On Nov. 12, the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation held its opening bargaining session for its discussions with the University of Oregon administration in the Erb Memorial Union Ballroom from 1 to 5 p.m. The discussions for this academic year came after last year’s negotiations which led to an eight day GTFF strike in December.
At the opening bargaining session, many of the GTFF’s priorities were presented. Presented ideas included: pay raises to match the costs of living for graduate students in Eugene, creating a welcoming, safe environment for all members of the campus community, improving access and care for parents in the campus community by providing better lactation spaces at UO and fully funding childcare for graduate students that have children.
One of the main goals that the GTFF had in its bargaining sessions over the past two months with the university included having GTF paid sick leave and coming to an agreement on the eligibility and usage of paid sick days. This was accomplished after the opening bargaining session. This goal for the GTFF was emphasized in its discussions for this academic year after Senate Bill 454 was passed by Oregon legislation over the summer requiring employers to provide sick time.
According to a GTFF press release, the GTFF and university came to an agreement that graduate employees would be granted the right to take whole paid sick days off when needed, as opposed to only parts of a workday.
Each graduate employee is now able to accrue two paid sick days per academic term, and have one additional paid day during the first term of the school year. Graduate students that also act as substitutes will be paid time and a half for their efforts to ensure that undergraduate students won’t face any interruptions in their education when their GTFs are sick.
The university’s bargaining team held their opening bargaining session on Nov. 19, and the GTFF is ready to continue their bargaining sessions with the university.
While the GTFF and UO are still in the early stages of their discussions, the recent paid sick leave agreement has left the GTFF feeling ready for the next steps in their discussions.
“We (GTFF) are prepared to work with the administration to work out a contract that will be beneficial to graduate employees and the university community as a whole,” GTFF President Shawna Meechan said. “We are hopeful that this will be a productive and collaborative bargaining cycle.”
Although not every GTF on campus is a part of the GTFF and its sessions, the effects that the discussions between the labor union and university impact them greatly, as they impact the relationship between UO and the GTFs on campus.
“I’m optimistic that the University of Oregon and GTFs will continue to forge a strong relationship that is grounded in the best interests of our collective stakeholders, students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community,” UO GTF Derek Moscato said. “GTFs are proud to be an integral part of the UO community, and I don’t see that ever changing.”