Lessons Learned from a Successful Faculty Union Organizing Drive and First Contract Campaign in the Age of COVID-19 and Trump, 2021–2025

The successful union organizing drive and first contract campaign of the tenure track faculty at Illinois State University (ISU) came after a string of unsuccessful organizing campaigns which took place circa 1998 to 2018. After the tenure track faculty of four Illinois public universities unionized during the 2010s, the United Faculty Illinois State University's (UFISU) successful organizing campaign initially emerged out of discussions regarding COVID-19 virus health and safety concerns prior to the delivery of classes during the 2020 fall semester. After more than two years of one-on-one and small group discussions among union rank and file organizers, union staff and faculty members, UFISU filed for and obtained union certification on January 8, 2024, with a first contract negotiated on April 4, 2025. The purpose of this article is to present and discuss the lessons that have been learned from the UFISU union organizing drive and the first contract campaign to help college/university faculty obtain union certification and negotiate a strong first contract. The paper also includes a discussion of the importance of utilizing Jane McAlevey's whole worker organizing during union organizing drives and contract campaigns.