At a time of great financial crisis, shrinking faculties, low salaries, and rising tuition, the University of Illinois administration has spent enormous time and money fighting an open and democratic process of faculty decision making at UIC.  A large majority of both tenure track and contingent faculty at UIC are on record in support of the union there.  The university has lost every appeal down to this most recent court decision.  The University of Illinois administration can and should recognize the union in Chicago, but if they should continue to ignore majority faculty opinion there, the UIC union is prepared. They are in a position to recover quickly, once again garner majority support from both groups, and, hopefully, begin the process of negotiations with the administration.  We hope that the administration will show proper regard for faculty opinion on the collective bargaining issue here in Urbana-Champaign, CFA has intended from the beginning to maintain strong solidarity between tenure track and contingent faculty, as the fates of the two groups are linked.  CFA will continue to support the efforts of all faculty on our campus. We ask that our weakened university administration recognize our unionized colleagues at UIC and also respect the rights of faculty here at UIUC to make our own decision regarding collective bargaining.

Executive Committee, Campus Faculty Association