UO student workers join faculty in authorizing strike

UO Student Workers (UOSW) announced that their members authorized their bargaining team to call a strike. UOSW held week strike authorization vote that opened March 3 and ended last Friday. The union says that 2,476 of 4k student workers participated in the vote, and that 94% approved a strike authorization.

The news was announced in a joint press release with United Academics (UA), whose strike authorization vote also ended on Friday. With 89% of faculty union members participating, 92% said yes to a strike. UOSW also took part in the faculty union’s practice picket on Friday.

“This is a wake-up call for the UO administration. Faculty are critical infrastructure and, if necessary, we will strike to ensure that tuition and state appropriations go where they belong, to the educational mission of the university,” UA Secretary Chris Sinclair said.

UOSW says the issues that the university is not addressing fully are pay, pay period, and enforceable protections for harassment and discrimination.

“I’ve seen so much harrasment in my workplace go totally unadressed,” Sophia Jones, a Carson Dining worker said. “This should not be a normal part of coming to work. Stalking and sexual harrasment aren’t minor issues and shouldn’t be brushed off.”

UA called impasse on Feb. 18, while UOSW declared impase on March 12, given this both are not expected to launch a strike at the same time. Each union is still in talks with the university and seeking a fair contract to avoid a strike.