Civil service employees urge trustees for larger raises, cite rising costs and morale problems

At the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees full meeting Oct. 25, more than a half dozen civil service employees and supporters used the allotted public comment time to press trustees for higher wages, cite cost‑of‑living pressures and warn that morale and retention are suffering.

Why it matters: civil service employees keep many daily university operations running; their pay and retention affect student services, billing, payroll and research administration. Multiple speakers told trustees that modest percentage increases have not kept pace with inflation and rising insurance costs.

What speakers said

Terry Richardson, president of the Association of Civil Service Employees (ACSE) at SIU Carbondale, told trustees that more than half of ACSE members are eligible for SNAP benefits and that many members need a second job. "That, to me, looks like it's placing the blame on the employees rather than the employer for simply not paying enough," Richardson said. He told trustees that previously approved administrative bonuses—though funded via the foundation, not the operating budget—create frustration among rank‑and‑file staff.

Kathy Lilly, ACSE secretary and a member of the bargaining team, described a career spanning decades at SIU and said returning retirees and long‑time employees are not being rewarded for…