Employee Unions Say U of I Administrators Are Moving Too Fast

Employee unions on the University of Illinois campus say administrators should have better picture of the state and federal budget picture before talking about layoffs and furloughs. AFSCME Local 698 President Jim McGuire said in a noon hour press conference that the University is cutting staff at every opportunity, despite an increase in funding in the last fiscal year, while he believes there's new hope to avoid cuts through Governor Pat Quinn along with federal economic stimulus funds. Groups like the Graduate Employees Organization and Visiting Academic Professionals also say they're also frustrated administrators won't meet with them before making budget contingency plans.