Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The Oregon public employe. (Salem, Oregon) 1981-???? | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1997)
Higher Education Bargaining Campus Actions Ihra Up Heat On OSSHE or the past six months, OPEU demonstrated that support. At the University of Oregon, for example, higher education workers have been turning up the heat on two rallies were staged over the past six weeks — each event drawing OSSHE board members, state more than 250 workers, students and legislators, university presidents, community members. Portland and campus financial officers. State University workers have been While OSSHE remains far from joined by community members at the mark for a fair contract and various actions on that campus and state legislators continue to drag their feet on full funding for tangible community support has been present on every other campus higher education, considerable as well. progress has been made in large part by our militancy bn and off As the higher education bargain ing unit moves into this critical campus. The most important gain made in this campaign so far stage, maintaining that community support and the is the winning of broad commu support of nity support for our issues: OPEU sisters Several recent actions have and brothers will be essential to winning a fair contract in 1997. F Higher Ed Workers Cast Votes for Strike Preparation n June 13, 1997, OPEU’s higher education bargaining unit votedoverwhelmingly to reject the most recent offer made by the Oregon State System of Higher Education (OSSHE) and to autho rize Our Union to begin strike preparations- When all ballots were counted from the State’s seven higher education campuses, the results showed 92% of higher education workers supporting strike preparation while only 8% opposed that step. The earliest possible date that higher education workers could strike is August 4, 1997. A strike will not take place until there is a vote of the bargaining unit. The decision to make this si^nifican t ^moye. came folio wing six months of frustration with OSSHE negotiators. Like their sisters and brothers in the state bargaining unit, higher education workers are facing four years without a raise and the possibility of losing the current health benefits program due to rising insurance premiums. While the OPEU/DAS settlement earlier this year included significant raises addressing the compensation gap and crafted an arrangement to ensure additional funds would be available to maintain fully paid family health benefits. No such proposals have been forthcoming from OSSHE negotiators. Instead, OSSHE continues to propose no increases in insurance premiums, resulting in workers paying up to $108 per month out of pocket for family medical benefits. OSSHE has offered a 2% wage Clockwise'from left: Higher ed workers send message to increase delayed to 1% on January OSSHE; Spokesperson Seekatz and District 1,1998 and 1% on January 1,1999. The six-month delays in each increase actually reduces the real value 1. Call, write, fax or e-mail OSSHE Chancellor Joe Cox of each increase by (see below) and ask him to stop treating higher ed workers 50%. OSSHE has like second class citizens. Urge him to put a fair wage - offered very few increase and protected, fully paid benefits on the table! ^selective salary increases for classes 2. Call, write, fax or e-mail your elected state representa behind market. tives and urge them to support returning the $2.9 million Unlike DAS, roll-up back to the budget, Also urge them to ensure OSSHE has indicated higher education receives adequate overall funding to they are willing to ensure that higher education receives a fair contract. follow the lead of the Republican budget 3. Contact your worksite organizer about participating in which treats higher f Higher education bargaining unit delegates, i higher education actions on a campus near you during the education workers as a members of the higher education statewide strategy week of June 23. secondary commodity. committee and higher education bargaining unit leaders How to Contact Joseph Cox We know that will be. meeting on June 28, 1997 in Salem (location Joseph W. Cox, Chancellor Oregon can't have a TBA). Conference attendees will review and assess the Oregon State System of Higher Education first class higher most recent round of bargaining with OSSHE and help 111 Susan Campbell Hall/University of Oregon education System by develop our Union’s next step in this important fight. Eugene, OR 97403 treating its workers If you are a delegate or an interested worker like second class inside or outside the higher education bargaining unit, Telephone: 541-346-5700 citizens. Now we contact your worksite organizer about attending this Fax: 541-346-5764 have to teach OSSHE important event. E-Mail: Jòseph_Cóx @ sch.osshe.edu that lesson. What We Can Do to Help Our Higher Ed Sisters and Brothers Higher Ed Bargaining Conference June 28,1997 PAGE 14 THE OREGON PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
