Following 10 months of bargaining, the University of Oregon Student Workers union, has declared an impasse, meaning they have reached a point in negotiation where they are unable to make further progress with UO administration, UOSW announced in a statement. 

“The union and university administration are yet to agree on issues including wages, pay period and grievance and arbitration,” UOSW said. 

According to the statement, both sides now have until March 19 to submit “final offers with costing” before a 30-day cooling-off period begins. 

“We obviously don’t want to move toward a strike but our members are fed up,” Mae Bracelin, a bargaining team member and dining worker in Global Scholars Hall, said in the statement. “My coworkers are struggling to afford rent and groceries and are waiting an unreasonably long time for their paychecks.”

According to the state of Oregon’s website, during the 30-day cooling-off period, the union could go on strike after a 10-day notice — meaning UOSW could go on strike after March 19.

The statement also said both sides had the opportunity to call for an impasse on Jan. 21.

According to the statement, Izzie Marshall, a member of UO’s bargaining team and worker in the EMU said the decision to declare impasse was not made “lightly.” 

“10 months is unreasonably long to address some of student workers’ key issues. We’re ready to talk about these things but UO has outright dismissed many of our most important issues,” Marshall said. 

UO could not be reached at the time of publication.

The post UOSW declares impasse following failed contract negotiations appeared first on Daily Emerald.