First, thank you. The strike authorization vote was not just a procedural step, it was a powerful act of collective organizing. With 94% of participating faculty voting YES, and 86% of our total membership casting ballots, we sent a clear message: we are united and prepared to do what it takes to secure a fair and reasonable contract.
This campaign has already strengthened our union. During this organizing push, we welcomed 58 new members into our union. That growth is not incidental — it reflects trust, momentum, and a shared understanding that power comes from participation.
We also want to recognize the extraordinary solidarity between Faculty, APs, and Classified workers throughout this process. As you may know, the Federation of Classified Employees (FCE) also voted to authorize their own strike, with 94% yes votes from FCE members. Workers across this college are paying attention and standing together.
Where Bargaining Stands
Yesterday in mediation, management rejected nearly all of the low- or no-cost proposals we put forward — proposals designed specifically to address wages and benefits issues without significant financial impact to the college.
They came to the table with no new offer on COLA and no response to the proposals passed in the last session.
It has become evident that the College President has instructed management to “hold the line” and has not empowered members of the administration bargaining team to meaningfully bargain.
The management team is waiting to see if state funding will be cut. However, management admitted that even if there are no cuts from the state — even if the college retains the full $17 million currently in question — their offer would increase by only $200,000 (0.5% COLA). In fact, they stated that if they had known ahead of time about potential cuts, they would have offered us less than 0.35%.
In other words, despite public claims of uncertainty, their position is already set.
The reality is this: they did not budget for bargaining. That is not primarily a funding problem. That is a priorities problem.
What’s Next
Despite the lack of progress yesterday, our strike authorization vote has already shifted the terrain. We have experienced an outpouring of support from the community, students, and several Oregon lawmakers.
We have formally provided strike notification to the college, identifying March 11 as the earliest possible strike date. At the same time, we are adding additional mediation dates to the calendar before that deadline. Our goal remains the same: reach a fair agreement and avoid a strike if possible.
But avoiding a strike requires movement. Administration must bargain in good faith and begin moving the needle toward a fair contract.
We remain dedicated to winning an agreement that respects our labor, protects our healthcare, and ensures our wages keep pace with the cost of living. The power we built through organizing does not disappear after a vote. It grows.
We will continue organizing. We will continue showing up. And if necessary, we are prepared to act.