Members of the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation are back on the picket lines at the University of Oregon. The union and administration met for more than 11 hours Thursday. They're in talks again Friday.
The Graduate Teaching Fellows went on strike Tuesday after contract negotiations with U of O Administration broke down. The main sticking point is paid leave. The GTFs want 2 weeks medical leave and 2 weeks parental leave as well as a pay boost. Union president Joe Henry says the GTF negotiating team is ready to work through the night if necessary.
Henry: "We've offered two options to the administration and we feel that either one would be a great option for them, a good way for both sides to leave the table feeling like we've won."
Henry says both sides have agreed to confidentiality on the details. Final exams are next week at the U of O. Administration has plans for grading and administering tests without Graduate Teaching Fellows if the strike continues Monday. Acting Provost Frances Bronet called the strike "a temporary disagreement in a long, successful relationship between two parties."
