Updated: 8/22, 1:45 p.m.
Note: The print edition of this op-ed misidentified tax dollars as
the source of the Joey Harrington billboard, not donor dollars. The
Emerald regrets the error.
The Emerald’s coverage of SEIU Local 085/OPEU’s declaration of
impasse (in our contract re-opener) as well as our Aug. 6 campus
action was much appreciated. It should be noted, though, that it’s
not the Emerald’s fault that the Oregon University System’s
spokesman, Bob Bruce, dished out a large serving of tripe for the
press.
He scored a big zero in my book when he failed to mention that the
OUS couldn’t come up with any dollar figures for wages even by
July 20, when we moved from bargaining to mediation.
Typically, by the end of the fiscal year, business-minded folks have
a handle on their dollars and cents, but the OUS could not offer us
a full economic proposal, even though by that time it most certainly
was aware of its Legislature funding.
Now their self-selected extension has arrived, ironically coinciding
with the required (legal) deadline following declaration of
impasse, and we’re looking at an offer that reflects what some
view as progress since it proposes a 2 percent wage increase for
each of the next two years. However, what Mr. Bruce fails to
mention is that the proposed first raise is delayed, when in fact it
should take effect July 1 of this year. This meager wage proposal
is not terribly impressive, especially when viewed in conjunction
with the insurance proposal. The OUS apparently does not believe
it can manage insurance premium payments comparable to what
was offered to our 17,000 union brothers and sisters by the state
Department of Administrative Services. The Chancellor’s team
proposes that classified workers making $30,000 a year and
above pay into the premiums, while those below would not. This
would essentially be a loss in pay for them, certainly not an
incentive to advance within the classified system and a real swell
tool for driving a wedge between union members.
Compound this with all the other familiar surprises being pulled
out of the bag, such as contract language that would make it
easier to use more temp workers and outside contractors to do
our jobs, undermine our seniority rights and attack our earned
overtime rights — and I am all the more untrusting of the OUS
cyclical cat-and-mouse budgetary game.
In our third bargaining go-round since the OUS was split off (by the
Legislature) from the DAS, we continue to be treated like
second-class employees. Meanwhile, our DAS counterparts get
their contracts worked out in a more timely manner, and what they
get offered from the get-go is always better. Even though the OUS
insisted years ago that it could handle its money more efficiently if
granted some autonomy, I am seriously unimpressed with how
we, as workers, have fared under its academic wing.
Now, once again, we get to watch the biennial drama of priorities
unfold. Most faculty, administrators and officers of administration
continue to get higher percentage raises than we even ask for.
Further, the latter group (the OAs, as we call them) bulges to a
ratio of 1 of them to 1.4 of us (in the bargaining unit), and we see
no evidence of a reversal in this tilted management trend.
Meanwhile, a depiction of Joey Harrington stands in Madison
Square Garden to remind us of the $250,000 of general funds that
couldn’t possibly have been used for our wages, but will be paid
back by athletic backers, we are promised. New construction
continues to take place around the state, and a myriad of
maintenance projects continue to be funded.
I am among the union workers who keep this bureaucratic
monstrosity running, in spite of the disrespectful way we are
bargained with, to say nothing of the pittance we are offered at the
end of each bargaining cycle, and I am outraged.
Star Holmberg is a member of SEIU Local 085/OPEU and is a
delegate of its General Council.