Hundreds of Oregon State University’s unionized graduate student employees are gearing up for a possible strike in the coming weeks.
Members of Oregon State University Coalition of Graduate Employees rally at a practice picket on the Corvallis campus, on Oct. 16, 2024. The union's contract with OSU ended this summer.
Courtesy of Rachael Garcia via OSUCGE
Earlier this week, 93% of voting members represented by OSU’s Coalition of Graduate Employees union said yes to authorizing a strike. About 90% of the union’s members participated in the strike authorization vote, according to CGE.
The union plans to send a 10-day notice of its intent to strike on Nov. 2. Such notices are required before the union can legally take to the picket lines. A CGE strike could occur as early as Nov. 12.
The union represents more than 1,700 OSU graduate employees, including teaching and research assistants. CGE is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers.
This week’s action comes after more than a year of difficult contract negotiations between the union and OSU, according to CGE. Bargaining first began more than a year ago, in late August 2023. Little progress has been made since then, said OSU PhD student and CGE President Austin Bosgraaf.
“The University’s team has, seemingly, taken on this strategy of slowing down the process and making very small movements,” said Bosgraff. “It’s been a lot of stonewalling over the course of the year at these bargaining sessions.”
CGE’s contract expired on June 30, 2024. CGE and OSU declared an impasse in September and have been in mediation since early last month.
OSU spokesperson Lanesha Reagan said the university is hopeful that it can reach an agreement with CGE before a strike could occur.
“Oregon State University continues to work hard to address issues raised by the Coalition of Graduate Employees through continuing discussions and remains committed to work toward a contract that is sustainable and honors the important work of graduate employees,” said Reagan in an emailed statement. “In the event that the CGE chooses to strike, the university will be prepared to provide continuity to the educational mission of the institution.”
A strike of OSU’s graduate workers could have a big impact on the university’s day-to-day teaching operations. The union said many of its members teach required undergraduate courses in several of the university’s schools.
But a strike is not imminent, said Bosgraaf. It is possible the union and OSU can come to an agreement in the coming days as two more negotiations are scheduled before Nov. 12.
More than 1,700 of OSU's graduate teaching and research assistants are represented by the Coalition of Graduate Employees.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
Wages are a big sticking point between the two parties. CGE is currently asking for a 45% salary increase for its lowest-paid workers over the life of its next contract, which would raise the minimum monthly wage by about $800 to $2,549. OSU has offered an 8% increase.
At OSU’s Board of Trustees meeting on Friday, Oct. 25, several CGE members urged the university to bargain in good faith.
During public comment, union members described a lack of respect and engagement from OSU, noting that the university was at the bargaining table for less than 40 minutes at a recent five-hour negotiation session. Other CGE members talked about the financial hardships faced by some of the union’s lowest-paid members, including taking on extra jobs, skipping meals and maxing out credit cards to make ends meet.
Union members at the meeting also questioned the board’s decision to give OSU president Jayathi Murthy a 4% salary increase, raising her total yearly salary to more than $780,000, amid CGE’s fight to increase graduate student wages.
“Graduate employees are not being valued and certainly do not feel valued,” said OSU graduate student Erika Stewart at the meeting. “Does [Murthy] deserve to be paid $64,000 per month while graduate students have to take on second and third jobs and depend on food pantries just to scrape by?”
OSU trustees have praised Murthy for her efforts to rebuild the Pac-12 athletic conference and for her implementation of the university’s new strategic plan. Enrollment at the university has also continued to increase under her leadership. Murthy previously received a 6% salary increase in January.
Disputes over salary are not the only issue. OSU and CGE disagree on a university proposal that looks to extend the contract length by a year. CGE’s current and past contracts lasted four years, with options to renegotiate wages and other terms, every two years.
“This is something that the university is trying to take from us,” said Bosgraaf. “We see this as a fundamental weakening of our power as a union and so we are not standing for that.”
CGE is one of four unions at OSU. The faculty union, United Academics at Oregon State University, is simultaneously negotiating a new contract with the university. Its contract also expired on June 30 this year.