Portland Community College Advances 5% COLA In Effort To Reach Agreement - 03/23/26

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Community College has formally advanced a revised compensation proposal to union leadership, as the faculty and classified strike enters its third week. 

The proposal includes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in the first year of the contract and a 3% COLA in the second year, along with increased contributions to employee healthcare plans. This brings the total COLA of the current PCC contract up to 19% across 4 years (PCC previously awarded compounding 6% and 8% COLAs, plus step increases). 

College leadership emphasized that this proposal reflects continued, significant movement by management at the bargaining table and a clear effort to balance support for employees with the College’s responsibility to students and long-term financial sustainability.

“We are optimistic about this competitive offer and eager to reach an agreement with both negotiation teams,” said PCC President Adrien Bennings. “Continuing to place our students in a prolonged state of uncertainty is untenable for their success.”

The advancement of this proposal comes at a critical time for the College. PCC is currently experiencing a 4.2% decline in student headcount and a 3.4% decline in full-time equivalent enrollment compared to this time last year. College leaders are also aware of students exploring transfer options due to uncertainty surrounding the spring term.

“The PCC team is working to reach an agreement that allows us to move forward together as an institution while ensuring students can continue their education without disruption,” said PCC Board of Director Gina Sanchez Roletto. “I’d expect and hope that students support their instructors during this time. Instructors and staff are the front line of education, and at the same time I hope the public is continuing to reach out to state legislators to continue advocacy for education funding.”

Due to PCC’s quarter-based academic calendar, prolonged uncertainty can have cascading impacts on registration timelines, financial aid disbursement, and student progress. If union leadership does not agree to this offer tonight, the College is prepared to explore options for delaying spring term to April 6.

“We believe there is still a path forward,” Bennings added. 

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.