A strike by union clerical workers at Northern Illinois University has been averted.
The university and negotiators for AFSCME Local 1890 reached a tentative contract agreement Monday night, after more than two years of talks. The agreement needs approval by the union membership and the NIU Board of Trustees.
Details are not being released until both sides finalize their draft proposal, which could happen next Monday. The union's strike education sessions scheduled to begin Thursday have been canceled.
Union spokesperson Sara Dorner says she thinks the workers will be pleased with the contract, which is strongly supported by her bargaining committee. Dorner says it includes "long overdue wage increases."
About 600 employees will get a chance to vote on their first contract as members of the fairly-new union. Ratification voting is scheduled for May 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The union represents more than 600 NIU employees, including some Northern Public Radio staff members.
