Management moved because workers made noise. After classified staff rallied, emailed university leaders, observed bargaining and told management HELL NO, management moved off its original position on steps and returned to the table with a different approach.
Our bargaining team credits member action across Oregon’s seven public universities with forcing that movement. Management changed its position without our team accepting the earlier proposal or passing another package on steps.
A crack in management’s position
This is movement in a better direction, and it matters. It is also not a fair settlement. Management’s revised direction on steps still falls short, and our bargaining team has not accepted it.
We do not need to sell a weak proposal as a victory to recognize the lesson: when workers organize and speak with one voice, management responds.
What has not changed
- Management is still at 0% COLA.
- Takeaways affecting layoff and bumping rights remain on the table.
- Takeaways affecting contracting-out protections remain on the table.
- Management has not resolved its proposed health care changes.
Our bargaining team has been clear: what management has on the table will not settle this contract.
Movement is a reason to organize harder
Workers created movement on steps. Now we need to show management that the same organized workforce will not accept 0% cost-of-living raises or weaker workplace protections.
Sign the Higher Ed strike pledge, then ask 10 coworkers to sign with you. The pledge is not a strike-authorization vote. It shows our bargaining team and management that workers reject what is on the table and are ready to keep fighting.
The message for management
We noticed the movement. We know why it happened. And we are not done.
Our work keeps these universities running. We will keep organizing until management brings back a contract that respects that work.