On June 2, during kitchen helper contract negotiations, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 963 requested economic information related to NIU food service operations. The AFSCME bargaining team was told by the administration’s chief negotiator that the information would be released only if AFSCME filed a Freedom of Information Act claim.

AFSCME Council 31 has filed two Freedom of Information Act claims. As of late September, the NIU administration has not responded.

Why the secrecy? How much money is NIU making off of food service operations? And where does that profit go? What happens to money not used on student meal cards?

What does the NIU administration have to hide?

We at AFSCME say to the NIU bureaucrats: Open the books. The people are entitled to know what you are doing with their tax and tuition money – the truth matters.

James Sheridan

President, AFSCME Local 963