15-hundred Graduate Teaching Fellows at the University of Oregon are set to go on strike Tuesday. This is the first labor strike in the 38-year-old union's history. About 200 GTFs and their supporters rallied Monday evening in front of Johnson Hall, the Administration Building on campus.
Chanting: "GTFF, GTFF, GTFF,…. "
Graduate Teaching Fellows are asking the University for 2 weeks of paid sick leave and 2 weeks of family leave in addition to a boost in pay. The University says it cannot afford to provide paid leave. Amber Cooper is staff organizer for the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation.
Cooper: "We would love to go back to the table right now! We are ready to go back to that table anytime they are ready to agree to paid leave for GTFs."
The Union plans to walk out Tuesday at 8 a.m. Cooper says the GTFs will strike until they have paid leave. Next week is finals week at the U of O. The Administration says it will offer extra staff to help with grading during the strike.