May 7, 2025 (Register-Guard) –
Despite progress at the bargaining table, tensions in the
Both the
"We all want a resolution with a fair contract that is also fiscally responsible, and most importantly, we want to be able to come together as a community and support, not only our student workers, but all of our students and our employees on campus," said
Vandalism, police intervention at Johnson Hall
Campus police say "strike supportive" messaging was spray-painted on the walls and windows of Johnson Hall on
Wade said UOPD is working to identify the suspect, who could be charged with criminal mischief.
UOSW stated that it had nothing to do with the spray painting.
"While our union firmly supports the right to free speech and peaceful protest — values at the core of our democratic society and labor movement — we must also be clear: UOSW-UAW had no involvement in the spray paint incident at Johnson Hall," UOSW stated in a press release. "We encourage all those who stand with labor to express themselves through democratic, organized action, open dialogue, and civic engagement."
The spray paint was washed off the next day and Wade said there hasn't been any long-term damage on campus.
"Other than that, the other stuff has been, I think, very minute as far as damages," Wade said, mentioning chalking on the ground and flyers hanging around campus.
Wade said UOPD has referred a dozen students to the Dean of Students for potential code of conduct violations, though, and one student was charged with criminal mischief for breaking off part of the green sign in front of Johnson Hall using one of the UAW picket signs on the first day of the strike.
Wade said his main concern is clashes between striking and working students, saying he has heard reports of harassment. He said he hasn't heard of any threats of violence.
"Students are doing their best to get their education — that's why they're here — and try to navigate the best that they can, even amid disruptions and possible safety concerns,"
The evening of
"We gave them so many choices, so many opportunities to leave," Wade said. "On the last one, we said, either leave now or go to jail. They voted, and they all elected to walk out without any negative consequence from a law enforcement standpoint."
UOSW released a statement, saying the union was “alarmed” by UO’s escalation at the peaceful protest. It reported that more than a dozen
"It was so scary to be in bargaining and hear that there were cops in riot gear being sent to remove student workers from
Wade said someone slashed the tires on three police vehicles, although he again said it's uncertain if that vandalism was connected to the strike. If suspects are identified, those individuals could face felony charges.
No arrests have been made since the strike began.
UOSW condemned recent claims that the union's "peaceful strike actions" have been harmful to the public and warned of potential criminal consequences.
"While we are committed to winning a fair contract for all student workers, we are also committedto maintaining the fabric of the UO community as a place where people can speak freely, debateand disagree without threats of retaliation," UOSW stated.
UOSW and UO file unfair labor practice complaints
After UO started charging striking resident assistants for room and board, UOSW filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the Oregon Employment Relations Board, accusing the university of illegal retaliation.
According to UOSW,
UOSW stated RAs were also informed that the charges would result in a registration hold for summer and fall courses. However, on
The email stated that the billing change doesn't affect the total owed, but means charges won't be posted until UO has a final figure after the strike ends.
"They obviously had a lot of blowback from the community and from a good amount of our folks that we know in other campus unions," UOSW bargaining team member
On
"When strike activity creates serious risks of harm to third parties and completely precludes University activities through violations of valid institutional campus conduct rules, the University must seek accountability," the complaint stated.
Bargaining table progress
UO and UOSW met in their longest bargaining session yet on
"Both sides got very real with each other, very quickly," Campbell said. "We kind of gave them the most realistic counter we've been able to get, and they're working on one right now."
UO and UOSW continue to crawl closer to one another on their wage proposals. Campbell expected UO to present its counter the afternoon of
Campbell said UOSW dropped the stipend increase proposal for RAs, accepting the status quo stipend with a general cost-of-living increase. He said they're still looking for additional pay carve-outs for food services workers, as they wouldn't see a significant raise with the current proposals.
UOSW is also seeking contract language that would require neutral, third-party arbitration in the case of workplace harassment. The union stated these protections are especially important for low-income, first-generation, and marginalized students, who often take on frontline campus jobs. UOSW pointed to the fact that faculty members have access to third-party arbitration while student workers do not.
“If a faculty member experiences harassment, they can take their case to an impartial arbitrator. But if a student worker does, they’re told to trust the same internal system that’s already failed their peers,” stated
Additional outside pressures continue to weigh on UO, as state Rep.
“SEIU members are here as workers, and as Oregonians,” said
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Police called to student sit-in as tensions spike in
* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistribute or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.