Updates on a potential GTFF strike are ongoing. This article will be updated.

Why are Graduate Employees going on strike?

Since March 2023, GTFF — the union representing over 1,400 UO graduate employees — has been negotiating with the University of Oregon to sign a new union contract. In the past 10 months, GTFF and UO have come to an agreement on numerous contract negotiations including:

• Increased combination of paid and unpaid medical leave from 8 weeks to 16 weeks 

• Increased health coverage during summer months 

• Visa fee reimbursements for international GEs 

However, GTFF and UO have been unable to reach an agreement regarding compensation for GEs. GTFF argues that many GEs struggle to cover the cost of living in Eugene; therefore, GTFF has decided that going on strike is necessary to win the compensation that they want.

How and when will a strike begin?

If a deal is not met before Jan. 17, GTFF will officially begin its strike. GEs have been instructed to attend and teach classes as normal on Wednesday morning. At 11:30 a.m. approximately 1,100 participating GE’s will walk out of classrooms or labs and join a rally outside of the EMU at noon. After the rally concludes, members of GTFF will walk the picket line all afternoon. The location of the picket line is currently undetermined.
GTFF has said that students of any class will not be punished for leaving class during the walk-out on the 17, but the Daily Emerald is awaiting confirmation from UO administration whether students will or will not be punished for leaving classes during the potential strike.

How long could a GTFF strike last?

There is no telling how long a possible strike could last. GTFF told students at a Jan. 12 teach-in meeting that the best way to ensure the strike concludes quickly is to refuse to attend classes taught by “scabs,” in order to put pressure on UO to end the strike quickly. A scab is an individual who assumes a job vacancy formerly filled by a GE. Ultimately, the strike will end when GTFF and UO agree on outstanding negotiations.

How will students’ classes be impacted by a GE strike?

During a strike, graduate employees who are members of GTFF would refrain from all work-related activities, including teaching courses and grading. Students may see lectures modified to include lab or discussion content that would otherwise be instructed by a GE, or the use of asynchronous modules to replace a lab or discussion. If a GE who is an Instructor of Record is absent from their course, the supervisor of that GE may now oversee the class. UO’s complete guidelines for professors who may have to adapt their classes during the strike can be found here.

What is GTFF asking of students in the case of a strike?
GTFF is asking students to support the strike in several ways. On its website and social media, the union encourages students to: 

• Join the picket lines: GTFF is encouraging students to walk out of classes and partake in rallies that support the potential strike. 

• Don’t attend classes taught by “scabs.” 

• Fill out the GTFF solidarity pledge: The pledge, made by UO Young Democratic Socialists of America, seeks mass support for GTFF.