On August 14th, the RWU Bargaining Team provided a full response to OHSU’s discouraging article package from the July 31st session, encompassing over 50 pages of revisions and counterproposals. We proposed two separate packages:

• 1A, which contains high-priority economic articles including Compensation, Insurance, and Retirement, and,

• 1B, which contains important work conditions language including Employment Practices, Hours of Work, and International Affairs

Although OHSU’s July 31st proposal rejected nearly everything above the status quo, our response refocused our demands and emphasized the value of our members. The details of these proposals can be found here.

Compared to last session, management appeared receptive to our creative solutions and compromises, but it remains to be seen how that will shape their response. OHSU also provided a counterproposal to our Belonging, Respect and Fairness article with modified language to limit backlash from the Trump administration as an institution that receives federal funding. In light of these political realities, we encouraged management to consider our articles that tangibly benefit our more vulnerable members, including visa support for international researchers, expanded family definition for bereavement leave, and the construction of a hardship fund.

As the session came to a close, we made a preemptive request for mediation, recognizing it can take upwards of a month to schedule. This process brings in an impartial trained mediator to guide both parties toward compromises and help communicate each side’s priorities. The main takeaway here is that while this session was largely productive, a mediator may be necessary in the future if management is unwilling to budge on critical bargaining topics. If you’ve attended one of our general membership meetings, you’ll know that packages and mediation are two indications that we’re moving into the late stage of bargaining after nearly a year of negotiations.

The breaking news around the Knight Cancer donation came just hours before our session. We don’t have many answers yet and will be pressing management for answers on how this affects RWU and how this influx of funding may alleviate some of the financial anxiety around all research at OHSU.

Our next bargaining session will be September 18th, and we plan to organize an action coinciding with that session. We will also be planning a town hall in September to answer questions from members, and provide some information about the next phase of bargaining. Stay tuned for more information.

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