News and Views from the People's Struggle
But the Struggle to Defend Jobs Continues
![union members marching](https://i.snap.as/3LwabTMd.gif "union members marching UIC workers say, \\"Chop from the top!\\" \(Fight Back! News/Joe Iosbaker\)")
Chicago, IL – The state of Illinois is $5 billion in the red, according to new governor, Rod Blagojevich, who made the announcement one week after he took office in January.
Chicago, IL – On Dec. 10, University of Illinois President James Stukel announced that 1,200 more jobs will be cut in the coming year. 900 positions were cut last year, a wage freeze was imposed on workers and faculty, and students were hit with another tuition increase. But at their November meeting, the Board of Trustees refused to freeze salaries for those making $150,000 or more. Service Employees International Union Local 73 will be at the next Board of Trustees meeting in February to demand wage increases, job security, and to chop from the top!
![Sign says "No Enron at UIC"](https://i.snap.as/9L6RCfcB.jpg "Sign says \\"No Enron at UIC\\" University of Illinois-Chicago clerical worker protests job cuts. \(Fight Back! News/Joe Iosbaker\)")
Chicago, IL – 150 workers from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) marched against job cuts and layoffs, Aug. 8. Members of Local 73 Service Employees International Union who have had 75 positions eliminated since October 2001, were protesting the announcement of the next round of cuts.
![union members marching](https://i.snap.as/xlUD2h88.jpg "union members marching UIC workers say, \\"Make the rich pay for the state budget crisis.\\" \(Fight Back! News/Joanne Misnik\)")
Chicago, IL – Music and chanting rose outside the Illini Union building on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), May 15, as 100 workers, students, and supporters marched on the Board of Trustees meeting.
![Union members on stage chanting.](https://i.snap.as/ta6wFhMo.jpg "Union members on stage chanting. Leaders of Local 73 at UIC chant \\"Who let the dogs out? UIC did.\\" \(Fight Back! News/Joanne Misnik\)")
Chicago, IL – In the spring of 2001, 150 Sodexho food service employees at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) voted to join the Service Employees International Union Local 73. They work in the cafeterias in the student union buildings.
Racist Pay Difference Defeated
Chicago, IL – A year of struggle has brought success for workers in Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73 at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). On Sept. 17 and 19, nearly 400 workers came out to overwhelmingly ratify a new contract.
Chicago, IL – Over 400 workers, members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73, rallied on the city's West Side, June 5. They have been fighting for a new contract at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) since October 1.
Chicago, IL – 700 service workers at University Illinois Chicago (U.I.C.) are working without a contract. This is because management is refusing to end their decades-long practice of paying less to workers in Chicago than at the downstate campuses. Chicago workers are mostly Black and Latino; downstate workers are mostly white.
Fight Back! responds: Rice Should Resign!
To the Editor:
Chicago, IL – Local 73 of the Service Employees International Union is heading into a fight. Over 600 workers at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) have a contract expiring on Sep. 30. Workers have high hopes, but management looks ugly. UIC has an agenda of management rights, contracting out, temp workers, speedup and increased workload.