TOP 5 MYTHS
Myth #1: “The college is in a financial crisis and can’t afford what the union is asking.”
Fact:
There is no declared financial emergency.
The administration is proposing increasing reserves (the Ending Fund Balance) from 9% to 12% — roughly $20 million in cuts to the budget to add to a reserve.
The disagreement is about financial priorities, not insolvency. Faculty are asking that base salaries keep up with the cost of living rather than falling further behind inflation.
Myth #2: “Faculty already got big raises.”
Fact:
Unlike PCC managers, the vast majority of faculty and academic professionals start on the bottom of the salary scale, regardless of our education or experience. Annual movement on this salary scale (step increases) results in increases that are built into the existing union contract and are meant to eventually help get faculty and academic professionals to a reasonable wage. They are not new raises from this bargaining cycle.
Step increases move employees up the ladder.
Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) raise the ladder.
The college often refers to COLAs as structural increases. These increases currently offered by PCC admin (0.35%–0.50%) are significantly below recent cost-of-living increases, resulting in a real wage reduction. The numbers put out by the college have no basis in reality and reflect basic math errors.
Myth #3: “State budget cuts justify low COLAs.”
Fact:
Final state funding has not been decided.
- Current projections suggest cuts, if any, will likely amount to less than 1% of PCC’s biennial budget
- Enrollment at PCC is actually up, not down.
- The financial climate in Oregon is better than previously projected.
- The state budget accounts for ⅓ of PCC’s overall budget. The other ⅔ comes from tuition dollars and property taxes.
This means the college has the resources to pay fair and reasonable wages. Underfunding courses is a policy choice, not a necessity.
Myth #4: “Classes are being cut because of union demands.”
Fact:
Course scheduling decisions are made by administration.
There is a difference between:
- A class being scheduled and later canceled
- Fewer sections being offered in the first place
Many departments are seeing reductions in courses that have historically filled during a period of increasing enrollment, leaving students on waitlists.
Compensation negotiations do not require reducing course offerings. Those are administrative choices about where to place budgetary funds. FFAP will continue to advocate for adding more courses, not taking them away.
Myth #5: “A strike means faculty don’t care about students.”
Fact:
Faculty and Academic Professionals are striking precisely because they care about long-term stability for students.
A strike is a last-resort action used when bargaining stalls. It is designed to create leverage so an agreement can be reached.
Strong colleges depend on stable faculty who can afford to remain at the institution.
A small number of instructors may decide to “break the strike” and expect class participation (attendance, proctored tests, etc.) despite the overwhelming (94%) member support for the strike. These colleagues may believe that doing so shows they “truly care” about students. In many ways, this creates a weird boundary issue that forces students to choose between crossing a picket line and their grades. Caring can look like respecting each other’s autonomy, and maintaining clear role definition.
Student FAQ: What Happens If There Is a Strike?
What is a strike?
A strike is when workers withhold their labor to pressure an employer to reach a fair agreement.
For Faculty and Academic Professionals, this means temporarily stepping back from all instructional and administrative duties.
What would faculty and APs stop doing during a strike?
While a strike is active, employees withhold labor.
Faculty would not:
- Hold class sessions (in-person, hybrid, or online)
- Grade assignments
- Provide feedback
- Submit final grades
- Answer instructional emails
- Participate in online courses in D2L
Academic Professionals would not:
- Meet with students
- Perform administrative duties
- Respond to work-related communications
- Attend work meetings
- Work on college-related projects
This withholding only lasts for the duration of the strike.
What happens to my assignments?
Faculty may structure courses in different ways before a strike begins. For example:
- Some may move major assignments earlier.
- Some may allow submissions but delay grading.
- Some may temporarily pause course platforms.
No instructional labor will occur during the strike itself.
Once the strike ends, faculty resume work, assess submitted assignments, and finalize grades.
What happens to my final grade?
Final grades are not submitted during a strike.
After the strike concludes and an agreement is reached, instruction resumes and grading is completed.
You will receive a final grade for Winter Quarter along with all your earned credits as soon as the strike is ended by administration.
Will my class be canceled permanently?
A strike pauses instruction. It does not eliminate the course.
Course cancellations and section reductions are administrative decisions separate from bargaining.
Should I register for Spring Quarter?
YES — absolutely.
Students should register AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Why?
- Early registration helps students secure seats in needed classes and prevents waitlist frustration.
- Faculty and staff are advocating for conditions that protect instructional quality — registering helps preserve normal operations if there is no prolonged work stoppage.
Even in prior post‑secondary strikes, institutions encouraged enrollment so students keep progressing toward their goals. Keeping registration strong gives students more options and supports continuity (course offerings, advising, financial aid processes).
Why cause disruption?
Disruption is how workers demonstrate collective power.
Faculty teaching, grading, mentoring, and administrative work are what make the college function. When that labor is paused, it makes visible how essential that work is.
The goal is not disruption for its own sake.
The goal is a fair agreement that supports long-term institutional stability.
How long would a strike last?
Strikes last until an agreement is reached. Strong participation and unity can shorten the duration by increasing pressure to settle.
The longest teachers’ strike in Oregon history was 15 days. Most strikes are only a few days long. However, we are prepared to remain on strike until administration agrees to negotiate a fair contract.
What can students do?
Students can:
- Stay informed
- Ask questions
- Attend public meetings and student town halls
- Share concerns with administration
- Express support for fair compensation and stable instruction
Students deserve transparency and stability. Faculty and academic professionals want the same. You are allowed to join your instructors and academic professionals on picket lines!
If you would like to receive the newsletter created by students for students about union news and events you can sign up here: Student Newsletter Sign-up
For Our Students
We care deeply about your learning and success and are doing everything in our power to ensure you receive the best education possible. But our working conditions are your learning conditions.
This action is about ensuring that PCC remains a place where experienced faculty and professionals can afford to stay, teach, and support students long-term.