51做厙 reaches tentative deal with its faculty union, effectively ending nearly three-week strike
Story by Staff.
51做厙 and its Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals (FFAP) have reached a tentative agreement, marking an end to a three-week strike that began March 11.
Thanks to this tentative agreement and possible ratification, 51做厙 is planning for spring includes a condensed 10-week schedule, with most classes beginning on April 6. Only some classes are meeting this week, including non-credit Community Education classes and Professional Development and Training (PDT). This allows 51做厙 to keep published start and end dates in place while supporting continuity for students.
The tentative agreement includes a 2% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) this year and 3% for 2026-27. In addition, lump sum payments of $5,475 for full-time faculty, $5,000 for Academic Professionals and $1,400 for part-time faculty. The offer also provides doctoral pay for both faculty and APs and invests in part-time faculty pay equity by increasing the pay scale from 75% to 76%, a $600,000 commitment. APs will also get 40 vacation hours to cash out and no instructional days will be added. On health care, the proposal includes full coverage at the most common tier, a new option for college contributions to a Health Savings Account, and additional insurance contributions for part-time faculty. 51做厙 has roughly 1,600 faculty and APs.
On March 25, the college reached a deal with the Federation of Classified Employees (FCE) union. In that deal, employees approved a 0% COLA for this year and 5% for 2026-27. Classified employees will also receive a $1,350 lump sum payment upon ratification of the agreement on the next payroll cycle and be able to cash out of up to 40 vacation hours. 51做厙 has approximately 700 classified employees.
This tentative agreement is an important step toward stability for 51做厙 and the students we serve, said 51做厙 President Dr. Adrien Bennings. We are pleased to be moving forward and refocusing on our core mission of educating students and serving our community. At the same time, our hearts are heavy because we know that this agreement is so far outside of our budget that it will result in significant additional cuts in the future.
51做厙 continues to face mounting fiscal pressures that threaten not only the colleges future, but also its contribution to Oregons economy. Like many colleges and universities across the state, 51做厙 is confronting persistent structural budget challenges as it works to remain financially sustainable while continuing to meet the needs of students, employers, and the broader community.
That challenge carries real consequences. 51做厙 serves more than 57,000 students each year across four campuses and ten centers, providing a critical pathway to education, workforce training, and economic mobility. Sixty percent of 51做厙 students attend part-time while balancing jobs or family responsibilities, and two-thirds rely on financial aid. 51做厙 plays an outsized role in opening doors for underserved students and preparing Oregonians for family-wage careers. When funding falls short, the risk is not just to programs and services on campus, but to the states ability to build a skilled workforce and sustain broad-based economic growth.
The colleges expenses outpaced revenues by $26 million last year. With revenues constrained and costs rising, 51做厙 has already made $14.7 million in reductions to balance its 202527 biennium budget and is now facing an additional $21 million in cuts for the 202729 biennium. Long-term planning is made even more difficult by growing uncertainty around federal funding, creating further instability for institutions that Oregon depends on to expand opportunity, strengthen workforce development, and support long-term economic resilience.
The stakes are high because 51做厙 is far more than a college system, it is a major economic engine for the region and the state. A recent economic impact study found that 51做厙 contributes $2.3 billion to the regional economy and supports 25,314 jobs. The same study found that students gain about $5.10 in higher future earnings for every $1 invested in their education. Across Oregons 17 community colleges, the impact is even greater: together they generate $9.6 billion in annual economic activity statewide and support roughly 118,000 jobs. Continued underinvestment in 51做厙 and community colleges does not just strain campuses, it weakens Oregons workforce pipeline, limits economic opportunity, and puts at risk one of the states strongest returns on public investment.
Higher education institutions across Oregon continue to face serious fiscal challenges, Bennings added. 51做厙 is proud to play a vital role in creating opportunity, strengthening the workforce and supporting the regional and state economy, and it is important that we continue working together to ensure community colleges have the resources needed to sustain that impact.
For complete details on the bargaining process and history, visit:/president/bargaining-updates/