University of Oregon faculty announce intent to strike as soon as March 31
University of Oregon faculty may strike as soon as the spring term begins.
United Academics of UO faculty union sent out a press release Monday, announcing it intends to strike as soon as March 31. The strike would follow 13 months of bargaining and mediations, after 92% of participating faculty voted in favor of a strike.
“Our members and the bargaining team did not arrive at this decision easily, but the university administration’s stubborn resistance to a fair and reasonable contract has brought us to the brink of a strike,” UAUO President Mike Urbancic said.
UAUO declared a bargaining impasse in February. Throughout a 30-day cooling-off period, UAUO and UO have continued to meet in mediations.
UAUO’s press release stated that it will strike, barring any last-minute progress.
“We will continue to be ready to bargain in an attempt to reach a fair and reasonable contract,” Urbancic stated.
“We value our faculty and appreciate their contributions and shared commitment to the University of Oregon, our students, and our future,” stated UO via email. “The UO is committed to negotiating a contract that fairly compensates faculty while ensuring long-term financial sustainability for the institution and its students. We appreciate the time and dedication that United Academics leaders and members bring to the bargaining process. We have made progress.”
Latest UO faculty salary proposals
UO submitted its latest salary proposal on Feb. 25. UAUO’s latest proposal was March 7. The largest discrepancy appeared to be proposed increases upon ratification of a contract.
|
Effective date |
UO offer |
UAUO offer |
|---|---|---|
|
Upon ratification |
A one-time payment of $1,850 for all active bargaining unit faculty members. 4% across the board increase for all active faculty in the tenure-track and tenured, career, pro tem, visiting and retired classifications. |
7.5% across-the-board increase |
|
Jan. 1, 2026 |
3% merit pool increase for career and tenure-track and tenured classifications.2% across the board increase for faculty in pro tem, visiting and retired classifications who held an appointment in the preceding academic or fiscal year. |
3.0% across-the-board increase.2.25% pool for external equity.2.25% pool for internal equity.Unused equity pool distributed across the board. |
|
Sep. 16, 2026(previously Jan. 1, 2027) |
3% merit pool increase for career and tenure-track and tenured classifications. 2% across the board increase for faculty in pro tem, visiting and retired classifications who held an appointment in the preceding academic or fiscal year. |
3.25% across-the-board increase4.25% unit-based merit pool |
Additionally, the two have proposed new salary floors, another area of incompatibility. UO has offered a 13.5% increase to all floors, establishing a $50,000 career instructor floor. UAUO has offered a 33% increase to instructional pro tem floors and a 20% increase to all other salary floors.
According to UO’s Human Resources, when adjusted for retirement contributions, payroll deductions for health insurance and cost of living, UO faculty’s total compensation is at 98.3 percent of the average of its Association of American Universities public peers.
UO’s salary proposal page also points to the lack of state funding, especially compared to AAU peers. UO received $98 million in state funding, compared to the $416.2 million average for AAU institutions.
“We have part-time faculty who can barely afford to live in Eugene,” Urbancic stated. “Our members teach tens of thousands of students every year, providing quality instruction, but we are not respected.”
UAUO and UO have recently met in mediation sessions on March 3, 7 and 13. During those sessions, a tentative agreement was reached on faculty leave. There is another mediation session set for Friday.
If it does come to it, this would be the first faculty strike in UO’s history. UAUO was formed in 2012 and represents 1,800 full-time and part-time faculty members at UO.
Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: University of Oregon faculty announce intent to strike
