The Service Employees International Union and Oregon’s seven public universities did not reach agreement on a new contract for SEIU employees during mediation sessions held on Sept. 11-13. The universities' latest proposal includes: 

• Healthcare, pension, holidays, vacations, sick leave, personal leave, bereavement, and other benefits remain will unchanged for the next contract.
• Full steps in each year of the next contract (about a 9.5 percent overall increase for those who are not at the top of the salary range or 4.75 percent in each year).
• 2 percent cost of living adjustment for all employees effective Nov. 1, 2019 (up from 1 percent in 2017).
• 2 percent cost of living adjustment for all employees effective July 1, 2020 (up from 1 percent in 2018).
• A $750 one-time bonus with the November 2019 pay increase for all employees who reached the top of their salary range on or before June 30, 2018, provided the employee is in good standing (no deficient performance rating in performance cycle immediately prior to Oct. 31, and no work plan as of Oct. 31).

The next mediation session is scheduled for Sept. 23-24 at Portland State University.

SEIU declared impasse on Aug. 16 triggering a “cooling-off period,” which ends on Sept. 23. If an agreement is not reached at the next mediation session, the parties can enter into the next stage of the negotiation process, which includes an employee strike. The UO human resources website provides more information about negotiations with SEIU.

The University of Oregon is working with units should a strike occur to ensure continuity of essential services.

Negotiations with SEIU are led by University Shared Services Enterprise or USSE, which provides a variety of functions for Oregon’s public universities, including the University of Oregon. The USSE website provides information on developments and latest offers following each bargaining and mediation session through its summaries of negotiations.