Tenured and tenure-track faculty at the University of Illinois Springfield campus have begun a strike following nearly a year of unsuccessful negotiations with university officials. Discussions between the school and the University Professionals of Illinois (UPI), the union that represents professors from seven of Illinois's 12 public university campuses, have stalled over salaries and workplace protections. The latest contract offer from the university is for a one-time 1% pay raise, which Powell argues does not match inflation and falls short of the union's demands. Other issues include the university's efforts to remove parking fee caps and the right for faculty to have their own office space. While the strike continues, students in classes taught by striking professors should monitor their class for updates.