A 1 percent wage increase over two years. No guarantees employees would be paid above the poverty line for a family of four. A doubling of health insurance charges. This is what classified employees in the Oregon University System could face over the next two years if the contract proposed by OUS is accepted. It is not likely, however, that it will be accepted without a fight.

“We’re clearly telling them at the bargaining table that this is unacceptable,” University of Oregon chief bargaining delegate Kurt Wilcox said. ”This is not the way to show respect for the folks who work here.”

In its May newsletter, the classified employee bargaining team called the OUS proposal for classified employee contracts the worst in nearly 20 years. It certainly is different from the employee union’s proposal, which asked for a 4.3 percent wage increase each year, regular step increases and a guarantee employees would be paid more than $2,498 a month — placing them above the poverty line.

Instead, the OUS bargaining team proposed no wage increase for one year, followed by a 1 percent increase the second year, no step increase and no guarantee employees would be paid above the poverty line for another year, which is $23,350 for a family of four as determined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, the OUS team proposed employees pay 10 percent of their own health insurance, twice as much as the five percent from the previous contract.

The OUS receives less money from the state than it did 10 years ago, despite the growing number of students in the system. Because of this, says OUS spokesperson Di Saunders, students are paying more just to cover the cost of their education and increasing employee salaries could mean increasing costs for students. This is also why the OUS is proposing low wage increases and asking employees to contribute more to their health insurance payments.

“We respect all our employees and want to pay them as fairly as possible,” she said. “But we also need to respect our other stakeholders, who are the students paying the costs.”

Since the contract was proposed, employees have staged protests at Johnson Hall and at the Portland State University campus. Another demonstration is planned for June 6, less than a month before the deadline for contract negotiations on June 30.

According to Saunders, the disagreement between the bargaining teams is a natural part of the bargaining process, and OUS is trying to move toward a settlement.

“Part of the process is a back and forth negotiation,” she said. “It’s very natural for bargaining teams to have disagreements.”

If the OUS and classified employee bargaining teams cannot reach an agreement by June 3o, the current contract will stand until August. Then, if no agreement has been reached, OUS can push forward with its contract and employees can go on strike. Only two strikes have occured since contract negotiations have been established, and Wilcox is hopeful a third will not be necessary. However, he said the union cannot accept the OUS’s current proposal. Instead, he hopes the employees and the OUS can reach an agreement.

“People are pretty unhappy about what’s been offered,” he said. “We are hoping our voices will be heard, and the OUS will provide a better offer.”