To: Oregon State University Community Members
From: Edward Feser, Provost and Executive Vice President
and Mike Green, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Oregon State University community members,
We are writing to provide an update on contract bargaining occurring jointly between Oregon’s seven public universities and SEIU, the union that represents classified employees.
As of this morning, negotiations between the universities and SEIU continue, and we remain committed to reaching a settlement. We reiterate our respect for our classified employees’ labor rights and the many contributions that classified colleagues provide our students, the university and its mission.
While we are optimistic that we can reach agreement – and avoid a strike that union members have announced will occur Monday morning, Sept. 30 – we are writing to provide information as to how the university will operate should a strike occur.
In the event of a strike, we ask that everyone remain committed to preserving the friendly and collegial culture that exists among faculty, staff and students throughout the Oregon State University community. We ask that we each prioritize one another’s safety and the protection of university property. And we ask that student learning and research not be compromised, including the support of classroom instruction, student activities outside the classroom and ongoing OSU research activities.
If a strike occurs on Monday, we remind you that:
- All non-SEIU employees are expected to perform their job duties as usual.
- Students will be expected to attend classes. And student workers will be expected to report to their positions as scheduled.
- By law, OSU employees represented by SEIU are not required to join in a strike or to participate in a picket line. It is up to each classified employee to decide whether or not to strike. The union is prohibited from using intimidation to coerce employees into joining a strike. And the university is not permitted to make promises to employees to encourage them not to strike or to threaten employees who do strike.
- As a general rule, employees will not be paid during the time that they are on strike. However, classified employees will be paid if they choose to come to work and perform their duties.
Should a strike occur Monday, university operations will emphasize continuing the university’s essential teaching, research and outreach activities. We share that some operations will be affected:
- Food service at Corvallis campus dining centers will be curtailed to peak breakfast, lunch and dinner periods. Coffee shops or cafes on campus may experience curtailed operations. During a strike, visit UDHS dining center website for more information on center hours.
- Student Health Services (SHS) will provide urgent care services from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Limited nursing services, immunizations and lab services will be provided during a strike. The same-day health clinic in Tebeau Hall will be closed. For SHS hours of operations during a strike, please visit the center’s website.
- The Valley Library will operate weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- The College of Veterinary Medicine’s veterinary teaching hospital, small animal hospital and large animal hospital will be closed during a strike. Hospital operations will be limited to emergency care for established patients with known and current medical conditions. Meanwhile, the college will continue to receive emergency equine cases and provide rural veterinary farm calls.
- Corvallis campus mail and freight services will be modified. Campus Mail deliveries will continue, but may be limited to daily service. UPS service to campus will be curtailed during a strike while FedEx service will continue. University Printing and Mailing staff will pick up packages from UPS once per day. OSU employees and students anticipating UPS campus delivery will need to come to Printing and Mailing Services, 4700 Research Way in Corvallis to claim their UPS shipment. Printing and Mailing staff will call OSU employees and students as UPS packages are available for pick-up. Outgoing packages to be shipped by UPS should be taken to Campus Surplus, at 644 S.W. 13th, Corvallis, for delivery to UPS for shipment. Palletized freight deliveries to campus will be limited. Call Printing and Mailing Services at 541-737-4941 for more shipment and freight information.
We will continue to provide additional updates as information is available.
Sincerely,
Edward Feser, Provost and Executive Vice President
Mike Green, Vice President for Finance and Administration