COCC faculty prepare for potential strike over salary gap

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Members of the Central Oregon Community College Faculty Forum voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, with 96% supporting the measure. The voting period ran from Sept. 10 to Sept. 22, drawing participation from 98% of the bargaining unit.

The authorization grants the bargaining team authority to call a faculty strike at the college if negotiations remain unresolved.

The vote follows more than nine months of contract negotiations regarding faculty pay. Union figures indicate that faculty salaries at the college are nearly $28,000 lower than those of comparable community college faculty across Oregon.

Mindy Williams serves as the bargaining chair for the union. She addressed the financial pressures facing faculty members working in Bend.

“The results of today's authorization vote are incredibly clear: our faculty members refuse to rank at the bottom of Community College faculty salaries offered statewide, especially given the high cost of living in Bend,” Williams said. “The College administration has increased their spending on capital projects by more than 300%, while our members struggle to afford to live in the communities where they teach. This strike vote sends a clear message: the college's financial priorities are wrong. We know that when faculty thrive, students do, too.”

Enrique Farrera is the president of the Oregon Education Association. He expressed support for the community college faculty following the authorization vote.

“Members of the faculty have sent a mandate with their strike authorization vote. COCC Faculty are the foundation of student learning. They deserve a contract that reflects that,” Farrera said. “This fight is bigger than one contract; it is a fight for working people across Central Oregon to earn a fair wage and build a life in the communities they serve.”

In preparation for a potential strike, union members scheduled a practice picket and rally for Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Coats Campus Center, located at 2600 NW College Way in Bend. Union representatives planned a media availability immediately following the event.

The bargaining team for the faculty union and college administration are scheduled to hold their next contract negotiation session on Thursday. If an agreement is not reached, union leadership indicated a strike could take place in early October.