From our colleagues at Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation (GTFF-AFT 3544) and UO Student Workers:
The University of Oregon terminated the contracts of Mae Bracelin and Mike Urbancic, who were not only employees of the UO, but also the elected presidents of the student (UOSW) and faculty (UAUO) unions, respectively.
UO justified their terminations by appealing to “departmental metrics” and “financial considerations.” In other words, fire these two, among others, to lower UO operating costs.
These terminations and disciplinary actions signal the UO’s willingness to target union leaders, past or present, as fiscal and political issues abound.