Last updated on October 27, 2025
Going on strike is serious! Every day on strike is a sacrifice. But it might be the only way to get a decent raise, one that will help all PCC employees afford a decent standard of living. The only way for a strike to be successful is if the union members stick together and withhold our labor.
What is a strike?
A strike happens when workers collectively vote to withhold their labor, usually due to the failure to reach a satisfactory agreement in contract bargaining. This means all faculty and academic professionals stop working – no class, grading, meetings, projects, or anything else. We would instead have picket lines and continue to put pressure on administration to agree to a fair contract. We will have time to prepare students for a disruption in their classes and college services.
The decision to go on strike is not taken lightly, and it is not made quickly. We need to discuss it together, have a vote by members and go through several legal steps, including mediation.
Who goes on strike?
All members, non-dues payers, and probationary employees in the bargaining unit. Our bargaining unit includes faculty and academic professionals, and we might or might not strike simultaneously with classified employees who are in a different union.
How does a strike affect students?
We will not hold classes or provide other services during a strike. A short-term sacrifice might be the only way to win much-needed institutional changes — and students are often supportive of their teachers going on strike to fight for those changes. They understand what we’re fighting for benefits them, too. It’s important to keep in mind that part of what we are fighting for is to have the financial support and college structures to do better and more for our students. Striking teachers often enjoy broad community support.
What if I decide to work during a strike?
Any member of the bargaining unit (including non-dues-paying members) who works during the strike, including remote and online work, even answering emails, jeopardizes our chances of winning a good contract and risks prolonging the strike by allowing the College to continue operating. The more united we are in withholding work, the sooner the strike can end!
Will I get paid while on strike?
Possibly, but we should prepare not to be paid during the time we are on strike. Starting in January 2026, Oregon allows workers to receive up to 10 weeks of unemployment while on strike, and we will bargain for any needed retroactive pay and benefits. See below for more information.
Our union has some resources, including the strike fund and the mutual aid fund, to help members pay bills during a strike. Fundraising is a critical part of how we will prepare for a strike over the next few weeks and months. We encourage members who are financially able to contribute regularly to these two funds.
What about health insurance?
If we strike, we will maximize the amount of time people have health insurance. This means striking early in the month right after PCC pays our monthly insurance premiums so that we have at least a few weeks with no interruptions. If we are forced to strike for longer than a few weeks, PCC could decide to pause health insurance benefits during the strike. However, a law called COBRA requires group health plans to offer striking workers and their covered dependents the opportunity to continue health coverage for up to 18 months when they go on strike by paying for it out of their own pockets. For those that qualify for health insurance, COBRA can be applied retroactively. We are making preparations now to support members in this situation during a strike. Update: Since the strike date is March 11, healthcare coverage should continue through the end of April for striking workers.
Can I use vacation time, sick leave, or personal leave so I get paid during a strike?
No.
Can I collect unemployment benefits while on strike?
Yes. In the 2025 Oregon Legislative Session Senate Bill 916: Unemployment Insurance (UI) for Striking Workers passed both houses and was signed into law by the governor. This bill put an end to the ban on striking workers’ eligibility for UI benefits. Starting on January 1, 2026, workers on strike will be eligible for UI benefits for up to 10 weeks after a two-week waiting period.
As of October 2025, it is in “rule making” within the Oregon Employment Department ahead of the January 1, 2026 implementation. Oregon AFL-CIO and AFT-Oregon staff are involved in the rulemaking process, ensuring that the bill is fully and fairly rolled out in 2026. We will update this section when the rulemaking process concludes.
When would we strike?
FFAP and FCE leaders have given notice of intent to strike on March 11. It’s possible the strike could still be avoided if we reach an agreement before then. Read more about the legal timeline here.
What’s mediation?
Mediation is a process where an independent mediator from the state Employment Relations Board (ERB) meets separately with each side, helping them examine their bottom line and figure out what movement they can make to reach agreement. This sometimes leads to an agreement, but how far management is willing to move is greatly influenced by the union’s solidarity. If we actively and visibly support the union bargaining team (starting now!) then we have a better chance of leaving mediation with a good contract. At the end of mediation, we can decide to either accept management’s proposal or go on strike for a better agreement.
How long would a strike last?
That’s up to the union members. Many strikes last only a few days, and some last for weeks. During the course of a strike, our Federation bargaining team will continue to try and reach an agreement with management, and members will need to stay strong and keep the pressure on. Usually a strike ends when the membership votes to accept a proposed contract with management because we believe we have exhausted our power to get a better offer.
What can I do now to avoid a strike?
Continue to show solidarity with your coworkers, participate in workplace and campus actions, and if there is a strike vote, then vote in favor of a strike. Our bargaining team would not ask for a strike vote if we didn’t think it was necessary. Just because you vote in favor of a strike doesn’t mean it will happen! The strike vote is a way for the union to determine how much support there would be for a strike if we had one. If a majority of the members vote not to strike, then we will know that striking is not an option and we may have to accept whatever deal management has put on the table.
Can anyone be fired or replaced for striking?
You cannot be disciplined for participating in a lawful strike. PCCFFAP would not agree to a settlement unless all striking members are returned to their jobs.
Who decides to conduct a strike?
The union members. Our Executive Council will conduct a strike authorization vote as early as November and all dues-paying members will have the right to vote on whether or not to go on strike. If that vote passes, then our Executive Council and Bargaining Team will prepare the legal steps to move towards a strike. If the Bargaining Team reaches a Tentative Agreement with PCC before the strike and it is ratified by members, we will not strike.
Who can vote?
All members in good standing. Non-dues payers may sign a membership card at any time and become eligible to vote. (Click here to become a member!)
Are all members expected to walk a picket line?
Yes. A strong picket line is part of a successful strike. If there is a strike, there will be rotating shifts so there are always people on the line. For those with health conditions that make it difficult or impossible to walk the line, the Federation will make accommodations.
What happens if you cross the picket line?
You greatly weaken our chances to win a good contract, which means you weaken your chances of getting a decent raise. The success of a strike depends on everyone sticking together. Don’t do it!
What would we strike for?
We might be forced to strike if admin won’t agree to a fair contract that gives all of us – academic professionals, full-time faculty, and part-time faculty – what we need and deserve. We would be striking over wages and benefits since this is an economic reopener.
Strikes are a union’s most powerful tool and our biggest leverage in negotiations. A credible strike threat reminds management that nothing happens without our labor. Strikes require short-term sacrifice, but they also have the power to change our union and workplace for the better.