Rain couldn’t stop the crowd at Portland Community College (PCC). Hundreds gathered at campuses across the city to support the faculty and support staff strike, which is a first for PCC and any of Oregon’s community colleges.
At the Cascade campus, more than 300 people showed up, donning raincoats and boots. They carried signs saying “living wage now” and “COLAs not cuts,” voicing their demands for better pay as they marched around.
The unions—PCC’s Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals (PCCFFAP) and the Federation of Classified Employees—have been in tense negotiations over salaries and benefits for nearly a year. Despite discussions, progress has stalled.
Ben Cushing, president of PCCFFAP, expressed the resolve of the faculty: “We’re ready to strike as long as needed for a fair deal.” He pointed out that inflation has taken a toll, and they won’t settle for less. The strike impacts over 30,000 students, as most classes will move to remote formats, causing disruptions to learning.
PCC’s President, Adrien Bennings, stated the college is eager to find a fair settlement while remaining mindful of its long-term stability. He emphasized that both the needs of the staff and the financial realities of the institution must be balanced.
After a long negotiation period, both unions authorized the strike when they declared an impasse in late January. The faculty union represents around 1,600 members, while the classified union includes about 700 support workers, including administrative staff and custodians.
Both unions are advocating for wage increases in line with inflation. However, PCC officials are concerned about a projected $37 million budget deficit over the next two years and declining enrollment, complicating their ability to meet these demands.
Students like Mando Larson joined the rally, showing full support for their educators despite the impact on their classes. “The administration’s reaction has been disheartening,” he said. He believes the demands for fair pay are justified.
Negotiations continue to be strained. Recently, the faculty union lowered their wage demand from over 8% to 6%, while the classified staff also adjusted their proposals. PCC’s latest offer was a 4% increase over two years, significantly better than the previous offer of less than 1%, but still not enough to prevent the strike.
Rye Weston, a groundskeeper, shared the burden many face. He wakes up at 3:30 a.m. for work and feels the pinch of low wages, stating it’s hard to make ends meet.
Governor Tina Kotek has indicated that cuts to higher education funding are off the table, a relief for the college that had based initial wage proposals on uncertain budgets. Howard Croom from PCC mentioned that the financial situation hasn’t improved, keeping the discussion ongoing.
The timing of the strike is significant as winter term final exams are approaching. How long this strike lasts remains uncertain, but both sides are open to further discussions as they look for a resolution.
This moment in PCC’s history highlights the crucial ongoing conversation about fair wages and the challenges of funding higher education, an issue that extends beyond one campus or even one state.
Source link
Education | Portland Metro
