Central Oregon Community College faculty issue strike notice

Faculty at Central Oregon Community College (COCC) have issued a strike notice, stating they will begin work stoppages on October 5 if a contract agreement is not reached. The move follows nine months of bargaining regarding salary disputes. The COCC Faculty Forum, representing 171 full-time and part-time professors, recently held a strike vote where 96% of members authorized the action.

Faculty leaders argue that salaries have fallen significantly behind statewide norms for community college instructors, making the profession difficult to sustain in a high-cost housing market. They have also criticized the college for increasing spending on capital projects while failing to provide comparable salary increases.

In response, the college administration has expressed concerns that meeting the full salary demands would lead to financial instability, citing a difficult funding outlook for public higher education. COCC leadership stated they remain committed to mediation, with sessions scheduled for September 25 and October 2. The college is currently planning for academic continuity to minimize student disruption and has noted that campuses and student services will remain open during a potential strike.