On Monday, Sept. 28, more than 100 classified staff members from the University of Oregon (UO) assembled outside Johnson Hall to celebrate a tentative contract agreement reached just hours earlier. The deal, negotiated between the Service Employees International Union Local 503 and the bargaining team representing Oregon’s seven public universities, averts a strike that was set to begin later that day.
Key terms of the four‑year agreement
The tentative agreement, which runs through June 30, 2030, includes several economic provisions that the union says meet its bottom line:
- 3% base wage increases in November 2026 and November 2027, matching the union’s original request after the universities’ September 24 offer of 2% each year.
- Full step increases through 2030, preserving seniority‑based salary hikes that the universities had sought to pause from July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2028.
- Continuation of the universities’ 95%–97% contribution toward health‑care premiums for classified employees.
- No “takeaways” that would alter contract provisions on outsourcing or layoff protections.
The agreement represents a 15.24% wage increase over a two‑year period for an “eligible employee,” according to university spokesperson Zakary Gosa‑Lewis.
Union leaders praise the outcome
Jennifer Smith, president of the UO SEIU sub‑local, told Lookout Eugene‑Springfield, “We are really thrilled that our bottom line was met at the table. It made us able to come back to work today and avert a strike because our members weren’t going to settle for literally anything less.”
Gosa‑Lewis added, “Both teams worked diligently throughout the day to address outstanding issues and find common ground.” He emphasized that the agreement covers more than 4,500 classified employees across over 200 classifications.
Workers feel relief and optimism
Becket DeChant, an arborist of nine years at the university, said the tentative deal lets him focus on his job rather than “looking for another one” to make ends meet. He described the universities’ initial offer as a “list of concessions” and expressed gratitude that the union “fought back.”
Johnny Earl, president of SEIU 503, addressed the crowd, “Somehow, some way, we’re going to win this contract… management’s going to recognize the work we do and give us the respect we deserve.” The crowd responded with chants of “We won!” and shared dozens of pizzas that had been prepared for a day of picketing.
Impact on students and the community
With more than 100,000 students returning for the fall term, university officials highlighted that a stable, fairly compensated workforce is essential to delivering a high‑quality educational experience. Smith noted, “No one here is trying to get rich. We are just trying to support our families in the communities that we serve, and it’s becoming more and more difficult. This is a result that we can live with, and you can see looking around that people are quite pleased with the outcome.”
The agreement also safeguards existing protections against outsourcing and layoffs, addressing long‑standing concerns among classified staff about job security.
Next steps
While the agreement remains tentative pending ratification by union members, the rapid resolution demonstrates the effectiveness of collaborative bargaining and the willingness of both sides to avoid disruption to campus operations. If ratified, the contract will set a benchmark for future negotiations across Oregon’s public university system.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
