Portland Community College strike continues as unions and administration enter all-day mediation over pay and benefits
Strike enters mediation phase as PCC operations shift
Portland Community College’s strike by faculty, academic professionals and classified staff continued as bargaining teams moved into all-day mediation aimed at resolving a contract dispute centered on wages and employer-paid health care contributions. The walkout began March 11, 2026, involving two bargaining units: the Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals, which represents about 1,600 employees, and the Federation of Classified Employees, which represents close to 700 support workers.
PCC has said it is operating remotely during the strike and that some classes and services are affected. The strike is widely described as a first for PCC’s unions and a first among Oregon’s 17 community colleges, underscoring the unusual scale of the work stoppage for the state’s two-year higher education system.
What the parties are bargaining over
Negotiations involve a mid-term reopening of existing agreements rather than full successor contracts. PCC has described the reopened scope as limited primarily to salary schedules and the college’s contribution to health insurance premiums for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 years, with other changes requiring mutual consent. Both unions have emphasized the need for wage increases that keep pace with inflation and offset rising benefit costs.
Earlier in the process, the two unions declared an impasse on January 30, 2026, which triggered statutory steps that included mediated sessions and a cooling-off period. PCC has stated that the parties submitted last, best offers by February 6, 2026, and continued bargaining with a state mediator thereafter. As the strike continued, mediation sessions extended into full-day meetings, reflecting the ongoing distance between the sides.
Financial context cited by the college
PCC has framed its position around budget constraints and longer-term uncertainty. College officials have pointed to forecasts of declining enrollment, increasing operational costs, and projected deficits over the next two years. PCC also has described steps taken to balance the 2025–27 biennial budget, including reductions in personnel and benefit costs, elimination of vacant positions, and management-related cuts.
The unions, while acknowledging budget pressures, have argued that compensation proposals must remain competitive and sufficient to retain staff needed to deliver student-facing services and instruction.
Key milestones and what comes next
Mid-term bargaining began in May 2025; ground rules were signed July 1, 2025.
Both unions declared impasse January 30, 2026; strike authorization votes followed in February.
The strike started March 11, 2026, with PCC moving to remote operations and warning of class disruptions.
All-day mediation sessions are ongoing as the parties attempt to narrow gaps on pay and benefit funding.
While mediation details are confidential, the public positions of both sides indicate that salary increases and health insurance premium contributions remain the central unresolved issues.
No settlement timeline has been announced. Any tentative agreement would typically require ratification by union members and approval through the college’s governance process before the strike could end and normal operations resume.