Local 681 Demands Fair Benefits at Ryan Field
Northwestern workers rallied Saturday as their expired contract talks continue with University administrators.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Unions
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Laborers' International Union of North America Local 681 members demonstrated peacefully outside Ryan Field on Saturday to demand fair benefits. The union is negotiating a new contract after its previous five-year agreement expired in September.
Why it matters
The union says Northwestern's January switch from Blue Cross Blue Shield to UnitedHealthcare increased out-of-pocket costs for its members, who work in athletics and facilities departments. The dispute centers on whether members can instead join the union's independent insurance plan.
The union's own comparison shows its benefits trailing Local 399 by more than 5%, with the previous five-year contract expiring in September. The University's position on the benefits gap has not been made public.
The players
Laborers' International Union of North America Local 681
A union representing Northwestern's athletics and facilities workers, including skilled trades employees in carpentry, painting and landscaping, that is currently negotiating a new contract.
Northwestern University
A private research university in Evanston whose administration is negotiating with Local 681 and which switched faculty and staff health insurance carriers in January.
The details
Local 681 members work across carpentry, painting, blacksmithing, field maintenance and landscaping for Northwestern. The union proposed that members join its independent insurance rather than UnitedHealthcare's plan, a proposal the University rejected; the union says about 90% of its proposals have been turned down.
Timeline
September: Local 681's previous five-year contract expired.
January: Northwestern switched faculty and staff insurance to UnitedHealthcare.
Saturday, Nov. 8, 2026: Local 681 demonstrated outside Ryan Field.
Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026: Local 681 to meet with University administrators.
Big Picture
Institutional employers across the country have increasingly moved workers onto large national insurance networks, a pattern that has prompted unions to contest changes in premiums and coverage. Local 681's dispute with Northwestern follows that trend in higher education.
Employees covered by the January insurance change may face higher out-of-pocket costs until a new agreement is reached. Residents and workers in Evanston should watch for whether the University accepts any union proposal on health coverage.
The takeaway
Benefits disputes like this one often hinge on whether insurance carriers and plan options are negotiated at the bargaining table or set unilaterally by the employer. Workers can track how the Thursday session affects their coverage costs.
What happens next
Local 681 and University administrators are scheduled to meet on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026 to continue contract negotiations.
Further reading
Explore more on Unions coverage in Evanston as this contract dispute continues.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Northwestern.
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Should employers like universities give skilled trades workers the same benefits as other unions?
