Representatives from Oregon State University and the Coalition of Graduate Employees met for mediation sessions on Nov. 22 and 25 to try to come to terms on wages for graduate employees and are set to continue again this week.

During the Nov 22 mediation session, according to a statement from CGE, “OSU responded to (CGE’s) slight decrease in merit raises with an additional raise to the minimum in year three of the contract, making the minimum as follows: 10%, 2%, 1% and 2% over a four-year contract. (OSU) maintained 3%, 2.75%, 3% and 4% merit raises.”

The statement also said that CGE proposed a 25% raise over three years, 20% in the first year followed by 2% and 2%. They maintained their merit raises at 4%, 3.5% and 3.5%.

“OSU responded to (CGE’s) fourth counter by moving .5% from the second year minimum raise, bringing it to 10.5%, 1.5%, 1% and 2%. OSU maintained their merit raises at 3%, 2.75%, 3% and 4%,” the CGE statement said.

However, according to CGE, this last offer did not change the cost of the overall offer, so CGE stopped moving in response and ended the session.

During the Nov. 25 mediation session, OSU’s new offer included an “increase to salary minimums and commensurate adjustment to returning employee increases reflective of union’s stated priority of increasing salary minimums for lowest paid graduate employees.”

The new offer now features a three-year contract term and a Letter of Agreement, with an effective contract date of Sept. 16, 2024, and a contract end date of Dec. 31, 2027.

“The Letter of Agreement offers to compensate the Graduate Employees proposed increases dating back to September 16, 2024, contingent upon CGE’s commitment to direct Graduate Employees, who chose to withhold their labor, to accurately report time not worked,” OSU’s graduate assistant bargaining page stated.

The offer also included a 13% increase to salary minimums with returning employee increases of 3%, 2.85% and 2.75%

OSU also offered employee benefits including 90% employer-paid premium healthcare plans, full tuition remission and fee remissions.

CGE and OSU are scheduled to meet next on Monday.