Your Higher Ed bargaining team met on Thursday and Friday last week to prepare for our upcoming first meeting with management. Here is a Report back from our January 15-16 work sessions:
Sign the petition for a strong contract!
It’s an easy way to make a powerful statement. Sign it, get your coworkers to sign it, talk it up on the job to every co-worker you see! Spread the word on social media using text from one of the emails we’ve sent you or copy it from the Higher Ed Facebook group. Check your email for a personalized link to sign the petition. Subject: Your first offical bargaining update for 2026
Improving our contract:
We spent time reviewing articles and drafting initial proposals in preparation for bargaining. We are discussing the things that you spoke to in the bargaining survey: economics, benefits, workload, employee protections, union power, AI and more.
Negotiations begin this February in Eugene:
Our first meeting with mgmt. is coming soon; February 12-13 at UO. We’re asking union members to show up in force and make it clear, you’re ready to fight for a good contract. Mark your calendars for February 12th, and join us for a rally from 12–1PM @ EMU Amphitheater.
Ground rules and Zoom observation:
We are currently exchanging proposals on ground rules for our negotiations. It’s important that you can observe both in person, and on Zoom. Mgmt. wants to limit Zoom observers to just 10 people, and we’ve made it clear that is unacceptable!
Stay tuned for regular bargaining updates as negotiations begin in a few weeks.