Today is "Pay Cut" day for academic professionals and other academic employees on 12-month contracts at the University of Illinois. September 16 is the new pay date, one month earlier than the old one, and because of this change, the University claims the check represents one less week of work, and therefore one less week of pay, resulting in a smaller paycheck for these employees today. #file_2#

Speakers at the rally read from the University's own rules that state that academic employees are paid in equal monthly installments over the course of a 12-month contract, and that these installments are not to be "arbitrarily" changed. #file_3#

One academic professional put a personal spin on losing one week's pay, talking about how he would have to make a choice between buying enough food this month or paying fully for his mortgage. He observed that the University's motto is "Learning and Labor," not "Learning and Free Labor," to knowing applause.

The Association of Academic Professionals organized today's rally. The AAP is running a card drive to form a recognized bargaining unit for the University's academic professionals. Academic professional employees have recognized unions at many other similar institutions, such as Michigan State University.

In July, the Union of Professional Employees, which represents faculty and other professionals, like librarians, filed for an injunction against the implementation of the new payday. UPE president Al Kagan told the rally that the legal process is going slowly, although a judge has been assigned to the case.