Big Wins and Important Moves in Monday’s Mediation Session

We made significant progress during our second (12+ hour!) mediation session with UO on October 9. After months of holding on to our Caregiving Support and International GE Support articles, the administration’s team brought them back to the table—and though their offers were underwhelming (they struck most of our proposals), it meant that we could finally have more holistic and informed discussions about our financial priorities.

UO’s 2 percent wage offer made our members walk out 

The audience of more than 65 GEs and allies walked out of our bargaining session on August 3 in response to a pitiful salary offer from UO. The university’s team had held on to our last counteroffer for 75 days, yet their long-awaited proposal offered merely a 2 percent raise to current GEs making above… Continue reading UO’s 2 percent wage offer made our members walk out 

UO, allow us to explain how bargaining works

Though GEs were excited to see that UO had finally brought counterproposals to our July 20 bargaining session, tension in the room ratcheted up each time the university’s team revealed a proposal that wasn’t the one we’d been waiting for: Article 22, GE salaries. When GTFF’s team finally asked where their proposal was, UO reiterated… Continue reading UO, allow us to explain how bargaining works

UO’s mask-off moment makes their priorities clear

The July 6 bargaining session got heated when a discussion about international students’ access to summer funding and work opportunities led UO’s team to state outright what has long been implied by their stonewalling: They’re not willing to recognize what it takes for graduate employees to survive year-round in Eugene, and although their initial wage… Continue reading UO’s mask-off moment makes their priorities clear