UO graduate teachers reach tentative deal

EUGENE, Ore. -- Graduate teachers from the University of Oregon have reached a tentative agreement with university administration after a 14-hour bargaining session Tuesday night.

The Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation, which has been negotiating with UO administrators for the past year for a new contract, made the announcement Wednesday. They said they were successful in regards to affordable health care coverage, getting 3% raises for minimum salaries and 1.4% increases for all salaries.

Union officials also said they made gains in the following areas:

6 hours of paid training;
6 weeks of paid parental leave;
$700 in yearly child care assistance for children up to the age of 7;
greater involvement for graduate employees in curriculum development;
protections for international graduate employees from Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and
provisions to safeguard GEs from workplace bullying and harassment.

Graduate teachers picketed on Tuesday as a show of force.

"We're hoping that this show of force today really pushes them and motivates them to finish this contract so we can get a deal today," said Ellen Gillooly-Kress, president of the GTFF.

On Oct. 18, union members voted to strike if a deal couldn't be reached.