties met for their twenty-first negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions and shared counter proposals. A tentative agreement was reached on one proposal and one proposal was withdrawn.
September 24, 2025
On Wednesday, September 24, the parties met for their twentieth negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions. Two negotiation meeting dates were scheduled for the month of October.
September 22, 2025
On Monday, September 22, the parties met for their nineteenth negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions and shared counter proposals.
September 18, 2025
On Thursday, September 18, the parties met for their eighteenth negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions, and the Union provided counter proposals.
August 26, 2025
On Tuesday, August 26, the parties met for their seventeenth negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions, and the University provided counter proposals. The parties confirmed four additional negotiation meeting dates for the month of September.
August 21, 2025
On Thursday, August 21, the parties met for their sixteenth negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions, tentatively agreed to four proposals and withdrew six proposals. The parties proposed additional negotiation meeting dates to be scheduled for the month of September which will be confirmed by August 26.
August 12, 2025
On Tuesday, August 12, the parties met for their fifteenth negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions and shared counter proposals.
July 31, 2025
On Thursday, July 31, the parties met for their fourteenth negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions and shared counter proposals. The parties also agreed to three negotiation meeting dates for the month of August.
July 28, 2025
On Monday, July 28, the parties met for their thirteenth negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions and shared counter proposals.
July 23, 2025
On Wednesday, July 23, the parties met for their twelfth negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions and tentatively agreed to one proposal. The Union withdrew five proposals.
July 17, 2025
On Thursday, July 17, the parties met for their eleventh negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions.
July 10, 2025
On Thursday, July 10, the parties met for their tenth negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions and tentatively agreed to one proposal.
June 25, 2025
On Wednesday, June 25, the parties met for their ninth negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions and tentatively agreed to six proposals. The parties also agreed to five negotiation meeting dates for the month of July.
June 11, 2025
On Wednesday, June 11, the parties met for their eighth negotiation session. The University provided three new proposals, including its economic response to the Union’s proposals, and the parties tentatively agreed to one proposal.
June 5, 2025
On Thursday, June 5, the parties met for their seventh negotiation session. The parties discussed their respective positions, and the Union withdrew one proposal.
May 30, 2025
On Friday, May 30, the parties met for their sixth negotiation session. The parties tentatively agreed to one proposal, and the Union withdrew one proposal. The parties also agreed to three negotiation meeting dates for the month of June.
May 21, 2025
On Wednesday, May 21, the parties met for their fifth negotiation session. The parties shared counter proposals.
April 30, 2025
On Wednesday, April 30, the parties met for their fourth negotiating session. The Union provided 11 new proposals designated as economic proposals, and the University provided one new proposal.
April 24, 2025
The parties met on Thursday, April 24 for their third negotiation session. The parties discussed rationale for their respective positions. The parties tentatively agreed to one proposal, and the Union withdrew one proposal.
April 17, 2025
On Thursday, April 17, the parties met for their second negotiation session. The University responded to the Union's proposals that were presented on April 3 and presented two initial proposals. The parties discussed rationale for their respective positions and tentatively agreed to the one language clean-up proposal.
April 3, 2025
On Thursday, April 3, the parties met for their first negotiation session. The Union presented 26 initial proposals designated as non-economic proposals. The Union provided rationale for their proposals and responded to questions raised by the University. The University provided one language clean-up proposal.