Oregon University Strike Averted as SEIU 503 Wins 3% Raises
Quick answer: A planned strike by classified workers at Oregon's seven public universities was called off on Monday, September 28, 2026, after SEIU 503 reached a tentative contract. The deal includes 3% cost-of-living raises this year and next, and keeps layoff, contracting-out and health insurance protections. Members still have to vote on it.
Key Takeaways
SEIU 503 and Oregon's seven public universities reached a tentative agreement shortly before midnight on Sunday, September 27, 2026, cancelling a strike set for the next morning.
The union says the deal provides a 3% cost-of-living adjustment this year and another 3% next year, with no rollbacks to layoff, bumping, contracting-out or health insurance protections.
Earlier in September, 97% of classified staff across the seven campuses had voted to authorize a strike, according to union officials.
The agreement is not final until members ratify it, and the union plans to share full details and voting information in the coming days.
University leaders point to tight budgets, and Oregon lawmakers are expected to review a state study on higher education finances in the spring.
Classified support employees at Oregon's seven public universities went to work as usual on Monday, September 28, 2026, instead of walking picket lines. Their union, SEIU 503, announced in the early hours that bargainers had struck a tentative contract with the state's seven public universities, calling off a strike that had been scheduled to begin that morning.
According to Ashland.news, the agreement came together just before midnight on Sunday, September 27, following mediation in Salem. The deal covers classified staff at Oregon State University, Portland State University, the University of Oregon, Western Oregon University, Eastern Oregon University, Southern Oregon University and the Oregon Institute of Technology.
Who are the workers covered by the deal?
Classified employees are the staff who keep campuses running day to day. OPB lists custodians, dining hall workers and office and support staff among the union's members. Union officials told Ashland.news that these workers also handle student support, information technology, facilities and custodial services that students depend on.
The timing mattered. The fall term had only just started, and OPB noted that the University of Oregon and Portland State held their first day of classes on the same Monday the strike was supposed to begin. A walkout would have hit campuses during their opening week.
What is in the tentative agreement?
SEIU 503 has released a summary, though the full contract text is not yet public. On its bargaining page, the union says the deal includes:
A 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) this year and a second 3% COLA next year.
No takeaways to protections against contracting out work.
Preserved layoff and bumping rights.
Maintained health insurance terms.
Sage TeBeest, who leads the SEIU chapter at Southern Oregon University, told Ashland.news the agreement runs for four years, with raises set for the first two and the contract reopening for negotiation in 2028. That structure resembles what management had proposed during talks, according to a comparison table the union posted, although the union had pushed for 3% raises rather than the 2% annual increases management initially put forward.
At Southern Oregon, the COLA sits on top of existing step increases. TeBeest explained that employees there receive an automatic 4.5% raise on each work anniversary during their first 10 years, and a 2.5% longevity increase each year after that.
Why were workers ready to strike?
Support for a walkout was overwhelming. Union officials said 97% of classified staff across the seven campuses voted on September 14 to authorize a strike. At Southern Oregon, all 148 classified staff members voted in favor, according to Ashland.news, and a strike there would have been the first by that union unit since 1995.
TeBeest described early university proposals as falling well short. She said one offer included a raise of just 0.5%, changes to health care cost sharing, and the removal of layoff protections and retirement benefits under the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Southern Oregon's negotiating team also proposed freezing step increases. She argued that workers across campuses felt the universities were not bargaining in good faith at that stage.
Rising living costs were a central theme. TeBeest said cost-of-living raises are meant to help workers keep up with inflation, pointing to higher prices for fuel, groceries, utilities and housing. According to SEIU officials, Southern Oregon executives received a 3% COLA on August 1. TeBeest noted the university had also given 3% COLAs to its unclassified staff and argued classified workers deserved the same.
TeBeest told Ashland.news that protecting benefits was her top priority, because benefits given up at the table are rarely regained: "you don't ever get them back," she said.
She still offered a measured view of the result. Compared with the previous contract, which she said delivered 15% over two years, the new raises look modest, but she called the outcome fair given current conditions.
How are universities describing the situation?
University leaders have emphasized financial pressure. Western Oregon University President Jesse Peters told OPB that the talks were especially hard because the state's universities face serious budget limits, driven largely by years of low state funding. He said Oregon ranks 46th in the nation for that support.
Job cuts are already under way at some campuses. At Southern Oregon, TeBeest said the university is in its fourth straight round of layoffs. Three classified employees are set to be laid off on September 30, eight more on December 31, and six more on June 30, 2027. Those figures do not include unclassified staff.
In a message to Western Oregon employees, the school's chief human resources officer, Desiree Noah, thanked staff for their work and acknowledged that the days of uncertainty before the deal had been difficult.
How did other campus unions react?
Other labor leaders welcomed the settlement. Jennifer Smith, who serves as classified union president at the University of Oregon, told OPB she believes the contract sets a benchmark that could influence pay and benefits for other unions and for non-union employees who cannot bargain collectively.
Bill Knight, president of the American Association of University Professors chapter at Portland State, told OPB he was pleased with the outcome but criticized the low offers workers received for much of the process. He described the effort to change how public universities in Oregon are funded as a long fight that may only be starting.
What happens next?
The contract is still tentative. SEIU 503 says members must vote to approve it, and it plans to share the full details, the bargaining team's recommendation and voting information later this week, along with Zoom sessions to answer questions during ratification.
At the state level, funding is set to return to the spotlight. OPB reports that lawmakers will look in the spring at findings from House Bill 4124, which directs Oregon's Higher Education Coordinating Commission to study the public college and university system and recommend ways to put it on a sustainable financial footing.
What this means for you
If you work in a classified role at one of these universities, or are thinking about applying for one, here are practical steps to take:
Watch for the ratification vote. Members should look out for the union's contract summary, attend an information session, and read the full terms before voting.
Check how raises apply to your pay. The 3% COLAs may stack with step or longevity increases depending on your campus and years of service, so compare the final contract with your pay stub.
Know your layoff and bumping rights. With layoffs continuing at some campuses, understanding seniority and bumping rules can help you plan if your position is affected.
Job seekers should factor in stability and benefits. Public university support jobs in Oregon come with union protections, step raises and health coverage, but budgets remain tight, so ask about department funding during interviews.
Follow the HB 4124 review. The state's findings on higher education funding could shape future hiring, layoffs and the next round of bargaining in 2028.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Oregon university strike called off?
SEIU 503 and Oregon's seven public universities reached a tentative contract just before midnight on September 27, 2026, after mediation in Salem. The union then announced early on September 28 that the planned strike was cancelled and told workers to report at their normal times.
How much of a raise do Oregon university classified workers get?
According to SEIU 503, the tentative deal includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment this year and another 3% next year. At Southern Oregon University, a union leader said the COLA comes in addition to existing step and longevity increases.
Which universities are covered by the SEIU 503 agreement?
The deal covers classified staff at Oregon State, Portland State, the University of Oregon, Western Oregon, Eastern Oregon, Southern Oregon and the Oregon Institute of Technology. These employees include custodians, dining hall workers, office and support staff, and IT and facilities workers.
Is the SEIU 503 higher education contract final?
No. The agreement is tentative until union members vote to approve it. SEIU 503 says it will share full details, the bargaining team's recommendations and voting information, and will hold Zoom meetings to answer questions during ratification.
How long does the new Oregon university contract last?
Southern Oregon's SEIU chapter president told Ashland.news that it is a four-year agreement. Raises are set for the first two years, and the contract reopens for negotiation in 2028.
Sources
This article was compiled from the sources listed above with AI-assisted writing and automated fact-checking. We update stories when new verified information becomes available.