EUGENE, Ore. – As the University of Oregon prepares to kick off its 2025 spring term, the institution faces the threat of a faculty strike that could significantly disrupt classes and campus operations. The United Academics of the University of Oregon, the union representing around 1,500 faculty members, has warned that unless an agreement is reached by March 31, a strike is nearly certain.
The union has been in negotiations with the university for over a year, but disagreements over faculty compensation have led to the current impasse. Despite the university’s continued financial growth, particularly through its athletic programs, faculty salaries have remained largely unchanged. According to union leaders, the university’s compensation packages are among the lowest in comparison to other institutions in the Big Ten conference, which the university recently joined.
Mike Urbanic, president of United Academics, expressed frustration with the disparity between the booming financial success of UO athletics and the stagnant pay for faculty. “We’re not happy with where things are and they need to be better,” Urbanic said. “As we moved now to the Big Ten, that’s an athletic conference that we think a lot of, but when you look at the salaries, we’re also towards the bottom in terms of the Big Ten salaries. That impacts our ability to recruit and retain faculty.”
Union leadership is particularly concerned about how the situation is affecting the recruitment and retention of top-tier faculty. With rising living costs in Eugene and salaries that do not keep pace, many faculty members are feeling the strain.
The potential strike, set to begin on March 31, would have significant implications for students. Urbanic explained that classes could be left without instructors, and courses may not be listed on platforms like Canvas or the university’s website. This would likely cause confusion for students as they attempt to navigate course availability and registration. “It wouldn’t appear, and there’d be some confusion as to which courses are being taught and which aren’t,” Urbanic added.
Despite the looming strike, the union has held out hope that an agreement can still be reached. Urbanic stressed that their demands for fair compensation and improved structural support for faculty are reasonable and in the best interests of both faculty and students. “I want the faculty to flourish, and I’m hoping that the shared goal between the university and our faculty union gets realized in terms of compensation and structures that will allow us to do so,” he said.
In response, the University of Oregon has expressed a commitment to negotiating a fair contract. Eric A. Howald, the university’s Assistant Director of Issues Management, stated in a written response, “The University of Oregon is committed to negotiating a contract that fairly compensates faculty while ensuring long-term financial sustainability for the institution and its students. We appreciate the time and dedication that United Academics leaders and members bring to the bargaining process. We have made progress.”
As the deadline nears, the tension between the university and its faculty continues to mount. While both sides express hope for a resolution, the possibility of a strike looms large, and the spring term’s start could be marked by disruption if a deal is not reached in time.
