CHAMPAIGN — For 17 years, Sheri Walker’s job has been to teach people how to get healthy meals while on food stamps.
As a union employee, Walker earns $17 per hour. She said under that salary, she is also eligible for public assistance.
“In our program, we teach poverty-level people. That’s me,” Walker said.
Walker is one of around 40 University of Illinois employees who rallied outside the provost’s office in Champaign Wednesday for higher wages.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Locals 3700 and 698 represent about 1,600 clerical, technical and community workers at U of I. The group said administrators are not offering them a fair contract after their last pay agreement expired in September.
According to university spokesperson Robin Kaler, the union is asking for a 15% boost in pay over three years — and U of I is offering 6.75% in that period. Kaler said that would be more than the most recent campus plan for salary increases.
AFSCME workers at the rally said a 2% raise is not as significant to them as it is to administrators with higher salaries.
Kari Zamberletti is an office worker for Student Affairs Technology. She said her take-home pay went down by $40 a month, starting in June, because of the cost of insurance. She is worried about changes in health insurance, alongside the impacts of federal tariffs.
“I’m still probably going to be making less after this raise than I was a year and a half ago,” Zamberletti said.
David Gray is the desk supervisor at the Pennsylvania Avenue residence hall and ensures students living there have what they need. He said inflation has made it difficult to afford groceries.
“I’m a father of four children, so just every bit you have to manage and watch, and you just can’t make any mistakes, because there’s just no buffer or leeway for it,” Gray added.
The lowest paid workers in the local unions make about $16.50 per hour, according to AFSCME.
The next bargaining session is scheduled for Thursday.