Posted: 8/1/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Beck Diefenbach Protestors from, and in support for, Local Union 698 rally in front of the Lester H. Swanlund Administration Building at 601 E. John St. in Champaign, Thursday, June 29th, at noon. Local Union 698 represents several workers throughout the University from clerks to librarians and have been stuck in contract negotiation with the University with no resolution. Protesters started at the Henry Administration building and eventually moved to the campus Chancellor's office in the Lester H. Swanlund Administration building. Several unions came from surrounding areas to support Union 698 in fear that their unions may be of the same fate since they are also in contract with other universities.

Federal mediations between members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 698 and the University will continue into next week since no contractual agreement has been reached at this time. The two groups, who entered into federal mediation on July 25 in hopes of producing a new contract, will convene again for a second meeting scheduled on August 10.

"We are guardedly optimistic," Vice President of Local 698 Margaret Lewis said concerning the negotiation progress.

Lewis, a union member for 12 years and vice president since January, said Local 698 was pessimistic at the onset but is pleased that a second meeting has been planned.

"We are happy to be talking with them," Lewis said.

In spite of the progress, the union is still cautious about future negotiations and their outcome.

"We're still very concerned that we are a long way apart and we are encouraged that another meeting is set up but we need to keep making progress," Lewis said. "We're hopeful but we really need to have progress. We'll see what they do."

Continued...

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