We wrapped up our second bargaining session at the University of Oregon on Friday, and it is clear that we will have to fight hard to win the contract we deserve. While our union is making proposals that would improve classified workers’ standard of living and workplace protections, management is doing the opposite. And it’s not just that they’re asking us to take COLAs that are far below the actual cost of living—they’re pushing for takeaways across the board. You can read summaries of the proposals from our union and management here.

We presented our opening statement, along with all of our proposals for a contract that includes our bargaining priorities: respect for classified workers, pay that keeps up with inflation, safe and healthy workplaces, and maintaining our strong union. We also delivered our petition backing up those priorities with nearly 2,400 signatures—well over half of all classified workers across our seven universities.

Management gave us proposals that, if implemented, would mean huge takeaways that would seriously degrade classified staff’s work/life balance and our ability to support ourselves and our families. Over the course of the two days that we met, management proposed changes to articles, all of which would strip away essential rights from classified workers.

In addition, management proposed COLAs of 3.75% (effective when we finish bargaining) and 3% on Jan 1, 2025. This doesn’t come close to catching up with inflation and would mean that we would only receive two COLAs over the next three years.

On Friday, classified workers, undergraduate and graduate student workers, faculty, students (including UO undergraduate student workers who just won their union!), and community supporters all rallied to demand strong contracts for all, and to lift up our demands for a work environment where classified workers can continue to support our students while caring for ourselves and our families.