Union members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 963 met outside Lowden Hall Tuesday afternoon before presenting a petition, which asked for good faith contract negotiations, to the office of President John Peters.

Nolan Davis, the assistant to the president, accepted the petition, which had more than 300 signatures. He said the negotiation process is confidential, but the university works hard to make the process easy and the outcome best for both sides.

“It’s a very important issue, because how much people make is important to them and to the university,” Davis said.

Peg Kermeen, the staff representative with AFSCME Local 963, said the union, which is comprised of food and building service workers, has been going through contract negotiations with the university since May.

She said the negotiations have been difficult. The university is offering no wage increase, even though other workers across campus are receiving raises this year – referencing the “3-percent plus” plan the Board of Trustees approved at its June 19 meeting. The plan included a 1.5 percent raise for faculty and staff on July 1, and an additional 1.5 percent raise on Jan. 1, 2004.

Many of the union workers who gathered at Lowden wore shirts with “guaNtanImoU” written on the front. David Strozewski, the treasurer for Local 963, said the shirts represent the union’s feelings that NIU is comparable to the United States’ prison camp in Cuba.

Ruth Stone, secretary for Local 936, and Strozewski both said the main thing the union is looking for is a fair negotiation session.

“Good faith bargaining should last the whole day. We’ve never bargained the whole day long,” Stone said.

Davis said he was sure the university and union would be able to settle the negotiations reasonably.

“I’m sure the university will do everything we can to reach a fair agreement with our service union in the midst of these difficult budget times,” he said.