GTFF, the union representing over 1,400 graduate teachers employed by UO, has declared an impasse on its ongoing bargaining talks with UO. The impasse, declared on Thursday, Oct. 19 and confirmed by Leslie Selcer, GTFF president, means that the union and the university have yet to find enough common ground in their negotiations.
GTFF wrote to the Daily Emerald, “our declaration of impasse is the direct result of UO refusing to acknowledge the severity of the economic situation we are currently in.”
“We’re not moving fast enough for how long we’ve been in bargaining and the expectations of our members,” GTFF said in its Oct. 16 announcement.
The university wrote in a statement to the Emerald that despite the progress that has been made, significant differences remain.
“The complexities and economic impact of the numerous proposals are interdependent and extend beyond salary,” UO said in its statement.
Either side had the option to declare an impasse in the negotiations after 15 days of mediation. UO and GTFF began the mediation process on Oct. 4. That mediation process included a third party, a mediator from the state Employment Relations Board, to help broke a mutual agreement between UO and GTFF.
In the eyes of the GTFF, that mutual agreement hasn’t been producing enough results.
“There’s a lot on the table we’re still not close on,” GTFF said.
Now that an impasse has been declared, a seven-day timeline has been established that requires both parties to publish public “final offers.” The deadline for final offers will be Oct. 26.
At that deadline, another clock will begin counting down.
UO said in its statement “based on the timing of the declaration of impasse, each party will submit their final offers and cost estimates by Oct. 26.”
With the official final offers published, a 30-day “cooling off” period will begin. This time frame gives each party an opportunity to evaluate the other party’s offer. For UO, it will have time to evaluate GTFF’s final offer and see what common ground can be reached, if any. For GTFF, this period means evaluating the merits of UO’s offer, the impacts on its members and deciding if UO’s offer is close to what its seeking.
“For the last eight months, GTFF’s Bargaining Team has consistently provided well-researched arguments, peer institution data and GE testimony in support of our proposals,” Selcer said.
UO said in its statement that they are “hopeful” to reach an agreement with GTFF, and that it will “continue to work with university management and the union”.
On Oct. 9, UO President John Karl Scholz said in an interview with the Emerald that negotiations with unions like GTFF were “next in the queue” for the university, and that UO representatives are following the established negotiating process with the union.
