AFSCME, SIU School of Medicine ink 3-year agreement
SIU School of Medicine and AFSCME Local 370 collaboratively have finalized and ratified a new collective bargaining agreement, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. More than 800 SIU School of Medicine employees are represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
Under the new contract, AFSCME-represented employees will receive annual wage increases throughout the three-year contract, including across-the-board raises and market adjustments. The agreement also strengthens long-term retention by adding longevity pay at 5, 10, 15 and 20 years of service, with cumulative adjustments for employees who have already reached those milestones.
Additional items in the agreement include :
• Registered nurses will move to a non-exempt classification, making them eligible for overtime pay under federal labor guidelines.
• Nurses will receive five weeks of vacation as part of the updated benefits package.
• Several employee support policies are strengthened, including options for bereavement, extended sick leave and parental leave.
“As an institution, we rely on the skill and dedication of our staff every single day,” said Jerry Kruse, MD, MSPH, dean and provost of SIU School of Medicine. “This agreement reflects thoughtful work on both sides to recognize that commitment while keeping our organization on solid financial footing. It’s a practical step forward and it shows that our employees and our leadership are pulling in the same direction toward better health for the people and communities we serve.”
SIU Medicine’s mission is to optimize the health of the people of central and southern Illinois through education, patient care, research and service to the community. Established in 1970, the medical school is based dually in Carbondale and Springfield and is specifically oriented to educating new physicians prepared to practice in Illinois communities. More than 6,000 medical students, resident physicians and fellows have graduated from SIU, and 40% of them now practice in or near the school's geographic region.
