About 30 union members from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 963 gathered at the NIU’s parking garage to protest the proposed contract changes by the university.

The workers are in the middle of contract negotiations with the university. Their contract expired July 1.

Protesters wore gray shirts with “guaNtanImoU” in bold, comparing NIU to the U.S.-owned prison camp in Cuba.

“NIU is becoming totalitarian,” said Pablo Zelayah, president of the AFSCME Local 963.

Bob Albanese, associate vice president of Finance and Facilities, said a protest like this hasn’t happened before.

Peggy Kermeen, business agent for AFSCME Local 963, said a major concern is that NIU wants to take away grievance arbitration, a multi-step appeal process under which matters of workers being fired are taken to a third party as a last resort. The university has proposed that workers go through the civil service process, under which the matter will be brought to a committee of the Board of Trustees.

“They’re proposing a five-year contract with no wage reopener and no retroactive pay,” said Dave Strozewski, treasurer for AFSCME Local 963.

This is like being fired by the boss and then going back to a committee of the boss, Kermeen said.

The workers walked to President Peters’ office in Lowden Hall to submit the petitions that faculty, staff and students had signed on their behalf.

“We’re hoping he will contact his negotiation team and withdraw some of the unreasonable proposals,” said James Sheridan, vice president of Local 963.

Steve Cunningham, associate vice president of administration, said NIU respects the negotiation process and is committed to it. He said NIU recognizes the right of the workers to meet on campus and picket as long as they do it peacefully.