With not seeing adequate progress in bargaining, UO Student Workers made a call for a study-in at Johnson Hall to put pressure on the administration. The union says that they are making workers choose between safe working conditions and fair pay. At the end of the night, not seeing enough concessions, the union announced that it will be holding a strike authorization vote next week.
The action started out as a study-in, dozens of people took up the lobby at Johnson at 2 PM, a mix of student workers, graduate employees, and undergraduate supporters. Students took to class work and UOSW interspersed strike solidarity trainings throughout their time there. While attendance dipped and rised, with students needing to attend classes, Johnson Hall remained relatively full with supporters.
At 5:30 PM Johnson Hall was set to close, most people left, however 20 student workers stayed behind. The workers demanded to get a meeting with the Provost and a contract that addresses their economic and non-economic needs. While they were inside students and community members gathered outside to provide solidarity support.
“So, the package that we currently have from the University of Oregon is one of the most major packages that they have given us in mediation. This package includes language that has anti-harassment and discrimination protections. It also includes disability accommodation ” Ryan Campbell said in his remarks at the rally outside. “But they will only give us this proposal, if they agree to drop our two week pay period. If we agree to wages that are minimum wage for the next four years, with no cost of living adjustments”
Campbell works as Resident Assistant (RA) at the UO, one of the positions that the university is proposing the deepest changes to. The UO wants to split the job of an RA into two positions, a community builder position, and an on-call role that would mainly deal with late night security and safety concerns. The biggest blow that RAs are calling out is the removal of the stipend and full room and board coverage by UO. Instead they would only get partial credit for their room, 50% for community builder RAs, and 75% for on-call RAs, effectively what the union says is making them pay to work.
In parallel with UOSW, the faculty union United Academics (UA) has been bargaing with the administration and is facing a similar challenges. On February 18, after a year of bargaining, and seeing little movement on wages, UA declared impasse in negotiations, setting up a potential strike. UOSW is a part of the Campus Labor Council that also has UA, SEIU, and GTFF as members, each of them have supporting the other.
Inside Johnson Hall, the 20 student workers that decided to stay behind, after a long waiting period were able to get a hold of the Dean of Students. While outside fellow workers and supporters stood in solidarity chanting, singing, providing testimony.
After over three hours, the workers emerged saying they got some concessions, but not all. They were able to schedule a meeting with the Provost, the university also gave amnesty to those that participated in action. But without seeing adquate progress on contract needs, the union said they will be holding a strike authorization vote starting Monday, March 3.
The union believes through its strength in numbers, around 4K undergrads, they can apply pressure to the university to win a fair contract. A big part of that is talking to fellow workers. They also welcome community support, those that are interested can sign on to their pledge.
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