QuickTake:

In the midst of its first round of collective bargaining, the relatively new University of Oregon Student Workers union went on strike Monday. The union represents about 3,500 student workers — many of them undergraduates — who work in student housing, dining halls, and student life programs. They are calling for higher pay.

Mae Bracelin has $16 in her bank account and won’t get paid for another few days. Even then, she says it will barely cover rent. 

It’s why, even though she works at a campus market at the University of Oregon, Bracelin often doesn’t have enough money left to buy food. Monday, Bracelin joined nearly 200 others picketing on the first day of the University of Oregon Student Workers (UOSW) strike, demanding better pay because, like her, many struggle to afford basic needs. 

“It’s a very common situation, and it’s not acceptable,” said Bracelin, who is also a member of the Student Workers bargaining team. 

The UOSW, affiliated with the United Auto Workers, represents mostly undergraduate workers like Bracelin who work in student housing, dining halls, and administration support. The Student Workers union is different from the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation — a union that got higher wages for graduate students, who work as teaching or research assistants, after they came close to striking.

The members of the Student Workers union are building on the graduate union’s momentum, but they face different challenges: They’re younger in their college careers, often younger in age, and have fewer job options. 

Jace Deininger leads a chant during the University of Oregon Student Workers strike on April 28. Credit: Ashli Blow / Lookout Eugene – Springfield

Recognizing challenges 

Angela Lauer Chong, UO vice president for student life, recognizes challenges facing undergraduate students and workers. 

The university can offer a maximum of 25 hours, with many averaging about 8-10 hours per week. It’s why the university offers support services ranging from fresh produce drops to mental health counselors. But in recent years, there’s been an explosive demand for such programs, Lauer Chong says. 

“We have students, more students, coming to us, you know, with concern for affordable child care, for example. And that wasn’t necessarily something we were seeing or hearing from students about five years ago,” Lauer Chong said. “This is an area where we see our students’ needs evolving every year, and that the program is evolving with it.”

The University of Oregon’s education and general budget, which covers most of its operating costs, has been running a deficit during the past year. That budget is funded largely by state allocations and tuition. UO is slated to raise tuition by 3-5% for the next school year.

For many, especially those who are first-generation college students or from low-income families, rising tuition makes it even harder to stay self-sufficient without relying on services like campus food pantries. 

Robin Bailey, a UO student and Student Workers organizer, stands in front of the picket line on April 28. Credit: Ashli Blow / Lookout Eugene – Springfield

That’s part of why Robin Bailey took on two student worker jobs at UO after transferring from Umpqua Community College, which didn’t offer many of the courses needed for his journalism degree. The tuition gap between the two schools has been steep, and he needs the money to pay off debt. 

“I need to work to both pay myself and to sustain my future,” said Bailey, who is also an organizer with Student Workers. 

Mediation scheduled  

Student Workers and the University of Oregon began their first collective bargaining in May 2024. After exchanging numerous proposals, both sides submitted final offers in March. That triggered a 30-day period for review and continued negotiations. When the deadline passed without an agreement, the union announced its intent to strike.

The Student Workers are calling for higher pay and enforceable protections against harassment and discrimination. They are pushing for a minimum wage of at least $18.50. 

It’s more than the current $14.70 minimum wage, but still below Eugene’s living wage of $22.92, according to the Living Wage Institute.

A wage increase to $18.50 wouldn’t be ideal, but would help make ends meet, said Bracelin, who has been dedicated to getting Student Workers off the ground since her freshman year. The union officially formed in 2023. 

“The dining halls are the backbone of this campus,” said Bracelin. “We demand a piece of the profit that we make for the university, on a day-by-day basis.” 

The next mediation session between Student Workers and UO is scheduled for April 30. As of Monday evening, there was no clear end date for the strike.

This story has been corrected to reflect that the graduate students union and the University of Oregon averted a strike last year at the 11th hour.

Ashli Blow brings 12 years of experience in journalism and science writing, focusing on the intersection of issues that impact everyone connected to the land — whether private or public, developed or forested.