Full Breakdown
Portland Community College Faculty and Staff Strike for Fair Compensation
3/13/2026, 3:04:30 AM
Historic Strike Initiated at Portland Community College
On March 11, 2026, hundreds of faculty and staff members from Portland Community College (PCC) initiated a strike, marking the first such action among Oregon's community colleges. The strike involves two unions: the PCC Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals (PCCFFAP), which represents approximately 1,600 members, and the PCC Federation of Classified Employees (PCCFCE), with around 700 members. The unions have been negotiating for nearly a year over salary increases and benefits, but have reached an impasse, leading to the strike.
Reasons Behind the Strike
The primary contention revolves around cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) and salary increases that keep pace with inflation. Both unions argue that the college's offers have not matched inflation rates, effectively resulting in pay cuts for many employees. PCCFFAP has proposed a 6% salary increase, down from an initial 8%, while PCCFCE has sought a 3% increase for the third year of their contract. PCC's latest offer of a 4% increase over two years was deemed insufficient by the unions, prompting the strike.
Union leaders assert that PCC is not facing the dire budget constraints it previously claimed, as recent state funding has stabilized. Ben Cushing, president of PCCFFAP, stated, “The entirety of the state funding that PCC was worried was going to be cut actually came through.” This assertion has fueled the unions' demands for better compensation.
Impact on Students and Operations
The strike has significant implications for PCC's over 30,000 students. In response to the strike, PCC announced that all operations would transition to remote learning, affecting classes and final exams scheduled for the winter term. Students have expressed support for their instructors, with many participating in rallies despite the disruptions. Mando Larson, a PCC student, remarked, “We’re out here because administration has been extremely reactionary.”
Official Statements and Responses
PCC President Adrien Bennings emphasized the college's commitment to reaching a fair and sustainable agreement, stating, “While we are disappointed in these developments, Portland Community College remains committed to reaching agreements and will continue meeting with union leadership in good faith.” However, union representatives have criticized the administration's approach, claiming that the college has not adequately addressed their financial concerns.
Criticism and Opposition
Critics of the administration, including union leaders, argue that PCC's financial strategies unfairly burden current employees. Michelle DuBarry, executive vice president of PCCFFAP, stated, “We don’t think that [Bennings] should be balancing future budgets on the backs of current employees.” This sentiment reflects broader frustrations among staff regarding the college's fiscal management.
What's Next
Negotiations are set to continue, with the next session scheduled for Monday. Both unions have indicated a willingness to meet sooner if PCC presents a more acceptable proposal. The outcome of these discussions remains uncertain, as the strike continues to disrupt academic operations at PCC.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We’re ready to strike for as long as we need to in order to get a fair deal,” — Ben Cushing, President, PCC Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals
- “All the unionized workers are asking for is fair pay.” — Anonymous Union Member
- “It’d be nice to be paid more.” — Rye Weston, Groundskeeper, PCC
- “Our members realize that the current offer is actually a higher risk to their financial safety than going on strike.” — Aenghus Taylor, Instructional Administrative Assistant, PCCFCE
- “Every student has multiple messages for me, describing exactly how I’m supporting their learning today and where I’m going to be the second this strike ends,” — Ralf Youtz, Math Professor, PCC
