Leaders of labor unions on the University of Illinois’s Urbana campus say President Timothy Killeen has refused their request for a meeting. But an administration spokesman says otherwise. Members of the Campus Labor Coalition called for a meeting with Killeen during a Tuesday news conference outside of the Henry Administration Building on the Main Quad.

UPDATE Non-tenure track faculty at the University of Illinois Urbana campus voted Thursday to ratify their first-ever contract.

Members of the union representing non-tenure-track faculty at the University of Illinois went on strike Tuesday morning, launching a two-day work stoppage.  In a mass e-mail, administrators questioned the goals of the strike, saying tentative agreements have been reached in 14 areas, including several "key items."  But Union President Shawn Gilmore called those areas "small."

About 500 University of Illinois faculty and reseachers will walk off the job Tuesday and Wednesday. NTFC Local #6546 is holding its strike to try and prompt U of I administrators to discuss how they plan to proceed in collective bargaining.  Among the union's demands are multi-year contracts for non-tenured faculty.

Union leaders are dealing with concerns from some members that some self-insured health plan payments for state employees have been halted as a result of the state budget impasse.  Four providers are asking members to upfront at the time of an appointment, and will be reimbursed later.