Oregon’s seven public universities and the Service Employees International Union continued to negotiate Friday afternoon without reaching agreement on a new classified employment contract. SEIU has notified the state universities, including the University of Oregon, that its membership will strike on Monday, Sept. 30, if agreement is not reach before then.

UO Chief Human Resources Manager Mark Schmelz sent a message to faculty and staff on Friday saying the universities’ remain committed and ready to continue bargaining through the weekend until agreement is reached. The UO has activated a continuity plan to ensure essential campus services will continue in the event of a strike.

Schmelz says the university will prioritize essential student services such as housing, dining, urgent health care, and crisis response; essential campus services such as security, utilities, information services and payroll; maintaining vital research activities and holding academic classes. However, some services or activities may be temporarily suspended in a strike.

The UO employs about 1,600 SEIU classified employees. Schmelz said it is SEIU-represented employees’ right and personal choice to strike.

“Classified employees provide important services that impact every aspect of our students’ educational experience and our academic and research mission. We know this situation is challenging for everyone on all of our campuses,” Schmelz said. “We will see this difficult time through and look forward to working with all of our colleagues in this coming academic year in support of students and our mission.”

The university will continue to provide information about bargaining and campus continuity through direct emails to employees on the Human Resources website and UO Alerts website.