The University of Oregon and the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation, the union representing graduate employees, have reached a tentative three-year contract agreement. The GTFF will take the tentative agreement to its membership for a vote within the next two weeks.

“We are very pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that demonstrates the university’s commitment to graduate employees and the critical work they do supporting academic and research pursuits,” said Janet Woodruff-Borden, vice provost and dean of graduate school. “This new contract will achieve our goal of investing financially in our graduate programs so they can be successful and competitive now and in the future.” 

The tentative agreement increases salaries for all graduate employees and invests in graduate employee health care by increasing funding each year of the contract, said Missy Matella, senior director of employee and labor relations. The university and GTFF also agreed to several terms related to diversity and inclusion, summer support and supporting students with families. 

“I am incredibly grateful to the members of the university’s and GTFF’s bargaining teams for their many hours of work to reach a tentative agreement,” said Mark Schmelz, chief human resources officer and associate vice president. “We have achieved an agreement that meets the needs of the university and our graduate employees while remaining good stewards of student tuition and taxpayer dollars.”

Additional information about the tentative agreement are available on the HR website.