2026 Higher Ed Tentative Agreement Summary
1) Art 4: Term. Four (4) year contract effective through June 30, 2030, with a reopener in February 2028 to negotiate COLAs for the third and fourth years of the contract. Both sides can also open an additional five (5) articles in the reopener, however neither side can open articles on steps, health insurance or layoff.
2) Art 10: Union Rights. Strengthened Union rights and access, including 30-minute Union orientations for new workers on paid time within the first 30 days of hire.
3) Art 13: Contracting Out. Current contract language. Maintained protections despite Management proposals to gut the feasibility study.
4) Art 16: Personnel Records. Increased access to personnel and supervisory files for stewards to represent workers; added a contractual guarantee that supervisory files are kept separate from personnel files.
5) Art 17: Discipline and Discharge. Cleaned up the article to improve understanding of just cause and disciplinary progression.
6) Art 18: Grievance. Streamlined parts of the grievance procedure to provide thorough representation and resolution.
7) Art 19: No Discrimination. Strengthened language on anti-discrimination in hiring and employment to include gender identity and mental and physical disability. Added a new section on transgender rights.
8) Art 21: Salary. 3% COLA on November 1, 2026, and 3% COLA on November 1, 2027. Reopener negotiations in February 2028 for additional COLAs.
9) Art 22: Salary Administration (Steps). Current contract language. Secured steps each year of the 4-year contract.
10) Art 24: Health Insurance. Maintained coverage amidst steep cost increases nationwide. Defended against Management proposal to eliminate guaranteed access to the 97/3 low-cost plans.
11) Art 31: Trial Service. Stopped Management’s proposal to require workers returning to work from a recall list to do another trial service.
12) Art 36: Sick Leave. Current contract language. Stopped Management’s proposal to take away hardship leave donations.
13) Art 37: Bereavement. Defeated Management’s proposal to cap bereavement at two deaths per year.
14) Art 43: Vacation. Defeated Management’s proposal to complicate the optional annual vacation cash-out of 40 hours and move the cash-out from January to July.
15) Art 44: Layoff. Stopped Management’s proposal to weaken layoff protections and eliminate bumping rights. Won recall rights for workers that are illegally detained by immigration authorities.
16) Art 46: Academic Year Positions. Clarified how PEBB coverage continues in the summer months.
17) Art 48: Reclassifications. Strengthened reclass language by requiring the Universities to consider submitted evidence, and not just a revised Position Description.
18) Art 57: Uniforms, Protective Clothing and Tools. Improved language that requires Universities to use industry standards for protective clothing. Secured reimbursement for maintenance of worker-owned “tools of a trade.” Secured language for protective gear during work in inclement weather, extreme heat or cold stress (e.g. cold storage rooms).
19) Art 58: Inclement Weather. Secured 48 hours of leave during the 2026-2028 biennium, and another 48 hours during the 2028-2030 biennium for inclement weather closures and delayed openings.
20) Art 59: Tech Retraining. Improved language requiring Universities to meet with the Union in an equal 3/3 committee to review anticipated technological changes and the impact on the working conditions of bargaining unit members.
21) Art 61: Information Technology Compensation Plan. Agreed to standardize pay increases for “meets standards” to 5.75% and 3% for At/Below and Above, respectively.
22) UO and OSU Meal Plans. Current contract language. Stopped MANAGEMENT’s proposal to increase the cost of discounted shift meals for Housing and Dining Service workers at UO and OSU.
Still to be resolved:
Salary Selectives: Agreement to continue negotiations in 2027 for Library Techs, Trades Maintenance 1 and 2, Locksmiths and Pipefitters.
Side letter on UO childcare centers and PSU Union access: Agreement to meet within 90 days of ratification to discuss and seek resolution to these issues.