Protesting employees gathered outside of the Oregon University System office at Riverfront Research Park in Eugene on Thursday as bargaining continued between the Service Employees International Union and OUS bargaining teams for classified employees’ two-year contract.
University of Oregon chief bargaining delegate Kurt Willcox had been at the bargaining table all morning. However, when he came out of the offices in the afternoon to speak at the protest, little progress had been toward reaching an agreement. He told the crowd of employees that very little movement had been made on key issues in the contract, which includes the proposed low-wage increases and the decrease in employee benefits, including health care.
The proposed contract has been called the worst in nearly 20 years by SEIU members, and employees have threatened to strike if the proposal does not improve.

According to local SEIU president Gary Malone, classified employees have accepted decreased benefits in their past two contracts due to the poor economy. However, he said, the economy is improving and employees are still being offered less in their contracts.
“I think if things continue like this,” he said, “we will have to strike.”
The low-wage increases and cuts to employee benefits could cause UO employee Daniel Mundra to consider leaving. He has worked as an analyst programmer for the past two years and could find higher pay in the private sector. However, he said that the benefits and job security of working at the UO help to make up the difference.

“I’ll have to look at my options because the private sector has better pay but not better benefits,” he said. “But if those benefits are going to go away, then it’s not balanced anymore.”

Additionally, he said the low wages and decreasing benefits offered to UO employees is making hiring more difficult.

“It’s a little bit hard, and it’s less competitive,” Mundra said. “What I’ve been seeing a lot is that we’ve been having trouble hiring because we can’t give them as much as they want, and we can’t compete against the private sector. So, we can’t get the cream of the crop. We can’t get the good workers to come to the UO because we have nothing to give them except job security and benefits.”

He said he does not know what the outcome of the bargaining will be, and an employee strike is possible.

“The chances of a strike is fifty-fifty right now,” he said.

Bargaining will continue in Eugene on Friday. The current contract will expire on June 30.