The Coalition of Graduate Employees will strike starting Tuesday if wage negotiations do not go well with Oregon State University, said CGE’s vice presidents of organizing, Maddy Duong and Emerson Barret.
According to OSU’s bargaining website, the demands from CGE, as of their Oct. 3 final offer, is an increase of minimum salary for graduate employees by 50% with a 4% minimum salary increase each year for continual assistance and a 4-year term of agreement with limited reopener to discuss select articles after two years.
Meanwhile, OSU, as of their Oct. 28 final offer, has offered an increase of the minimum salary by 8% in year one and a 2% minimum salary increase in year four, a 4% salary increase for continual assistance in year one which would be reduced to 2% in years two through four and 3% in year five as well as a 5-year agreement with no reopener.
According to OSU, the current university spending on the aspects of the contract being negotiated is about $91.8 million. They project that their proposed contract would cost the university an additional $7.3 million while CGE’s proposed contract would cost an additional $64.8 million.
CGE’s estimates look at slightly different figures placing OSU’s current spending at about $47 million, with the increase of CGE’s proposed contract costing an additional $18.6 million. For a detailed outline of both parties’ estimated costs and proposed contracts, visit Oregon’s Employee Relations Board website.
In an email from OSU Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Manager Lanesha Reagan
said, “In the event that the CGE chooses to strike, the university will be prepared to provide continuity to the educational mission of the institution. The university is hopeful that we can reach agreement on the contract prior to a time when the CGE feels it may be necessary to strike.”
Reagan said that OSU “remains committed to working toward a contract that is sustainable and honors the important work of graduate employees.”
Meanwhile, according to CGE’s website, the Coalition has a differing opinion about the negotiations. “(OSU is) asking us to accept wage stagnation and a dramatic limitation on how often we are able to negotiate the contract. Going on strike might be the only way we can preserve our rights and secure fair pay for our work.”
If CGE goes on strike, graduate teacher’s assistants will not be grading assignments and certain classes taught by graduate employees may simply be canceled.
The mediation sessions between the two groups were held today with a second session on Monday.
If undergraduate students wish to show their support for the CGE, they can follow this link to sign a letter of support that will be sent to the university.
