Central Oregon Community College faculty union and leadership at odds over pay
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Tensions are rising again at Central Oregon Community College as faculty union members and college leadership continue negotiations over wages and working conditions.
The dispute comes just weeks after the college narrowly avoided what would have been the first strike in school history by classified staff. Now, faculty leaders say many instructors are struggling to afford living in Central Oregon and are frustrated by what they describe as slow progress at the bargaining table.
COCC Says It Must Balance Pay With Financial Stability
In a statement attributed to COCC Board Chair Erica Skavold, the college said it values the work faculty do and emphasized that negotiations are continuing “regularly in good faith.”
College leaders also pushed back against criticism of compensation and finances, saying the institution must weigh salaries while maintaining affordable tuition for students and protecting the college’s long-term financial health.
“It’s important to recognize that the college must balance compensation discussions with student affordability, long-term financial sustainability, and other institutional priorities,” Skavold said.
According to the college, current budget projections show reserve levels between roughly 38 and 43 days — or about 10% to 12% reserves — over the next two fiscal years. COCC says those figures are below historic levels and below reserve targets established by the Board of Directors.
Administration Responds to Criticism Over Raises
The college also addressed criticism over administrator raises, saying administrators do not set their own compensation. COCC said salary decisions ultimately go through the board and budget approval process.
The last administrator salary adjustments were approved in 2024 following what the college described as a market compensation study, with increases averaging about 16%.
College officials also said that reviewing and costing several new faculty proposals in real time during the latest bargaining session was not possible due to time constraints.
Faculty Union Says Low Pay Is Driving Burnout
Meanwhile, the Central Oregon Faculty Forum paints a much different picture of the situation.
In a sharply worded statement, faculty leaders accused administrators and the board of stalling negotiations and failing to act with urgency despite public calls from COCC President Greg Pereira to resolve the dispute before the end of the term on June 12.
Faculty representatives argue that COCC instructors are the lowest-paid community college faculty in Oregon and say wages have fallen so far behind that recruitment and retention are becoming serious concerns.
“We’re now in a crisis of deferred maintenance for faculty at COCC,” said Professor Mindy Williams, who leads the faculty bargaining team. “That has resulted in failed faculty searches, faculty leaving the college barely after they’ve begun, faculty burnout, and low morale, all because of our historic low wages and high workload.”
Bargaining Pace Becomes New Point of Frustration
Union leaders also criticized the pace of negotiations, saying administrators have not responded meaningfully to several recent faculty proposals dealing with salaries and promotions.
Faculty members claim recent bargaining sessions produced little movement from the college side despite agreements to increase the frequency of meetings.
The faculty forum additionally addressed recent administrator raises and accused the college of prioritizing capital projects over employee compensation during recent budget discussions.
Next Negotiation Session Scheduled for Thursday
Both sides are expected to return to the bargaining table on Thursday, May 21, as negotiations continue heading into the final weeks of the academic term.
