Following an 11-day voting period, the University of Oregon Student Workers Union has voted to authorize a strike, according to a social media post by UOSW. 

According to the post, the authorization passed with 94.5% of voting union members voting “yes.” 

This vote means that UOSW’s bargaining team has the ability to call for a strike if an agreement is not reached with UO administration by March 19, according to Izzie Marshall, a bargaining team member for UOSW. 

“It’s up to UO to make a fair offer. Student workers know what we deserve and will continue to fight for higher wages, improved pay period and enforcing our harassment protections,” the post said. 

According to Marshall, 2476 union members voted. 

The voting period started on March 4 and concluded on March 14.  

On March 12, UOSW declared an impasse with UO administration. Both sides now have until March 19 to submit “final offers with costing” before a 30-day cooling-off period begins.   

According to UO spokesperson Eric Howald, once the 30-day cooling-off period ends on April 19, the union could go on strike on April 29 after a ten-day notice beginning on April 19.   

According to Marshall, UOSW is willing to work with the university’s bargaining team to reach an agreement. 

“Our (UOSW) bargaining team is willing to negotiate and compromise and create a solution with a university’s bargaining team to reach a fair contract,” Marshall said. 

Marshall said they feel “hopeful” about how negotiations are going. 

“We (UOSW) know that the vote and student workers talking with their coworkers and getting ready to strike if necessary is putting pressure on the university and the university bargaining team to come into negotiations with us,” Marshall said.