By Drew Adams
Murray, KY – After nearly a week on strike, the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Faculty Association says its walkout is over. SIUC Chancellor Rita Cheng says there are still some things to work out before a formal tentative agreement is prepared, but she says striking teachers will be back in the classroom today. Faculty Association Spokesman Dave Johnson says the union is pleased to have a settlement in the months-long conflict.
Neither Cheng nor the Faculty Association would comment on the specific terms of the agreement. They did say the proposal improves shared governance, preserves the tenure system, and strengthens accountability. The three other Illinois Education Association unions on campus reached tentative agreements a week ago and did not walk out. Prior to the strike, all four IEA unions had been working without a new agreement since June 2010.