EUGENE, Ore. — On the morning of April 28, student workers at the University of Oregon walked off the job after months of failed negotiations with the university over labor conditions, including wage increases and pay cycle frequency. The strike involves around 4,000 student workers, including tutors, residential assistants, dining hall employees, and more, all represented by the University of Oregon Student Workers (UOSW) union.
The workers’ grievances focus on the university’s failure to address long-standing issues, particularly with the frequency of pay periods. Many workers have expressed frustration with being paid late, sometimes going up to two months without compensation. UOSW representatives argue that these delays have created serious financial hardships for students who rely on their wages to afford basic living expenses.
“I know student workers who have gone 60 days without pay, and that’s very infuriating,” said Izzie Marshall, a member of the UOSW bargaining team. “We want to be paid on time, at least within a month, not face these extended periods without pay.”
Seamus Wood, a junior and tutor at the university, shared his personal struggles with delayed payments. “I started working on October 7, and I wasn’t paid until November 25,” Wood said. “I had literally $15 in my bank account during that time. It was hard to even get to class.”
While the university’s latest offer includes wage increases — 5% in the first year, followed by 3% increases in the second and third years — the students say these measures don’t go far enough. The university also proposed a working group with UOSW representation to explore the feasibility of transitioning to a bi-weekly pay cycle, which has yet to satisfy the workers’ concerns.
Angela Seydel, the Director of Issues Management at the university, expressed disappointment over the strike, emphasizing that “several days of mediation” had led to tentative agreements on various issues. However, the strike persisted as the remaining issues, particularly around pay cycles and wage adjustments, remained unresolved.
For UOSW members like Victoria Robison, who works at the university’s library, the strike represents more than just a labor dispute; it’s about securing a livable wage for students facing rising costs. “A lot of student workers are already from underprivileged backgrounds and are working to afford their education here,” Robison said. “Tuition keeps going up, and so do the costs of living. We need to be able to pay rent, buy groceries, and live like everyone else.”
Since unionizing in 2023, UOSW has fought for fairer compensation and improved working conditions for student employees, who say they are often seen as secondary to the primary mission of the university. Robison adds that many students are pushing back against the misconception that their jobs are just “for fun money.”
The strike highlights the growing tension between rising tuition fees, increased cost of living, and the wages available to student workers who make up a significant portion of the university’s workforce. For many, this strike is about more than just fair pay — it’s about making sure students can afford to stay in school and live without constantly facing financial instability.
As negotiations continue, the outcome of the strike will likely set a precedent for how student labor is valued in academic institutions moving forward.
