Desk Worker - Night shift Agreement
Back in February 2026, Campus Housing announced everyone in the unit that they were going to be implementing new desk worker shifts with set shift differentials, with new duties for Desk Workers and Desk Managers. The “overnight” work from 12midnight - 8am was being contracted out to a security firm, and they decided to bring that coverage back in house to be done by housing workers. We immediately requested to bargain over the changes they wanted to make. Our bargaining committee asked questions about how the shifts would work; how they’d keep desk workers safe; what the expectation of Desk Managers would be to handle on-call shifts; whether the shifts would be mandatory for everyone; and why they chose the wages they did. Our bargaining committee included Vic L, Solange S, Madison P, Susie S, Mateo S, Hunter H; and Andy Sernatinger from OPEIU 39.
As of today, we have an agreement with UIC over the new desk worker shifts. The full agreement is below, but here are the details:
UIC will hire Desk Workers that are specifically to work the overnight period. Desk Workers who work daytime shifts will not be forced to work any overnight shift. UIC can offer shifts to daytime desk workers, but these are completely up to the desk workers to take or leave.
Anyone working desks between 12:00am and 8:00am will receive a $3.00/hr shift premium on top of their regular wages.That includes on-call staff.
Overnight DW shifts in general should be two four-hour shifts. They can break it up differently, but anyone on an overnight DW shift is guaranteed at least two (2) hours; if they schedule a DW for less than two hours during overnight, they are entitled to two hours of pay plus the premiums. (The exception to that is if you agree to stay over from a previous shift on short-notice, though you will still get the premium for any time worked.)
Desk Managers should not be used to fill shifts as a regular part of scheduling. UIC agrees they’re for unexpected absences and emergencies. If called onto duty for two nights in a week, they are relieved from any further on-call shifts.
To ensure safety of workers, UIC agrees to work with the Night Ride service to ensure that there is safe transportation on campus.