Advanced Practice Providers Issue 10-Day Strike Notice
About 200 providers at UI Health say they were left out of 2% raises given to other University of Illinois workers.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Unions
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About 200 advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants and midwives at UI Health delivered a 10-day strike notice on Friday, with a strike possible as early as November 10. SEIU Local 73, which represents the providers, says they were excluded from the 2% raises the university gave other workers in August.
Why it matters
The notice escalates a dispute over union bargaining rights that has run more than a year, in which the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board certified the union in 2025 but the university board of trustees is challenging that certification. A court hold on bargaining while the university's appeal proceeds leaves the pay dispute without a formal negotiating process.
The union delivered a 10-day notice on Friday, October 30, setting November 10 as the earliest possible strike date. The 2% August raises covered other university workers, while the roughly 200 advanced practice providers were excluded.
The players
SEIU Local 73
A union local of the Service Employees International Union that represents the advanced practice providers at UI Health.
Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board
The Illinois state board that certified the union's representation of the providers in 2025.
University of Illinois Board of Trustees
The governing body of the University of Illinois that is challenging the union's certification.
The details
The providers are striking over being left out of raises given to other workers, and the union requested mediation before any strike date is set. The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board certified the union in 2025, but the University of Illinois board of trustees is challenging that certification. The 4th District Appellate Court in Springfield placed a hold on bargaining while the university's appeal proceeds, and the Illinois Supreme Court denied the union's appeal of that stay.
Timeline
2025: Illinois labor board certified the union.
August 2026: University workers received 2% raises.
Earlier in 2026: Appellate court placed a hold on bargaining.
Friday, October 30, 2026: Union delivered 10-day strike notice.
November 10, 2026: Earliest possible strike date.
Legal Context
The certification challenge tests how far the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board's authority extends over public university health workers. The court-ordered bargaining hold means that authority is currently paused while the appeal proceeds.
Patients at UI Health may face disruption if the roughly 200 advanced practice providers walk out, since the strike could begin as early as November 10. The providers' pay and union status will be decided by the strike outcome and the pending court appeal.
The takeaway
The dispute shows how a union certification fight can leave workers without a bargaining table while courts decide. Readers tracking public employee labor issues in Illinois should watch whether mediation or the appeal resolves the matter first.
What happens next
The earliest possible strike date is November 10, 2026, and the union has requested mediation before any strike is set.
Further reading
For related coverage, see more Unions reporting from across the Chicago area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chicago Tribune.
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