Nearly 200 employees were laid off in the most recent round of cuts, bringing the total up to 261 in the last year.
The layoffs from nine days ago were all civil service workers, but now money is needed to pay the professors of the university.
The administration proposed a plan to reduce salaries until Eastern receives its appropriations from the state, but the teachers union, the University Professionals of Illinois, voted down the proposal.
In an email to News Watch, President David Glassman says he is "disappointed" with the union's decision to vote down the administration's proposal.
He says the new proposal would provide the necessary money to cover the budget gap, but several of the provisions could cause harm to the university.
Voting is also open March 21 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 2:30-4:30 p.m.