Updated 8:00 p.m.

At around 5:30 p.m. today, the UO Student Workers Union and UO administration concluded their first mediation session since the strike began on Monday, April 28.

Around 6:00 p.m., many picketers gathered on the Global Scholars Hall lawn to discuss movements made in mediation.

Both Victoria Piñeiro and Ashton Pressman, bargaining team members, said the conversations at the table were “productive.”

That said, an agreement over wages has not been met. UO is currently proposing a base salary of $15.58 per hour and UOSW is currently proposing a base salary of $18.50 per hour. The two sides are 13 cents closer to an agreement on wages compared to the April 27 offers.

Another sticking point is the probationary period. UO would like a six to 10-week probationary period, and UOSW would like no probationary period. Probationary workers do not have the same protections as non-probationary workers.

UOSW and UO reached an agreement to increase sick pay for all student workers, including student workers on work study. Movement was also made on arbitration and RA roles, and compensation was discussed.

“We need you (UOSW picketers) to be on the picket line and keep showing our power,” Piñeiro said. “They (UO bargaining team) showed movement because of it.”

After the negotiations were discussed, Valentine Bentz, a UOSW strike captain and organizer, led a chant.

“When we fight, we win,” the crowd shouted.

The next bargaining session is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, May 1.

Updated 3:00 p.m.

The bargaining session, which started at 9:30 a.m., is still ongoing. 

At 2:30 p.m., roughly 300 picketers marched from Johnson Hall through the Erb Memorial Union to Unthank Hall to continue chanting and marching.  

Picketers marched on the north side of Unthank Hall and around the intersection of Agate Street and East 15th Avenue. 

At 3:00 p.m., the UO Senate held a meeting over Zoom with over 160 attendees, including striking workers and picketers. 

Several attendees changed their display names at the meeting to “fair contract now.”

UO President John Karl Scholz gave a statement regarding the strike during the meeting.

“Student employment at the university is an important part of our collective and we want to preserve our ability to offer part-time on campus work to our students,” Scholz said. “Regardless of our differences at the bargaining table, we remain a community of students, faculty and staff pursuing a shared mission. We hope very much to reach a swift, responsible resolution to the strike.” 

Updated 12:00 p.m. 

The “People’s Guide to UOregon” presentation has started. The presentation aims to educate students about the history of organizing at UO. 

Robin Bailey, one of the striking workers, said it’s a presentation about the “disorientation of history.” 

The Bigfoot Picket Exchange, which took place at 11 a.m., was an exchange of picketers between Bigfoot Beverages workers and UOSW picketers.

Some Bigfoot Beverages workers went to picket at the UOSW picket lines, while some UOSW picketers went to the Bigfoot picket line to stand in solidarity with each other. 

Bailey said the Bigfoot Beverages “strike has ended, but a lockout is taking place as the workers seek the right to return to work.” 

“Every vending machine is Bigfoot, all the Pepsi products in all of the dining places for the most part are Bigfoot,” Bailey said.

According to Bailey, the union will be ”making the ask to freshmen and anyone else who has a meal plan to flood (DeNorval) Unthank (Jr. Hall) with your meal points” today, during the “all worker assembly.”

“It’s not crossing the picket line to go and use your meal points. Use them, overwhelm the university because that’s where our power lies,” Bailey said.

Updated 10:00 a.m.

At 9:30 a.m., five striking workers on the UOSW bargaining team met with the University of Oregon to discuss their needs. This is the first scheduled bargaining session since the start of the strike on Monday, April 28. They are discussing in the UO HR offices, which are found on the PeaceHealth campus. 

According to a striking media liaison, there is no scheduled time for the bargaining session to end.

UOSW is asking for a starting pay of $18.50. UO is proposing a starting pay of $15.44, with a base-maximum of $18.94. UOSW is asking for a yearly pay increase of 5%, while UO yearly increase would be 3%.

At 9:45 a.m., roughly 50 picketers continued to picket outside of Johnson Hall, chanting “Hey UO, you’re no good, treat your workers like you should,” among other chants. 

They are accompanied by approximately 60 striking workers across the street from Johnson Hall. 

The schedule for the third day of the strike begins with organizing training at 10 a.m. which is held across the street from Johnson Hall.

At 11 a.m., there will be a “Bigfoot Picket Exchange,” where workers from the Bigfoot picket near McVay Highway will come to join the UOSW picket, while some picketers from UO will be joining the Bigfoot strike in solidarity for both unions. 

 At 12 p.m., there will be a “people’s guide to UOregon.”

UOSW will hold a contract reading at 1 p.m, and at 2:30 p.m. the picket will be moved to Unthank Hall. 

Finally, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. there will be an “all worker assembly.” 

Editor’s Note: The Daily Emerald values transparency in its reporting and coverage production. While some Emerald staff are actively involved in the student workers strike, these staff members are not involved in the production or reporting of The Emerald’s strike coverage.

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