Mar 26, 2007 - Holding signs saying "Fair Wages" and "Affordable Healthcare!" University of Oregon members rallied enthusiastically on March 20, the first of our two-day bargaining session.

   There is still a great deal of distance between management’s proposals and our goals. Lois Yoshishige, UO Local President, called for all members to get involved in helping ensure our proposals for Living Wages and Health Care coverage are taken seriously.

   Following the precedent set at Western, University of Oregon (UO) members raised the activism bar even higher for members on all campuses.

   We had a compelling Selective Salary presentation from the Library Technicians, led by Deniece Davis from OIT, and another from Will Harmon, an IT worker at UO, regarding the Information Technologies compensation plan proposal. 

   Both presenters had energetic statewide support from members in these classifications.

   The teams have now completed an exhaustive review of both sides' complete proposals. Our next steps will include counter-proposal exchanges, lots of discussion, and several more rounds of Selective Salary presentations.

   The April 19th and 20th bargaining meetings will take place at OSU. In addition to the bargaining, there will be a rally (a chance for members to raise the bar even higher) and additional events.

   Check in with your CAT member or Local President to see how you can be part of winning a fair contract.

   The schedule for April 19 includes hearing from the Office Worker Group, Veterinary Technicians, Campus Dispatchers, Campus Public Safety Officers, Environmental Health and Safety Technologists, Auto Mechanics, Locksmiths, Carpenters, and Ship Classifications.

   Come out and support these presentations, the members who put them together and the campus events.