While early risers studied in the Memorial Union Thursday morning, chants echoed through the halls from the MU lounge.
The Coalition of Graduate Employees brought their picketing inside to the President’s Winter Celebration, their words directed to Oregon State University President Jayathi Murthy.
With about 100 members of their union showing up, they surrounded the guests of the celebration with signs, banners and chants.
When asked during the event, Murthy said she had no comment. She was not seen responding to any of the speeches and comments directed at her.
The CGE went on strike on November 12 after months of negotiations with the university for fair wages were met with a contract they did not agree with.
CGE is a union that represents over 1700 Graduate Employees according to their website. They work to support wages, working conditions and fair employment among other things. The union has been in existence for about 25 years, but this is the first union strike at OSU.
“Oregon State University values the contributions of graduate employees and we are hopeful to make progress towards a tentative agreement during the next mediation session on Friday, December 6,” said Lanesha Reagan, strategic communications and public affairs manager at OSU.
OSU and CGE are once again bargaining as of Friday morning.
Reporter Kip Franich contributed to this story.
