COCC president responds after classified workers declare impasse, which may lead to Oregon’s first community college strike

(Update: Statement from COCC President Greg Pereira)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Central Oregon Community College classified workers declared an impasse in their contract talks and mediation efforts on Monday, setting the stage for what could bring the first strike in Oregon community college history, the Oregon Education Association said.

The decision comes after several mediation sessions and more than a year of contract negotiations, the union said, noting that classified workers are COCC's lowest-paid employees and calling on the college to use what it considers ample reserve funds to improve wages and benefits.

But a walkout can't happen right away, OEA noted. The impasse declaration starts the clock for a 30-day cool-down period with the college, after which the union said it "could vote to authorize a strike at any time, with 10-day notice."

KTVZ News reached out to COCC representatives for a reaction or statement on the status of contract talks, and received this statement from President Greg Pereira:

“We value our classified employees and the essential work they do for our students and community," Pereira said. "The college has bargained in good faith and proposed a significant multi-year compensation increase — an 18.54% total wage and step increase over three years, or about $1.5 million. The union’s proposal represents a 55.42% increase over that same period, totaling approximately $4.8 million — a difference of roughly $2.6 million."

"As a public institution, we must balance compensation growth with long-term financial stability, in order to protect programs, services and tuition prices," the COCC president added. "We remain committed to reaching an agreement that is financially sustainable and supports the long-term health of the college.”

"There has never been a strike at an Oregon community college in state history," the union said in Monday's news release, which continues below:

“While the average administrator’s salary has grown 26% since 2023, the average classified worker’s salary has only increased by 10% in that same period of time, making it even harder for the lowest-paid people at the college to survive in one of the most expensive parts of the state", said Scott Dove, President of the Classified Association of COCC and an academic technology specialist at the college. 

“Meanwhile, the college board is aggressively trying to grow their reserves instead of helping the people who are the foundation of the institution. By their own admission, COCC can easily afford to allocate the paltry resources necessary to eliminate poverty wages that have left many employees here experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. We demand that COCC management  do the right thing and end poverty pay, instead of choosing to make history as the first management team at COCC to provoke a strike,” Dove added.

“What’s happening at Central Oregon Community College is symptomatic of a larger statewide problem,” said Enrique Farrera, president of the Oregon Education Association. “COCC is one of multiple colleges and school districts in crisis mediation over hoarded reserves that are being stockpiled, instead of spent on essential needs.

"This approach reflects the reasonable concern public colleges and K-12 districts have across the state; while most are drastically unfunded, the ones that can often do hoard resources towards an omnipresent unknown crisis on the horizon, because they don’t trust the legislature to continue consistently funding essential programs."

"What COCC and other schools need to understand is that the crisis for students and their workers is unfolding now. COCC needs to be a responsible employer and stop paying their employees wages that force them out of their communities and strip them of basic dignity.," Farrera said.

Classified educators at COCC perform vital work directly supporting students, including college counselors, administrative assistants, custodians, library assistants, and food service workers. Their lowest wage currently is $18.91/hr. A living wage in Bend for a person with no children is $26.81/hour, and $64.55/hour for a person with two children. COCC classified staff are seeking a contract that will raise their lowest wage to $27.89/hour by the end of the contract. 

The parties will have seven days to cost their final offers, after which a cooling-off period will begin and continue for 30 days. After that, the union may authorize a strike at any time, by a vote of its members. Law requires that 10-day notice be provided before any strike begins.

Classified educators at COCC could be on strike for the first-ever Oregon community college strike by early April. 

An OEA representative explained to KTVZ that in this instance, the final costing refers to putting final economic packages on the table - ie, “costing” (calculating) out the full cost for all things in totality within each side’s final offers. 

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The Oregon Education Association (OEA) proudly represents 42,000+ public educators at all grade levels and school settings from pre-kindgarten to K-12 and community college across the state. It is one of the largest National Education Association (NEA) affiliates in the country and is committed to advancing intersectional education justice for students and our school communities.