Dear graduate employee,
As you know, the University of Oregon continues negotiating with the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation (GTFF), the union that represents graduate student employees (GEs) for a successor collective bargaining agreement. This afternoon, the union notified the university that a GTFF labor strike will begin on Wednesday, January 17, and the university administration is planning accordingly.
We respect the right of GTFF members to conduct a legal strike and hope to reach a fair and equitable agreement quickly. The university’s bargaining team will remain actively engaged in negotiations. In the meantime, university academic and research operations are preparing for the strike.
The university’s bargaining team will continue making itself available to meet with the GTFF bargaining team and state mediator in its ongoing effort to reach agreement. The next mediation session is scheduled on January 11. You can stay informed about the status of GTFF bargaining and the potential strike by visiting the HR website, which provides updates on bargaining issues, including GE salary (article 22). You will also find Frequently Asked Questions specific to GEs.
I would like to share information that may answer questions you have as a UO graduate student employee:
- Participation in a strike is a personal choice made by each individual graduate employee.
- You can choose to come to work. Each GE decides on their own whether to report to work or to strike.
- If you choose to strike, you may return to work at any time. However, consistent with Oregon law, if you choose to go back out on strike, you would be unable to return to work again until the strike ends.
- You are a graduate student first and foremost. Faculty will expect you to continue your education and pursuit of professional goals without disruption, regardless of your participation in the labor strike. This includes continuing course work, individual and for-credit research related to your degree goal, and any other academic-related or professional activity needed to make progress toward or support your degree completion.
UO is a public institution of higher education with the responsibility of providing the best education possible to its students, despite a work stoppage. Oregon law makes it clear that only members of the designated bargaining unit are permitted to take part in the strike, and those not represented by the GTFF are prohibited from participating. Other UO employees, including those with union representation, are expected to carry out their assigned responsibilities.
The university is committed to an outcome that positions GEs and the UO for long-term success and reaching agreement on a successor contract is a top priority. Regardless of the differences at the bargaining table, we remain a community of students, faculty, and staff pursuing a shared mission.
Best regards,
Chris Meade
Director of Employee and Labor Relations
