Frequently Asked Questions

The OUS bargaining team thought of some frequently asked questions that classified staff may have about negotiations and answered those questions below.  Additional questions and answers may be added as negotiations proceed. However, if there is a question that you would like answered, please submit your question to: seiunegotiations@ous.edu

What are Ground Rules?

Ground Rules are simply guidelines that the OUS and Union agreed to adhere to during negotiations. The Ground Rules were agreed to in December of 2012.

When did negotiations begin?

Negotiations officially began on February 1, 2013 when the OUS and Union met at the Union’s headquarters in Salem. During this meeting the OUS gave SEIU a list of Articles and Letters of Agreement that it wished to open during negotiations. SEIU also gave the OUS its list.

When will negotiations occur next?

The dates, times and locations of when negotiations take place are discussed and agreed by the OUS and Union either at the end of a negotiation session or shortly thereafter.  We will post the dates, times and locations of negotiations under the Information about Negotiations tab.

Where are negotiations held?

Most negotiations will be held within the Willamette Valley either at Portland State University, Oregon Tech's Wilsonville campus, Oregon State University, Western Oregon University, or the University of Oregon.  The parties will also hold negotiations at either Eastern Oregon University, Oregon Tech's Klamath Falls campus, or Southern Oregon University.  It is also possible that negotiations may take place at the Salem offices of the OUS or Union.

Who is on the OUS’s bargaining team?

The OUS bargaining team includes Tracie Houtz (EOU), Ron McCutcheon (OIT), Jeri Hemmer (OSU), Tracey Yee (OSU), Terrill Bartee (PSU), Jay Stephens (SOU), Terry Leary (UO), Judy Vanderburg (WOU), Bill Sexton (WOU), and Brian Caufield (OUS).

What is the PECBA timeline?

The Oregon Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA) provides that the OUS and Union must engage in good faith bargaining for at least 150 calendar days. If no agreement is reached after the 150 days, either party can begin the mediation process by requesting the assistance of a mediator that is appointed by the Employment Relations Board (ERB). The parties are required to be in the mediation process for at least 15 calendar days. If no agreement is reached during mediation the parties can continue mediation or either can declare an impasse. If an impasse is declared, both parties must send the mediator a Final Offer and cost summary within 7 calendar days of declaring impasse. Those Final Offers and cost summaries are then made public. Once made public, there is a 30 day “cooling off” period to allow for more negotiations in an attempt to reach agreement. If the parties still are unable to reach agreement, upon proper notice to the other party, the Union can strike and the OUS can implement all or part of the Final Offer.

For more information on negotiation under PECBA, please visit the ERB’s website at: http://www.oregon.gov/ERB/Pages/PECBAOverview.aspx

Why do I have to wait until after a negotiation session to get a summary of OUS’s proposals?

The Union is your exclusive bargaining representative and the law requires that the OUS must first present proposals to the Union. After those proposals are presented to the Union, the OUS can provide summaries or copies of those proposals. We intend to do just that under the Information about Negotiations tab.