Bonfire is proud to announce our support of UIC United Faculty in their efforts to negotiate their new contract. As we have reported in the past, UICUF recently announced their intent to strike starting January 17th if a contract is not successfully negotiated by then. The union represents all Tenure/Tenure-Track and full-time Non-Tenure Track faculty at UIC. Since its inception in 2014, the labor union has worked to improve working protections and job security. UICUF’s previous contract expired this year and negotiations for a new one have stalled.

Bonfire supports UICUF because they remain firm on achieving contractual amendments that all workers should have access to such as:

• Raises that keep up with inflation 
• Greater job security and support for non-tenure track faculty
• Transparency and rationale from administrators who reject faculty advice/votes in “shared governance”
• More access to mental health care for students, and free evaluation for learning disabilities 
•  Other “common good” measures for students

We at Bonfire support UICUF because of the union’s continuous effort to improve working and learning conditions at UIC. So many of us at UIC – undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty themselves – are where we are today because of professors who have mentored, supported, and inspired us. It is now time to for our collective support in their time of need. We at Bonfire believe that all workers deserve fair pay, job security and conditions that create wellness for all.

If you are an undergraduate student who is looking to voice your support for UICUF’s efforts, you can sign this petition hosted by the Students for a Democratic Society. If you are a graduate student, you can sign a letter of support here. If faculty do strike, consider showing your support by joining them on the picket line.