Faculty at South Suburban College are prepared to strike if the school does not raise wages, union officials said at Thursday’s board of education meeting.
More than 50 faculty and supporters wearing red in show of solidarity overflowed the board meeting room in the community college’s Oak Forest building.
They contend South Suburban College salaries are the lowest of all Illinois community college faculty, and they haven’t received a pay increase to keep up with inflation since 2009.
“The result of being so lowly paid is that many of us have two, even three jobs,” sociology and behavioral sciences professor Megan Tabag said after the meeting. “Instead of being able to fully be committed to our students and give our undivided attention to our students, the result is that we’re pulled in different directions just to make ends meet.”
Tabag, who has a doctorate degree and has worked at the college for five years, makes under $62,000, according to the Illinois Community College Board.
“Our students deserve faculty who are full-time and working one job, which should be at South Suburban College,” Tabag added.
After almost eight months of working on a new contract, faculty believe they are at an impasse with the school’s administrators, though Tabag said the union is unable to share further details because negotiations remain active. Faculty members voted to authorize a strike, which could begin within 10 days, depending on the result of upcoming negotiations.
“We still are very committed to cutting a deal with them,” Tabag said. “We do not want to strike. No one wants to strike.”
Several South Suburban College trustees pushed back against some of the statements made by faculty and supportive students during the Thursday meeting’s public comment period. Anthony DeFilippo, who has served on the SSC board since 1989, in a more than 15-minute long monologue said he believes the school’s proposed contract is comparable to or better than Illinois’ other community colleges.
“What is on the table right now is one of the best contracts that we’ve ever put on the table,” DeFilippo said.
The trustee added that the school has offered as much as they are financially able, considering current state funding and local outrage over recently increased property taxes.
“It would be convenient for us to try to fund any $1 million expense by jacking up the tuition rates and making college unaffordable,” DeFilippo said. “That is a dangerous proposition.”
Tabag acknowledged the school’s financial challenges but countered that faculty are a necessary investment for the college and student success. She added the low starting salaries have already created hiring and retainment challenges at South Suburban.
“A lot of us come from the community of the south suburbs, and we wish to stay working here,” Tabag said. “We love our students; we like our fellow colleagues, but the current contract is just unsustainable.”
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
