On March 11, 2026, Ben Cushing, president of the Portland Community College (PCC) Federation of Teachers, led a significant strike at the Cascade Campus amidst heavy rain, joined by hundreds of faculty, staff, and students. This walkout marked the first strike among Oregon’s 17 community colleges, reflecting ongoing discontent over compensation negotiations that have stalled for nearly a year. Participants, many wearing raincoats, held signs with messages like “Living wage now” and marched in solidarity demanding salary increases that keep pace with inflation.
PCC has been negotiating with its two unions—PCCFFAP representing about 1,600 faculty and academic staff, and PCCFCE with nearly 700 support employees—particularly over wage increases amidst budget deficits and projected enrollment declines. Union leaders have lowered their initial demands but found the administration’s latest offer of a 4% increase over two years inadequate.
PCC President Adrian Bennings expressed disappointment over the strike but reiterated the institution’s commitment to reaching a fair agreement. The strike is expected to create considerable disruption for the over 30,000 students at PCC, with some classes moving to remote formats. Despite the challenges, students rallied in support of their teachers, emphasizing the need for fair wages and better working conditions amid ongoing negotiations, with further bargaining sessions anticipated soon.
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