Oregon University Classified Workers Reach Tentative Labor Contract, Averting Strike
Classified workers at Oregon's seven public universities, represented by SEIU 503, have narrowly avoided a strike by reaching a tentative agreement on a new labor contract. The deal, announced just hours before planned picketing, includes wage increases and revised benefits.
Bend, OR, September 28, 2026 — Classified workers at Oregon’s seven public universities have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract, narrowly averting a planned strike. The deal was announced by the union, SEIU 503, just hours before picketing was scheduled to begin.
The agreement covers classified employees across all seven of Oregon’s public university system institutions. While specific details regarding the extent of wage increases and the nature of revised benefits were not immediately made public, the union indicated that the contract includes provisions for both. The averted strike would have impacted operations at the universities, which rely heavily on the work of classified staff in various administrative, maintenance, and support roles.
Negotiations between SEIU 503 and the university system administration had been ongoing. The union had previously signaled its readiness to strike if a satisfactory agreement could not be reached. The announcement of the tentative deal came at a critical juncture, just prior to the commencement of planned strike activities.
Further details regarding the contract’s ratification process and the specific terms of the wage increases and benefit revisions are expected to be released by SEIU 503 and the university administration in the coming days. The contractor’s name was not provided in the summary. The fine amount was not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Natalie Pate on www.opb.org, see more information here.
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