The start of spring semester at Portland Community College is hanging in the balance as negotiations with striking faculty and staff enter a critical phase. Administrators have set a Monday deadline to reach an agreement with the unions, warning that a failure to do so could force a delay to the term, potentially disrupting classes for over 30,000 students and delaying financial aid for thousands. The ongoing labor dispute, now in its tenth day, marks the first strike in the college’s 57-year history and the first at any community college in Oregon.
At the heart of the impasse is a demand for wages that keep pace with the rising cost of living. The Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals (FFAP) and the Federation of Classified Employees (FCE) walked off the job after nearly a year of bargaining, rejecting what they describe as insufficient offers from the college. The situation is particularly sensitive for students who rely on timely financial aid to cover tuition and living expenses, and for those enrolled in career and technical education programs requiring access to specialized facilities.
Ryan Clark, PCC’s associate vice president of enrollment management and student success, explained the logistical challenges a delay would create. “We would be looking at moving the start of term by probably a full week due to the fact that we would still need time once folks are back from the strike to finish out winter term,” Clark said. The college is attempting to balance the needs of students, faculty, and staff even as navigating a complex financial landscape.
A Historic Strike Over Cost-of-Living Adjustments
The strike began after months of unsuccessful negotiations. Union representatives argue that PCC has the resources to provide cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to keep wages competitive, but has instead prioritized other spending. “They are choosing to prioritize other areas — growing management, special projects — rather than investing it in their students, in classes, in instructors, in academic professionals, in the people that actually build this college run,” said Victoria Rau, a part-time English instructor and a union vice president of communications, according to reporting by KGW.
Ben Cushing, a sociology professor and president of the FFAP, emphasized the impact of inflation on faculty and staff. “We’ve been bargaining since May of 2025, so almost a year of bargaining. We simply want our wages to keep up with the cost of inflation,” Cushing stated in a previous interview with KGW. “We’ve seen inflation of about 3% every year, so we need to have a cost-of-living adjustment that keeps up with that.”
PCC administrators acknowledge the financial pressures facing the college, citing budget deficits and declining state support. However, union members remain skeptical, arguing that the college’s financial priorities are misaligned. Michelle DuBarry, a grants officer at PCC and executive vice president of the FFAP, believes the college’s budget is “stable enough that they can pay their employees a living wage,” and that the union’s request for a cost-of-living adjustment is reasonable.
Impact on Students and Specialized Programs
The strike has already disrupted the academic calendar, canceling classes and preventing students from completing final exams or registering for spring courses. A delay to the spring term would exacerbate these disruptions, potentially delaying graduation timelines and creating financial hardship for students reliant on financial aid.
The impact isn’t uniform across all programs. Clark highlighted the challenges posed by career and technical education courses that require hands-on training in specialized facilities. “Some of our classes we need to get students back on campus because they need access to welding facilities or machining facilities,” he said. “That’s just part of the complication that we’re working through.” These programs, vital for workforce development in the region, are particularly vulnerable to prolonged disruptions.
Students have expressed mixed reactions to the strike. Some have voiced support for the faculty and staff, recognizing the importance of fair wages and working conditions. “The whole point of going to school and getting an education is to get a job that helps you live and helps you feed yourself, and the fact that our community college isn’t reflecting that value with its own workers is completely bizarre,” said student Alena Slee, as reported by KGW.
Negotiations Continue as Deadline Looms
As the Monday deadline approaches, negotiators are reportedly making progress, though significant hurdles remain. Clark expressed cautious optimism, stating, “I suppose the overall sense is that things are progressing in a positive direction and that hopefully this Monday deadline is something we don’t have to worry about.” However, he also acknowledged the uncertainty, adding, “I think we’re watching this minute by minute and trying to hold on to our optimism that our negotiating teams are making good progress.”
A union source, speaking to KGW, indicated that while union representatives are eager to resume classes, management’s proposals have yet to meet their demands. Negotiations are expected to continue through the weekend if no agreement is reached by the end of Friday.
The situation at Portland Community College reflects broader trends in higher education, where adjunct faculty and staff often face precarious employment conditions and stagnant wages. The outcome of this strike could have implications for labor negotiations at other community colleges and universities across the country.
The next update on the negotiations is expected Monday, following the deadline set by PCC administrators. Students and faculty are encouraged to monitor the college’s website for official announcements and further information.
If you are a PCC student facing financial hardship due to the strike, resources are available through the PCC Foundation: https://www.pcc.edu/foundation/.
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