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News Release

PCC Unions Announce Strike Beginning March 11; PCC Plans To Continue Negotiations And Support Students - 03/11/26

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Community College’s Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals (FFAP) and the Federation of Classified Employees (FCE) have announced they are striking, effective Wednesday, March 11.

 

The college is operating remotely through until the end of the strike. Mediation will resume on Monday.

 

PCC remains committed to reaching agreements and continues to meet with union leadership. The college is focused on reaching agreements that are fair, sustainable, and aligned with long-term institutional stability. 

 

“While we are disappointed in these developments, Portland Community College remains committed to reaching agreements and will continue meeting with union leadership in good faith,” said PCC President Adrien Bennings. “Our focus is a settlement that is fair and sustainable, one that supports our employees while protecting the long-term stability of the college and our ability to serve students.

 

“Most importantly, we are doing everything in our power to support students and keep their academic progress on track,” she added. 

 

Context: negotiations amid significant financial pressures

 

These negotiations are occurring amid a challenging financial outlook for higher education. Rising costs, uncertainty around future state and federal funding, and enrollment declines following the COVID-19 pandemic have caused expenditures to significantly outpace revenue for many institutions.

 

PCC recently made $14.7 million in reductions to balance the 2025–27 biennium’s budget and is facing an additional $21 million in reductions for the 2027–2029 biennium. Long-term planning is further complicated by growing uncertainty around federal funding, adding another layer of instability for institutions that Oregonians rely on to expand opportunity, strengthen workforce development, and support long-term economic resilience.

 

This moment also highlights a persistent reality across Oregon and the nation: state funding for community colleges has not kept pace with the true cost of delivering high-quality instruction, career and technical training, and the wraparound supports many students need to succeed. That gap limits colleges’ ability to fully serve students, especially those balancing work, caregiving responsibilities, or financial hardship.

 

Even in these constraints, PCC is committed to distributing available resources as equitably as possible while maintaining its mission of serving students and the community. The college hopes to find a settlement that maintains that mission while finding an equitable solution for employees’ compensation and benefits.

 

As background, the current collective bargaining agreement remains in effect for its full term (September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2027). This is a mid-term reopener and is focused on wages and benefits only.

 

What the strike may mean for students

 

PCC is actively preparing to ensure continuity in instruction, advising, financial aid support, and other essential services so that students’ academic progress stays on track.

 

The strike is expected to impact the end of winter term and could result in delays to grades being posted. Faculty will grade students’ work and staff will process grades when the strike ends.

 

During the strike, PCC plans to offer classes and student services to the fullest extent possible. The college is taking steps to support students and help them complete coursework and academic requirements on time.

 

Staff will process spring financial aid as quickly as possible once winter grades are posted and spring courses are successfully underway.

 

If the strike impacts spring term, which begins March 30, students have a period in which to request a refund at the beginning of the term. That period may be extended depending on the situation.

 

PCC will continue to provide updates to students, employees, and the community as more information becomes available.

 

For complete details on the bargaining process and history, visit: https://www.pcc.edu/president/bargaining-updates/

 

 

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

 

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

 

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.

 

PCC Unions Announce Strike Beginning March 11; PCC Plans To Continue Negotiations And Support Students - 03/11/26

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Community College’s Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals (FFAP) and the Federation of Classified Employees (FCE) have announced they are striking, effective Wednesday, March 11.

 

The college is operating remotely through until the end of the strike. Mediation will resume on Monday.

 

PCC remains committed to reaching agreements and continues to meet with union leadership. The college is focused on reaching agreements that are fair, sustainable, and aligned with long-term institutional stability. 

 

“While we are disappointed in these developments, Portland Community College remains committed to reaching agreements and will continue meeting with union leadership in good faith,” said PCC President Adrien Bennings. “Our focus is a settlement that is fair and sustainable, one that supports our employees while protecting the long-term stability of the college and our ability to serve students.

 

“Most importantly, we are doing everything in our power to support students and keep their academic progress on track,” she added. 

 

Context: negotiations amid significant financial pressures

 

These negotiations are occurring amid a challenging financial outlook for higher education. Rising costs, uncertainty around future state and federal funding, and enrollment declines following the COVID-19 pandemic have caused expenditures to significantly outpace revenue for many institutions.

 

PCC recently made $14.7 million in reductions to balance the 2025–27 biennium’s budget and is facing an additional $21 million in reductions for the 2027–2029 biennium. Long-term planning is further complicated by growing uncertainty around federal funding, adding another layer of instability for institutions that Oregonians rely on to expand opportunity, strengthen workforce development, and support long-term economic resilience.

 

This moment also highlights a persistent reality across Oregon and the nation: state funding for community colleges has not kept pace with the true cost of delivering high-quality instruction, career and technical training, and the wraparound supports many students need to succeed. That gap limits colleges’ ability to fully serve students, especially those balancing work, caregiving responsibilities, or financial hardship.

 

Even in these constraints, PCC is committed to distributing available resources as equitably as possible while maintaining its mission of serving students and the community. The college hopes to find a settlement that maintains that mission while finding an equitable solution for employees’ compensation and benefits.

 

As background, the current collective bargaining agreement remains in effect for its full term (September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2027). This is a mid-term reopener and is focused on wages and benefits only.

 

What the strike may mean for students

 

PCC is actively preparing to ensure continuity in instruction, advising, financial aid support, and other essential services so that students’ academic progress stays on track.

 

The strike is expected to impact the end of winter term and could result in delays to grades being posted. Faculty will grade students’ work and staff will process grades when the strike ends.

 

During the strike, PCC plans to offer classes and student services to the fullest extent possible. The college is taking steps to support students and help them complete coursework and academic requirements on time.

 

Staff will process spring financial aid as quickly as possible once winter grades are posted and spring courses are successfully underway.

 

If the strike impacts spring term, which begins March 30, students have a period in which to request a refund at the beginning of the term. That period may be extended depending on the situation.

 

PCC will continue to provide updates to students, employees, and the community as more information becomes available.

 

For complete details on the bargaining process and history, visit: https://www.pcc.edu/president/bargaining-updates/

 

 

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

 

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

 

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.