Faculty and support staff at Portland Community College returned to work March 30 and 31, wrapping up strikes that began March 11.
The strikes included about 700 support workers represented by the PCC Federation of Classified Employees and about 1,600 faculty members represented by the PCC Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals. The two units struck for the first time ever after rejecting a college offer that would have increased wages just 0.35% a year in the final two years of their current four-year contracts.
Classified employees were first to reach agreement on a new contract, which was ratified by members March 26. They returned to work March 30. Their agreement specified no wage increase now, but a wage increase of 5% for the fourth year of the contract. Members also received a $1,350 ratification bonus.
Faculty next came to terms on a tentative agreement March 30 and returned to work March 31. If ratified as expected, it will raise wages 2% now and 3% in the final year of the contract. In addition full-time faculty will get a $5,475 lump-sum payment and part-time faculty will get $1,400.
Back pay for workers during the strike had been a sticking point in negotiations, but the unions agreed to the lump-sum payments instead.
Spring-term classes were set to begin on March 30, but were postponed a week to April 6. The college also moved the deadline to April 1 for faculty to submit winter- term grades.
