PRESS RELEASE: Oregon Tech Faculty Vote To Authorize Strike by Overwhelming Margin

Press Release
For immediate release
April 2, 2021

Contact
Oregon Tech AAUP
Email: unite@oregontechaaup.org

Klamath Falls, Oregon – Faculty organized through Oregon Tech – American Association of University Professors (OT-AAUP) voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike this week. If OT-AAUP is forced to strike, it will be the first time any university faculty have gone on strike in Oregon history.

As of close of vote on Friday, 96% of faculty had cast their votes; 92% of those votes were in favor of strike authorization.

This does not mean that faculty will strike, but it means that the members of the union have widely agreed that OT-AAUP leadership is allowed to call for one if an agreement is not reached.

“The students at Oregon Tech deserve better and our faculty have come together with one voice to say that—while we absolutely do not want to strike—we are ready to take this action to ensure our faculty are treated with respect and our students provided the highest quality education,” said OT-AAUP president Sean St.Clair.

Oregon Tech faculty organized in 2018 over an ongoing struggle to secure fairer labor practices. Bargaining of their first contract began in fall 2019 and has continued for over 500 days without reaching a contract.

Oregon Tech administration declared impasse on March 10, 2021, indicating they felt negotiations with the union were no longer making progress. Their last, best, and final offer was presented to faculty on March 17, and OT-AAUP also presented a final offer. Final offers are followed by a mandatory 30-day cooling off period. After that period ends, the administration may unilaterally implement their final offer, and faculty are allowed to strike. The last day of the cooling off period is April 17.

The final offer by Oregon Tech administration did not define faculty workload and left all workload definitions to the discretion of management. This would leave faculty vulnerable to increases in workload without any increase in compensation. This would come at a time when many faculty already work beyond their contract hours to teach the courses students need to graduate.

The offer also left out any possibility of raises for cost of living, and increased the cost of health care benefits for families. “The increased cost of health care under the administration’s plan would be like being demoted from associate professor to assistant,” said one faculty member.

Negotiations will continue through the cooling off period. OT-AAUP remains committed to securing a fair contract and fighting for fair wages, secure benefits, and reasonable, clearly-defined workload for Oregon Tech faculty.

OT-AAUP Mission:

We are the united faculty of Oregon Tech. Through teaching, outreach, and scholarship, we generate and share knowledge to advance the lives of students, the well-being of communities, and the understanding of the world in which we live. We believe that an empowered and organized faculty will help build a better Oregon Tech for current and future generations, which is why we are organizing our union. https://oregontechaaup.org/

OT-AAUP principles:

Defend and implement the principles of public education so that students of diverse backgrounds are provided opportunities to excel.

Champion academic freedom, rigorous discourse, and scientific inquiry so that all members of the university community are encouraged and supported in their endeavors to contribute to the mission of Oregon Tech.

Uphold shared governance of the university characterized by open and responsible communication, fair treatment of individuals, participatory processes, and collaborative decision-making.

Secure working conditions that promote and protect excellence and innovation in all aspects of faculty life at Oregon Tech.

About AAUP: The mission of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is to advance academic freedom and shared governance; to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education; to promote the economic security of faculty, academic professionals, graduate students, post‐doctoral fellows, and all those engaged in teaching and research in higher education; to help the higher education community organize to make our goals a reality; and to ensure higher education’s contribution to the common good. Founded in 1915, the AAUP has helped to shape American higher education by developing the standards and procedures that maintain quality in education and academic freedom in this country’s colleges and universities. https://www.aaup.org

Executive Team

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