The Resolution of a Historic Labor Dispute at PCC

Portland Community College (PCC), Oregon's largest community college serving over 50,000 students annually across four campuses, has reached a tentative agreement with its faculty union, effectively ending a nearly three-week strike that began on March 11, 2026. This marked the first faculty strike in any Oregon community college history, highlighting escalating tensions over compensation amid rising living costs in the Portland area.

The Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals (FFAP), representing approximately 1,600 full-time faculty, academic professionals, and part-time instructors, walked off the job after 11 months of negotiations for a mid-term reopener on their 2023-2027 contract. The dispute centered on wages that union members argued failed to keep pace with Portland's acute housing affordability crisis and inflation rates exceeding 3-5% in recent years. Full-time faculty salaries at PCC typically start around $62,000-$64,500 for entry-level instructors, scaling to over $118,000 at senior levels, but union leaders contended these figures lagged behind regional living wage benchmarks of about $50,000 for singles and higher for families.

The agreement, announced late on March 30, 2026, allows faculty to return to work on March 31, with winter term grades due by April 1 (with some extensions), and most spring classes starting April 6 on a condensed 10-week schedule ending June 15. This resolution came after intense mediation, pressure from state officials including Governor Tina Kotek, and separate deals with the classified staff union.

Background: Why Did Faculty Strike?

PCC has faced mounting financial pressures, including a $26.1 million deficit in FY2024-25 and a projected $37.7 million shortfall for the current biennium, driven by flat state funding, enrollment declines post-pandemic (still below pre-COVID levels), and personnel costs outpacing revenues. The college implemented $14.7 million in cuts for 2025-27, including personnel reductions, yet unions argued reserves (aiming for 12% of budget) and administrative raises indicated room for wage investments.

FFAP's demands evolved from initial asks of over 8% raises to more modest 6% proposals, focusing on cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for contract years 3 and 4, part-time pay equity (at 75% of full-time rates), doctoral stipends, health benefits, and workload protections like no added instructional days. Sticking points included 'restorative pay' for strike time—effectively back pay without unemployment repayment under Oregon's SB 916—and dynamic scheduling giving department chairs more course control.

PCC's initial last-best offer in February was $3.9 million for FFAP; at strike start, $8.2 million; the final tentative cost totals $16.2 million—a 315% increase—exceeding the $7.5 million contingency fund and necessitating further cuts.

Timeline of the PCC Faculty Strike

The strike unfolded rapidly after failed talks:

• March 11, 2026: FFAP and FCE (700 classified workers) launch joint strike, closing campuses and shifting minimal operations online. Finals halted.
• March 19-24: Week 2; PCC bumps offers, but impasse over strike pay ($5M+ cost). Spring term delay announced.
• March 25: FCE reaches tentative deal (0% COLA year 1, 5% year 2, $1,350 lump sum), ratifies, returns to work.
• March 30: FFAP tentative agreement after marathon session.
• March 31: Ratification voting begins; faculty return, grades processed.
• April 6: Spring classes resume.

This sequence minimized long-term disruption but left winter term in limbo, with students anxious over financial aid, visas, and transfers.

Key Terms of the Tentative Agreement

The deal addresses core union priorities while accommodating PCC's fiscal reality. Here's a breakdown:

Ratification is pending, but return-to-work precedes it, with no benefit losses or retaliation.PCC's official announcement details full terms.

Photo by Dylan Gillis on Unsplash

Impacts on Students and Campus Operations

Over 50,000 students faced uncertainty: winter finals canceled or remote, grades delayed (due April 1+), spring postponed a week. About 350 international F-1 visa holders risked status issues, financial aid disbursements hung in balance, and transfers to four-year schools stalled. PCC maintained non-credit classes and support services, but picket lines greeted arrivals on March 30.

Union leaders like FFAP's Michelle DuBarry emphasized shared pain: “Our students were becoming increasingly nervous that spring term would be interrupted beyond the point they could make up for it.” The condensed schedule preserves credits but compresses learning.OPB reports on student limbo.

Financial Ramifications for PCC

PCC President Dr. Adrien Bennings called the deal bittersweet: “This tentative agreement is an important step toward stability... but our hearts are heavy because it is so far outside of our budget that it will result in significant additional cuts.” Combined union costs ($21.4M) strain reserves, amid $21M more cuts eyed for 2027-29. Critics note admin budget hikes, but college cites enrollment drops and stagnant state aid.

Step-by-step budget process: Revenues from tuition/state ~$400M+; expenses rose via salaries/benefits. Cuts targeted adjuncts, programs; future may hit operations.

Stakeholder Perspectives and Reactions

• Union: “When we fight we win!” FFAP hailed gains despite 'lowest wage package in a decade.'
• PCC Leadership: Relief mixed with caution on sustainability.
• Students: Mixed; disruption vs. empathy for fair pay.
• Officials: Gov. Kotek urged resolution.
• Experts: Highlights national trend of CC labor unrest.

Broader Context in U.S. Higher Education Labor

This strike fits rising faculty activism at community colleges, amid 2025-26 disputes (e.g., Central Oregon CC staff strike vote April 2). Nationally, inflation-eroded wages spark actions; PCC's outcome—lump sums sans full backpay—may model compromises. Oregon's SB 916 eased strikes via unemployment access.

Photo by Rachael Ren on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Ratification, Recovery, and Lessons

Ratification likely given return momentum; post-strike 'Resumption Workgroup' aids recovery. Long-term: PCC eyes efficiencies; unions monitor cuts. Lessons: Early mediation, transparent budgets key. For faculty job seekers, underscores demand for COLA protections in contracts.

Implications for Community College Faculty Careers

In Oregon and beyond, this signals unions' leverage via strikes, but fiscal limits cap gains. Prospective faculty should note PCC's scale offers diverse roles (adjunct to full-time), but negotiate COLAs amid regional COL indices ~120% national average. Actionable: Review union contracts pre-applying; leverage sites like AcademicJobs for openings.