Higher pay, better workplace protections: UO student workers vote to unionize

Miranda Cyr, Eugene Register-Guard
·4 min read
University of Oregon student workers have voted to unionize for better pay, a two-week pay period and better protections against workplace harassment.
University of Oregon student workers have voted to unionize for better pay, a two-week pay period and better protections against workplace harassment.

After years of effort, the University of Oregon's student workers have voted to unionize.

Of nearly 4,000 eligible workers, over 1,000 participated in a vote to certify the union through the Oregon Employment Relations Board, with an overwhelming 97% voting in favor.

"We're so grateful to every organizer, every student worker who voted," said Carolyn Roderique, a senior at UO who has been helping to organize union efforts. "It takes a lot of courage to sign a union card. It takes a lot of courage to vote in an election that you may not know what the outcome is."

Roderique, who uses she and they pronouns, said they weren't necessarily surprised by the outcome, as efforts to unionize have received significant support from student workers and other local unions.

"It was incredibly gratifying to see," said Diego Durante, a sophomore at UO and a UO Student Workers organizer. "It was an incredible margin, which we're very proud of, and really exemplifies the the emotions of every student worker, not just people who organize this union. But so many people − over 1,000 turning out to vote − I think, is a clear message to the university."

UOSW is still in an objection period until Nov. 6, in which either party, meaning UO or UOSW, may contest the results of the election. If there is no contest, UOSW will officially become a certified union.

Why are UO workers unionizing?

Unionization efforts for UOSW − the vast majority of which is made up of undergraduate student workers − began in earnest about a year ago. While there has been buzz for years, organizers started gathering union cards and spreading the word broadly in early 2023.

While there are a number of issues they're hoping to change through bargaining, Roderique said there are three main ones for now:

  • higher pay

  • two-week pay periods

  • better protections against workplace harassment

Currently, UO student workers, as well as staff, are paid monthly. It can be a challenge for students who rent. Roderique said higher pay and two week pay periods would make a huge difference for many student workers.

"It's not having to pinch pennies at the very end of the month and paying all your rent at the beginning of the month after you get paid and then not having like 40 bucks left for groceries," Roderique said. "We have a lot of students on food stamps and stuff like that. We would like to see people being paid enough to make ends meet to not have second jobs. I think that's the end goal of all of this."

This is Roderique's third year as a residential assistant. She is paid $165 a week, which was an improvement from about $100 last year, and receives free housing. Roderique said this compensation is still not enough. She has a second job to help pay for necessities.

Carolyn Roderique, left, Ella Meloy, center, and Will Garrahan are three of the core organizers for the University of Oregon's undergraduate student workers working to unionize.
Carolyn Roderique, left, Ella Meloy, center, and Will Garrahan are three of the core organizers for the University of Oregon's undergraduate student workers working to unionize.

"We still don't get paid for the first month we work at all, even though we have over 40 hour weeks or over 40 hour weeks of training," Roderique said. "I'd feel appreciated if I were fully paid for my time ... I'd definitely see better work in school. I mean, I'm still a really high achieving student. But sometimes it can get really stressful, and I am not able to do my schoolwork to the range that I want to do it. I would have more time for hobbies. I have like no hobbies besides union organizing."

Roderique believes that once certified, UOSW will be the largest university to unionize its undergraduate student workers in the country.

However, others are not far behind. Student workers at the California State University system, which employs tens of thousands of student workers across 23 campuses, have been making progress to unionize. In October, they reached their 8,500 union authorization cards threshold to allow for an election to certify their union.

Next steps

Roderique said while there is cause to celebrate now, the hard work is just beginning.

Angela Seydel, director of issues management for UO, said the university does not take a position for unionization efforts.

"We will continue working in good faith with the Employment Relations Board and the union representatives as we navigate the process to formalize a union to represent student employees at the university," Seydel said in an email. "We appreciate the hard work of the SWU organizers and look forward to a productive working relationship with the union going forward."

Roderique said they're feeling hopeful based on statements the university has made about the union.

"I think a lot of our organizers are hopeful that they'll bargain with us in good faith, and that we can address these issues," Roderique said. "Obviously, we're gonna make sure that we're firm and that we're getting what student workers need. But I think an assumption of bargaining in good faith is a good place to start."

Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: UO student workers vote to unionize for higher pay, better protections