Wednesday marks a week since faculty and other staff at Portland Community College went on strike, the first for any community college in Oregon.
The timing couldn’t be much worse for students.
Usually at this time, instructors would be in the last push to wrap up classes for winter term. Students would be taking finals this week and signing up for spring classes.
But after negotiations between college administrators, the PCC Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals, and the Federation of Classified Employees union broke down last month, union members began a historic strike.
Ben Cushing, sociology faculty at Portland Community College and PCC’s Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals president, raises his fist while speaking to a crowd of PCCFFAP and and PCC Federation of Classified Employees union members striking on the Portland Community College Cascade campus in Northeast Portland, Ore., on March 11, 2026.
Eli Imadali / OPB
PCC and the two unions spent hours in mediation sessions Sunday and Monday without reaching agreements. The groups are set to meet again Wednesday.
Officially, college operations have been remote since last Wednesday. In its updates to students, college officials have said that “some classes may meet online using Zoom, and others may work independently online during the strike,” but that other classes may not happen due to the strike. Some academic deadlines have been extended.
But in a statement to OPB, PCC officials say only a “small percentage” of classes are actually happening, and did not have an exact number.
“Our focus remains on minimizing disruption, maintaining academic continuity, and supporting students,” PCC officials said Tuesday.
“Right now we are advising students to make decisions about their spring term enrollment under the assumption that it will begin as scheduled.”
But for international students, PCC officials are thinking further ahead. If the strike lasts another two weeks and does not end by April 1, PCC has given students a few options for the spring term. One option is to transfer to another school. Another is to take a “vacation term”, which would require students to return to PCC for Summer 2026 classes. A third option is for international students to leave the country and take a leave of absence from PCC, though PCC advises students to consult with their immigration attorneys.
On social media, PCC students are expressing frustration with president Adrien Bennings’ actions and statements and calling for movement from PCC in negotiations.
With picketing at four PCC campuses continuing, the college board of directors plans to meet remotely Thursday. According to the meeting agenda, board members are set to hear from leaders of the two unions, in addition to the president of the student senate.
Also Thursday, the two unions are holding what they’re calling a “People’s Board Meeting”, with four state legislators scheduled to appear, as well as multiple elected officials from Portland and Washington County. Leaders plan to share results of a vote of no confidence in President Bennings at the event.
Spring term is set to begin March 30.
