Last week’s two-day strike was the first in the history of University of Illinois-Chicago.  We all hope it’s the last: administration because it doesn’t like to be embarrassed and get negative publicity for its own policies (Ph.D’s trying to live on $30,000 in Chicago?), and faculty because it shouldn’t have to come to this.  What at least one reporter thought was notable was that increased salaries and job security for non-tenure track faculty was central to the strike.  It’s not that he’s wrong; as union leaders proudly proclaim, those are central demands.