Portland State University has begun the layoff process for more than 90 faculty and staff members represented by the American Association of University Professors.
More than 7.5% of PSU-AAUP members received layoff notices. Under the union contract, workers must receive at least eight months advance notice before their jobs end. Faculty received layoff notices in mid-October, meaning their jobs would end in June, after the spring term.
PSU-AAUP members, students, members of every other on-campus union, and allies marched to the university’s administration building on Oct. 17 to demand PSU President Ann Cudd stop layoffs and settle a new contract with the union. The current contract expires Nov. 30.
PSU says it’s facing an $18 million budget deficit for the current fiscal year, but an analysis from an Eastern Michigan University accounting professor and former national AAUP official says PSU is on better financial footing than it claims.
