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The 11-year-old who inspires Illini Nation SPORTS, 1B
Tuesday February 26, 2013
The Daily Illini www.DailyIllini.com
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 142 Issue 109
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Service union announces its intent to strike BY AUSTIN KEATING STAFF WRITER
Service Employees International Union Local 73 on Monday announced its intent to strike. The strike could come as soon as March 11. The union represents about 800 building and food service workers at the University and has been in contract negotiations for about nine months. Its contract expired in July 2012. “Over the last week, we’ve talked to our membership about what they’re willing to accept,” said Ricky Baldwin, SEIU chief negotiator. “We came to the con-
clusion that management is not moving fast enough.” He said even though negotiations have made progress over the past few weeks, they can’t “let it go on indefinitely” for two main reasons. “If we get to the end of the academic semester, our strike threat virtually evaporates,” Baldwin said, referring to the down time during school breaks when food service workers are temporarily laid off. “The leverage we have with the strike just isn’t there in the summer.” He also cited legal consequences because of lengthy negotia-
tions, such as a bargaining impasse. Should this happen, the University would have to impose a final agreement with no possibility of further negotiations. He said most issues that have been holding up negotiations relate to wages. The University wants the union to participate in the campus wage program, of which most University employees are a part. This program provides a flat rate percentage increase to compensate for inflation. “Most of the large issues that we consider to be close to being resolved are all contingent on set-
tling this campus wage issue,” Baldwin said. In past negotiations, the University suggested setting up a base rate increase in which union workers would receive the campus wage program’s raise, but they would have the option of having the base rate increase in case the campus wage rate was lower than the base rate. Baldwin said that while the intent to strike legally allows the union to strike as early as March 11, it doesn’t have to if negotiations are going well. “If we’re almost there, we’re not going to say ‘Well, that’s all
Champaign enacts same Unofficial restrictions as 2012 State),” Gerard said. Last year, city ordinance vioWhile State College, Pa. city lations were down by 15 percent officials prohibited the sale of from 2011 on Unofficial. The alcohol during Penn State’s amount of state criminal arrests, “State Patty’s Day” last Satur- medical calls and transports to day, the city of Champaign has the hospital had also decreased. no plans to follow suit for Unoffi“At the end of the day, everycial St. Patrick’s Day on March 1. body has rights and responsibiliNearly three dozen bars and ties,” Gerard said. “If you’re of restaurants in State College halt- drinking age, or if you own an ed the sale of alcohol Saturday establishment that sells liquor in exchange for a $5,000 subsi- and you live up to your respondy per establishment from the sibilities, you have a right to city for lost revenue. Champaign conduct business, and you Mayor and Liquor Commission- have a right to patronize these er Don Gerard said he hopes businesses.” Champaign will All bars withnever need to in the order’s consider such ge og raph ic a l measures for boundaries are required to folUnofficial and low the emeris “cautiously optimistic” that gency order and both locals and may also instate alumni visiting additional rules for the informal of their own. DON GERARD, holiday on FriLuke Henry, Champaign Mayor and liquor day will behave general managcommissioner er of Joe’s Brewresponsibly. “I believe in ery, said in an personal responsibility, from email that Joe’s will continue to business owners, patrons and require guests to be 21 or older visitors and would not be com- for entry all day Saturday, even fortable using tax dollars to though the mayor’s order only subsidize such a tactic,” Gerard requires of age-only entry from said. 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Other on-campus bars, such While the State College community increased limitations in as KAM’s and White Horse Inn, an attempt to curb excess alco- will work to enforce the rules hol consumption by students, the in the mayor’s emergency order emergency order Gerard issued but are not implementing rules Wednesday did not add any new of their own. “We treat (Unofficial) like any restrictions since 2012. He said this was in part due to the Uni- normal football game weekend; versity and the city reducing we’re obviously going to have many of the “worst” aspects of more business than normal,” said the holiday, such as bar fights Eric Meyer, owner of KAM’s. “I and class disruptions. think the only thing we’re going “The event seems to be shift- to really focus on is not allowing ing to less of a chaotic, civil dis- individuals to have more than obedience fest as the years go one drink in their hands.” on, so I would hope we would not be in a position to consider Emma can be reached at wessmnn2 such drastic measures (as Penn @dailyillini.com.
great, but we’re going on strike anyway,’” he said. “But if it doesn’t look like we’re going to have an agreement ... then we’re prepared to walk out.” Campus spokeswoman Robin Kaler said in an email that the University would be able to continue operations if a strike occurs. “The University will implement its strike contingency plans and will continue operating in a manner that causes the least disruption to students,” she said. Despite the University’s assurances that services will continue, Baldwin said those services would not be of the same quality.
“They can bring in some temporary replacement workers but not nearly enough to accomplish the job,” he said. “If they feel that they can run the clock and then make some kind of an agreement, that’s not going to work.” Kaler also said the University wants to reach an agreement with the union. “The University will continue negotiating in good faith with the union until a collective bargaining agreement that’s agreeable to both sides can be achieved,” Kaler said.
Austin can be reached at akkeati2@ dailyillini.com.
Spreading school spirit
BY EMMA WEISSMANN STAFF WRITER
“At the end of the day, everybody has rights and responsibilities.”
MELISSA MCCABE THE DAILY ILLINI
Students wait to get inside Kam’s on Unofficial on March 2.
STEVE SHENG THE DAILY ILLINI
President Katie Chan and member Patrick Proctor of the 1867 Society handed out free “I love Illinois” shirts to the first 500 students at the Ikenberry Dining Center on Monday. The 1867 society has declared this week “I Love Illinois” week, which celebrates the founding of the University.
Phi Sigma Sigma sorority to return to campus after 3-year break BY BRITTANY GIBSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
After a three-year break, Phi Sigma Sigma sorority will return to campus this fall to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Founded in 1913, Phi Sigma Sigma was last seen on campus as an active sorority house in 2010. The sorority has since then left the University primarily because of the lack of girls involved. Taylor Paige Rushing, a field consultant for Phi Sigma Sigma headquarters, is leading the effort to bring the chapter back. “As I have begun to meet with women interested in this opportunity, I am so excited about the caliber of women here,” Rushing said. “The enthusiasm for a new sorority makes us excited, and I look forward to bid day in the fall.” Rushing said the sorority expects the new Illinois chapter will eventually grow to be comparable in size to other chapters,
See PHI SIGMA SIGMA, Page 3A
ZACH DALZELL THE DAILY ILLINI
Phi Sigma Sigma will move into the current Phi Gamma Delta house in the summer of 2014.
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