Faculty and support staff at Portland Community College (PCC) struck for the first time ever March 11. The strike includes about 700 members of the PCC Federation of Classified Employees and about 1,600 members of the PCC Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals.
The strike is a rejection of the college’s final wage offer: two years of 0.35% annual increases. That’s far below recent inflation rates, which have ranged from 2.4% to 3%, so it would amount to a pay cut. The union’s final pre-strike offer was 3% and 3.5%. Members authorized the strike after the negotiations broke down over wages in the final two years of an existing four-year contract. Raises the first two years were 6% and 8%.
The strike shut down classes just before winter term finals week for more than 50,000 students on all four PCC campuses. Students have mostly expressed support for strikers. On March 13, PCC’s student government voted a resolution of no confidence in college president Adrien Bennings. Bennings’ raise last year was 9%, lifting her salary to $336,346 a year.
After a March 16 mediation session failed to produce agreement, another session was scheduled for March 18.
“We’re out here trying to get a better deal that ultimately results in a better college for our community and students,” said Jeff Grider, the classified union president.
HOW TO HELP Community supporters can contribute to the union strike fund at pccstrike.com/community-support
