Amidst tense negotiations for a new contract, the union representing classified employees of Oregon’s public universities filed a grievance against the Oregon University System on Tuesday, claiming OUS has violated bargaining ground rules mandated by Oregon labor law.
Union representatives filed an “unfair labor practice” complaint with the Oregon Employment Relations Board, a state organization charged with resolving disputes in labor relations.
The Service Employees International Union Local 503, which represents 3,700 classified workers at seven public Oregon universities, including 1,230 at the University, said OUS did not bargain in good faith when it introduced a “re-opener” clause Sep. 14 in a modified final offer to classified staff. The union says bargaining ground rules and Oregon labor law prevent a party involved in labor talks from re-opening an article for negotiation after sides publicly delcare final proposals.
“It’s a violation of the contract that limits what issues are up for discussion,” said Terry Cavanagh, chief spokesman for the union.
Cavanagh said the re-opener clause was not included in the final offer made to classified staff by OUS on Aug. 13.
The union is hopeful a bargaining session scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m. in Salem produces a settlement.
If a settlement is not reached by this weekend, classified staff have threatened to strike Sep. 24, the day fall classes begin.
The union is pushing for an increase in wages, improved health benefits and a minimum living wage of $9.50 an hour for the lowest-paid workers, some of whom the union said qualify for government aid such as food stamps. The two sides have been negotiating a contract since April 11.
OUS spokesperson Bob Bruce could not be reached for comment by Tuesday evening.
Union representatives at the University said the re-opener would empower OUS to again open contract negotiations on wages and health benefits if a budget shortfall occurs.
“Our main problem with the modified final offer is the poison pill language,” said James Jacobson, office specialist for the Early Intervention Program and union representative for University classified staff. “They can open the contract anytime in the next two years if their budget is threatened.”