Oregon State, Stanford Graduate Workers Strike

Graduate student workers at Oregon State University (OSU) initiated a strike after 14 months of contract negotiations failed to yield an agreement regarding salary increases and contract renegotiation rights. The Coalition of Graduate Employees (CGE), representing over 1,700 graduate teaching and research assistants, is seeking a 40% salary increase for its lowest-paid members to address rising living costs. Meanwhile, Stanford's Graduate Workers Union (SGWU) is also poised to strike, with 90% of its members supporting the action due to dissatisfaction with a proposed 12% salary increase over three years. SGWU demands a 14% to 16% pay increase in the first year, citing high housing costs and inflation as critical factors. Both unions emphasize that their strikes could significantly disrupt university operations and learning, as graduate workers are integral to teaching and research functions. OSU has expressed disappointment over the strike but remains open to further negotiations, while Stanford has faced criticism for allegedly misrepresenting the circumstances surrounding the negotiations.