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Bargaining Updates:

UO Student Workers

Last bargaining session held on 8/12/24 (Open)

I have been in attendance as a Network observer for most of the UOSW bargaining sessions with the University of Oregon and it doesn’t appear to me that the University is bargaining in good faith.

Managment seems to be refusing to engage, they have made very few proposals and ask few questions when the union brings their proposals to the table. They have refused to bargain over several of the unions proposals claiming they are “cost prohibitive” but have failed to provide their estimated costing for these proposals or for the few proposals they as management have brought forward. This is information that that they are required to provide, and I am doubtful that they even did a costing and are more likely doing what every bad boss dose which is to claim they don’t have the money even though they do.

It is obvious to this observer that the University is not taking this bargaining or these workers seriously. management said that they “get the feeling” that UOSW wants to change “how the University views student workers” and were adamant “that they were not interested in changing how they view student employment.” Yet it is apparent that management doesn’t sees UOSW not as workers but as children, underserving of fair wages, workers’ rights and protections, or respect.

Yet that is the whole reason that these workers organized and formed a union and weather the university likes it or not BOLI recognized these workers and their union. If the university keeps up their shenanigans It will not surprise me if these workers end up striking and I don’t think the university has realized yet that with 2,000+ student workers, they could easily shut it down! I would encourage our network members to attend these sessions in support of these workers as they bargain this historic first contract, and I’m betting things are going to get interesting as hell.

Next Braining Session:
Wed, Sept. 25, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm,
Room 125 Chiles Wing of the Lillis Business Complex, 955 E 13th Ave, Eugene

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United Academics

I attended the most recent bargaining session and the attitude of management toward the faculty union and the way they interact with them is a shocking contrast to how management treats UOSW. They don’t show the same blatant disrespect they show UOSW but they still seem to insist on dragging things out, low balling the financials, insisting “they have no money”, and they could be feigning incompetence, but I’m not sure they aren’t just really incompetent.

I will say that it is fun to watch the Union’s team dismantle the management team. The big take away for me as an outside observer is that they University seems to not want to pay their faculty a fair wage and again wants to cry that they just don’t have the money, so need to nickel and dime the small number of faculty. Yet I’m sure that those in management are making bank.

Next Bargaining Session:
Thurs, Sept. 26, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm,
Room 125 Chiles Wing of the Lillis Business Complex, 955 E 13th Ave, Eugene

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Eugene Education Association

So, our teachers at 4J are back in bargaining, they had good turnout at their last bargaining session, but they could use more support from the community, if you can make the Bargaining session on the 1st that would be awesome, lets pack the auditorium and show management that we support our teachers and our students.

Next Bargaining Session:
Tue, Oct. 1, 4:30 pm
4J Education Center, 200 N Monroe St. Eugene

Tue, Oct. 10, 4:30 pm
4J Education Center, 200 N Monroe St. Eugene

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Teamsters 206

ESSN recently turned out in support of Teamsters at Bigfoot Beverage for a Practice picket. These workers overwhelmingly to authorize a strike at Bigfoot Beverage, one of the largest soft drink and alcohol distributors in the Pacific Northwest. Bigfoot is trying to force workers to move from a defined benefit pension plan to a 401(k). The company has also haired one of the most notorious union-busting law firms in the country during negotiations with the union. Keep an eye out and we will send an Alert when we get word from 206 of their next action.

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Measure 118: A Socialist and a Capitalist Walk into a Bar…

A few years ago, my buddy Antonio and I met up for some beers and burgers at a local bar. Antonio, a left-leaning liberal, threw out an idea: tax the biggest corporations, like Comcast and Nike, and use that money to give every Oregonian a rebate. Back then, we estimated each person would get around $750 a year, but now, six years later, that number is closer to $1,600.

Now, I’m a working-class republican and a fair-market capitalist, and I thought, “Hell yeah!” Tax these massive corporations that have been getting corporate welfare for years and put that money back into the hands of everyday Oregonians, who can spend it at local small businesses.

It took us six years to finally get Measure 118 on the ballot, and now we’re hearing all kinds of noise from the biggest corporations—the same ones that pay little to no taxes and get billion-dollar bailouts when they’re in trouble. Not to mention the bipartisan squawking from both Democrats and Republicans, who are suddenly arm-in-arm when it comes to denying working-class people the opportunity to get back a little of what the corporations and the politicians have spent years stealing from us.

Here’s the thing: when corporations and the political elites—Democrat and Republican alike—all agree on something, you can bet it’s because they want to screw over the working class. The best endorsement is that all three are against it.

So they will spend millions to spread their lies about Measure 118, like calling it a “sales tax,” when in reality, most businesses in Oregon won’t even be affected. It’s only targeting the mega-corporations, and only on their income over $25 million.

They’re also fear-mongering, saying businesses will leave the state. More lies. Plenty of states will still have higher corporate taxes than Oregon. I looked it up: Minnesota, with the highest rate at 9.8%, still has Walmart and Applebee’s. Measure 118 only bumps up Oregon’s corporate tax by 3%, so if those same corporations are fine with paying a higher tax in Minnesota why would they leave Oregon when we will still have a lower tax.

You want to know the real reason these corporations and politicians are fighting so hard against Measure 118? It’s because it helps the working class. And they’re terrified that once it passes, people will see the benefits, and other states will follow Oregon. And I hope they do! It’s about time we prioritize Main Street over Wall Street, and workers over billion-dollar corporations. It’s time to end the corporate welfare state and reclaim some of the money politicians and big business have been stealing from the working class.

One other thing the politicians and corporations want voters to believe is that Measure 118 is some sneaky scheme from some mysterious, out-of-state billionaire. But the truth is this was just a couple of regular guys in a bar with a good idea and the stones and the gumption to get the Rebate on the ballot. If you really want to know who the out of stat agitators are look at the tens of millions the Corporations are dumping on to Oregon to stop 118. But that’s what they do when the working class tries to reclaim even a small fraction of what’s been stolen from us. Screw those guys!

Just ask yourself can you use an extra $1600 a year, if you have a family of 4 can you use an extra $6,400 a year. If so, vote yes on Measure 118, and if someone tells you to vote against Measure 118, know this: they support corporations steeling from workers and corporate welfare, they support corrupt politicians who are willing to sell out workers, and they don’t support the working-class folk who keep Oregon running. VOTE YES ON 118!

Lonnie Douglas
Board member ESSN Jobs with Justice.