The GTFF, a union representing more than 1,400 Graduate Employees, has been in contentious contract negotiations with the University of Oregon since March 2023. The UO’s refusal to provide a contract that enables GEs to live with dignity has pushed GTFF members to prepare for a potential strike.
In addition to bargaining for a liveable wage, we are also fighting to win new protections and support for our members, including our International GEs, Caregivers, trans and gender-nonconforming GEs, and other marginalized groups.
We teach the classes, grade the papers, and perform the cutting-edge research that has earned the University of Oregon its reputation as an institution of education. In short, the UO works because we do.
In order to prepare for a potential strike action, we are asking our community members, GTFF alumni, fellow labor unions, and other allies to contribute to our Strike Fund. Our initial goal is to raise $50,000 to support our membership during a potential strike.
Current and future GTFF members appreciate your solidarity in our fight for dignity!
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How will these funds be used and disbursed?
Contributions to this fund will be administered and distributed by the GTFF Mutual Aid Committee. Our priorities are to provide direct aid, help meet basic needs, and support the logistics of a potential strike.
If UO decides to meet GE needs with a fair deal and members vote to ratify a contract before a potential strike, or if there are leftover funds after a strike, the remaining funds will be held in the GTFF Strike Fund and used as a resource in future contract negotiations, or contributed to other labor union strike funds.
Other questions about our bargaining campaign?
To view our “GEs Deserve Dignity” platform, review the specific proposals on the table, or read Bargaining FAQs, see our Bargaining Hub: gtff3544.net/bargaining
GTFF’s Bargaining Team has consistently provided well-researched arguments and data in support of each of our proposals, including: the ongoing financial impact of historic inflation exceeding 20% since our last contract, the rapidly rising costs of local living (based on US Bureau of Labor Statistics data and MIT living wage calculator for Eugene, Oregon), and our Graduate Wages Peer Institution data on how far UO has fallen behind other universities.
Graph: Percent of Living Wage Met for Graduate Workers at Peer Institutions
