2021 Oregon Tech strike

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2021 Oregon Tech strike
DateApril 26 – May 4, 2021
(1 week and 1 day)
Location
Klamath Falls, Oregon, United States
Wilsonville, Oregon, United States
Caused byDisagreements over labor contract between university and union
Goals
  • Decreased workload
  • Increased pay
Methods
Resulted inUnion ratifies labor contract including wage increases and codified work environment protections
Parties

The 2021 Oregon Tech strike was a

labor strike involving faculty members from the Oregon Institute of Technology. The strike was organized by the Oregon Tech - American Association of University Professors (OT-AAUP), a local union
representing the faculty members that had been formed in 2018 and was recognized by the university in 2019. Following its recognition, the union and university entered into contract negotiations for the faculty members' first labor contract. However, negotiations proceeded slowly, and by early 2021, an agreement had not been reached. On March 17, both sides presented their final offers and the following month, union members voted to authorize strike action. On April 26, following a round of last-minute negotiations, the union officially commenced strike action.

At the start of the strike, faculty members began picketing outside of the university's campuses in Klamath Falls and Wilsonville. Some classes were affected by the strike, while the university brought in temporary replacement workers to cover for some of the striking workers. Negotiations began several days after the strike started, and on May 4, a tentative agreement was reached that saw the faculty members return to work, with ratification voting occurring over the next few days. The five-year contract included provisions for pay increases and codified certain provisions for work environment and workload for the faculty.

Background

Oregon Tech's campus in Klamath Falls
, 2014

The

vote of no confidence held by the Faculty Senate, 92 percent of the faculty voted in favor of no confidence, with the results of the vote presented to the Oregon Tech Board of Trustees.[6] One union member, in an interview with Inside Higher Ed, stated that efforts towards unionization at the university had started in 2018 following Naganathan's arrival to Oregon Tech.[5]

On April 8, OT-AAUP gave the university their strike notice, stating that strike action would commence "no earlier than Monday, April 26".[6] At the time, no public university in Oregon had experienced a labor strike from its faculty.[3][5][8] Portland State University faculty had authorized strike action in 2014, but an agreement was reached before a strike was called, while in 2006, faculty at Eastern Oregon University had come close to strike action.[3] On April 21, Oregon Tech filed a petition with the Oregon Employment Relations Board (OERB) urging them to declare the proposed strike unlawful, and additionally, the university filed an unfair labor practice charge, arguing that the university was not bargaining in good faith.[9] Over the weekend leading up to April 26, the university and union engaged in negotiations, but again, the two sides remained at an impasse.[10][11]

Course of the strike

On the morning of April 26, the strike officially commenced, with faculty members picketing at the Klamath Falls and Wilsonville campuses.[10][7] In addition, informational picketing occurred at the university's Dental Hygiene Clinic in Chemeketa Community College.[12] Students were advised to attend class unless otherwise notified by school officials, and faculty tasks were carried out by part-time instructors and faculty members who chose not to participate in the strike.[10] However, the union claimed that over 40 classes did not have teachers on the first day of the strike.[12] Additionally, some students joined in picketing and protesting with the strikers.[7][13] Picketing continued on a daily basis for the duration of the strike.[14] In response to the strike, the university stated that they had made an offer with the faculty that would have seen a 13 percent wage increase over the duration of the proposed contract,[11] which included a flat 9.5 percent increase and an additional 3.5 percent based on performance,[12] but that this proposal had been rejected.[10] OT-AAUP stated that the strike was open-ended and would continue until an agreement was reached with the university.[15]

By April 28, the union was accusing the university of hiring an outside firm that was violating state law, though the university rejected that they had violated the state statute. The union stated that the firm, Focus EduVation, did not notify temporary workers that they were acting as

strikebreakers.[12] That same day, negotiations resumed between the two groups, but neither side was able to reach an agreement.[16] On April 29, the OERB dismissed the university's petition to rule the strike as unlawful.[4] The next day, the union and university met again for negotiations, this time with mediators present.[16] These sessions continued over the next several days.[17] On the morning of May 4, the strike was called off following a tentative agreement that had been reached between the two groups.[18] Voting commenced among the union's members over the following days.[14][19] The contract was officially ratified by union members on May 18.[20]

Aftermath

According to a union representative, the agreement between the union and university included an 11.5 percent wage increase over the course of the five-year long contract, with additional opportunities for merit-based pay increases in the latter part of the contract.[18] This included annual pay increases of between 2 and 3 percent and a retroactive 2 percent wage increase.[14] In addition, the contract codified the union's right to bargain and included protections against excess workloads and changes to working conditions,[18] and the university agreed to cover between 95 and 97 percent of the faculty's health care costs.[20] The contract also stipulated that the university could not withdraw from the benefits offered by the Public Employee Benefit Board unless it did so for all union members, which would also include members of another union at the university.[14] The contract would be retroactive from 2020 and run until June 30, 2025.[21][14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Taylor, Brett (April 24, 2021). "First public university strike in Oregon's history set for Monday after negotiations fail". KDRV. Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Powell, Meerah (April 2, 2021). "Oregon Tech faculty union votes to authorize a strike". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  3. ^
    AP News. Associated Press. April 5, 2021. Archived
    from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Robbins, Becca (April 29, 2021). "Oregon Tech faculty strike hits day four". Herald and News. Adams Publishing Group. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Flaherty, Colleen (April 27, 2021). "Oregon Tech Professors Go on Indefinite Strike". Inside Higher Ed. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Parfitt, Jamie (April 9, 2021). "Oregon Tech leaders 'disappointed' as faculty union delivers intent to strike". KDRV. Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d Rodriguez, Ambar (April 27, 2021). "Union members on strike after stalled contract negotiations with OIT". Mail Tribune. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  8. ^ Jefferies, Dylan (May 4, 2021). "Oregon Tech faculty go on strike". Portland State Vanguard. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  9. ^ Powell, Meerah (April 22, 2021). "Oregon Institute of Technology asks state agency to declare tentative faculty strike unlawful". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  10. ^
    Portland Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Archived
    from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Oregon Tech faculty begins strike, school continues classes where possible". KOBI. April 26, 2021. Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d Powell, Meerah (April 28, 2021). "Oregon Tech faculty union raises legal questions as strike continues". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  13. ^ "Oregon Tech Faculty Strike Over Wages, Benefits And Workload". Jefferson Public Radio. April 27, 2021. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d e McIntosh, Don (May 5, 2021). "OIT faculty win first contract after eight days on strike". Northwest Labor Press. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  15. ^ Miller, Elizabeth (April 26, 2021). "Oregon Tech faculty union strike begins". KLCC. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Mediation continues during OIT faculty strike". KOBI. April 30, 2021. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  17. ^ Powell, Meerah (May 3, 2021). "Oregon Tech faculty strike continues for its 8th day". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c Dillemuth, Holly (May 4, 2021). "Oregon Tech Strike Ends As Administration, Faculty Reach Tentative Contract Agreement". Jefferson Public Radio. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  19. AP News. Associated Press. May 6, 2021. Archived
    from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "OIT administration, faculty union ratify first contract | KMVU Fox 26 Medford". KMVU-DT. May 18, 2021. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  21. ^ Vespa, Maggie (May 4, 2021). "After historic strike, Oregon Tech faculty reach labor deal with university". KGW. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
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