University of Oregon graduate employees have voted to authorize a strike.
The Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation has been bargaining over the next round of three-year contracts since March. The parties reached an impasse in October, and 97% of voting members authorized a strike on Friday.
The union represents about 1,400 graduate employees who teach and conduct research at the University of Oregon. Union leaders are asking for better wages and working conditions, as well as direct support for international graduate employees and graduate employees who are caregivers.
“We can’t live like this,” union president Leslie Selcer said in a statement. “UO must bring us fair wages that reflect the value of [graduate employee] labor and years of dramatic increases to the local cost of living.”
The union could go on strike or the university could impose a final contract as soon as Nov. 27.
In a statement, university leaders said they are committed to reaching an agreement, “while also fulfilling our responsibilities to ensure academic and research continuity in the event that the GTFF issues a strike notice. "
