University of Oregon campus

The University of Oregon's campus in Eugene

(Andrew Theen/The Oregonian)

The University of Oregon and the labor union that represents more than 1,500 graduate-student teachers have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract.

The university and the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation have been negotiating a new contract for nine months, and on Friday announced a preliminary three-year deal.

Jamie Moffitt, the UO's vice president for finance and administration, said in a statement she was thrilled the two sides found common ground.

"It is an acknowledgement of a strong, collaborative relationship with the GTFF and the university's commitment to world-class graduate education," she said.

According to UO, the new deal includes 3.5 percent increase on the minimum salary during the first two years of the deal, and a 3.7 percent increase in the third year.

The graduate union still has to bring the contract before its members this fall for approval.

Kadie Manion, the union president said the agreement is a "great contract for the graduate student employees."

"We are especially proud of the new training provisions that will ensure our graduate employees have the necessary information and tools to be better and more effective teachers, researchers and contributors to the university community," she said.

At UO and other schools, graduate-student teachers are increasingly leaned on to teach courses while tenured-track faculty spend time on research or publishing books.

Earlier this year, Portland State's graduate workers won the right to collectively bargain.



-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen