Your Latest Bargaining Update and Strike Vote Info

Management barely moved during Wednesday’s mediation session. Their latest offer is still far below inflation: 1.5% COLA in year 1, and 1% in year 2. They continue to propose a step freeze in the second year of our contract, removing the guaranteed low-cost health plan, and are still pushing a 4-year contract without guarantees of raises in years 3 and 4. On top of it all, they are still coming after our Layoff and Contracting Out protections.

Our union bargaining team countered with a 3% COLA in the first year, and 3% in the second year of a 2-year contract. We continue to say ‘hell no’ to management’s takeaways.

Meanwhile, PSU workers packed the streets in a rally that showed exactly what solidarity looks like: student workers, classified staff, and faculty marching and chanting together in a powerful show of higher ed labor unity.

Based on a lack of acceptable movement from management on economics, we are officially calling for a strike vote. 54% of classified staff worry about running out of money before their next paycheck. 62% can’t save regularly. And administrators are pulling quarter-million-dollar salaries or more while telling us to accept less. Enough.

A member can vote at any campus that is most accessible to them. For the specific times and locations, click here, votes will be cast in person on the dates listed below:

• University of Oregon – Monday, September 14
• Oregon State University – Monday, September 14
• Portland State University – Monday, September 14
• Southern Oregon University – Monday, September 14
• Western Oregon University – Tuesday, September 15
• Eastern Oregon University – Tuesday, September 15
• Oregon Institute of Technology – Tuesday, September 15
• OSU Cascades Campus – Tuesday, September 15
• UO Portland Campus – Tuesday, September 15

For specific vote times and locations, click this link.

If you cannot vote in person during the scheduled time, you can request an absentee ballot by using the link in your email. Please keep these important absentee ballot deadlines in mind:

• Absentee ballots must be requested by 5pm Monday, September 14
• Absentee ballots will be emailed to requestors on Monday and must be returned by 8 pm Tuesday, September 15