COCC Responds to Impasse Declaration in Faculty Negotiations

Central Oregon Community College remains committed to reaching an agreement with the Faculty Forum following the union’s declaration of impasse in ongoing contract negotiations. The declaration follows more than seven months of bargaining and three mediation sessions. Throughout negotiations, the College has continued to make significant movement in its proposals, including an additional improved economic proposal presented to the Faculty Forum on Thursday.

“While reaching impasse marks a new phase in the bargaining process, our focus remains on working toward resolution,” said Jim Porter, chair of the COCC Board of Directors. “The Board recognizes COCC has a dedicated faculty who deserve and need increased compensation and we’re committed to reaching an agreement that meaningfully invests in faculty while balancing student affordability and the long-term financial health of the College. We remain hopeful that the parties can find a path forward.”

The College’s current proposal includes a significant restructuring of the salary schedule, reducing it from 23 steps to 15, along with approximately $4.1 million in additional expenditures over the three-year contract term. Additionally, the proposal includes an average salary increase of 9.4% for full-time continuing faculty and 13.5% for adjunct faculty in the first year of the agreement. In years two and three, the proposal includes a 2% step increase for probationary faculty and a 3.1% step increase for tenured faculty, along with an additional 2.75% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in each year.

The latest proposal builds on significant movement already made throughout bargaining. The College has agreed to substantial changes, which include a major restructuring of the salary schedule, the addition of a Professor merit bonus, accelerated timelines for tenure and promotion, increases to lab and clinical loads and dozens of other improvements and modifications, including meaningful increases to summer and overload rates. Four articles remain open, with most outstanding issues tied to economics.

“COCC’s faculty are central to our mission and to the success of our students and we deeply value the work they do,” said COCC President Greg Pereira. “We will continue looking for opportunities to find resolution and keep our focus where it belongs — on our students.”

COCC has also sought to provide financial context throughout negotiations. Over the past 20 years, full-time faculty have received an average annual salary increase of 5.01%, compared with an average of 3.65% for administrators during the same period. The College’s financial forecasts also project General Fund reserves well below historical levels in the coming years.

In contrast, the Faculty Forum’s current offer would increase College expenditures by approximately $8.5 million over the three-year contract term. The College financial reserves are currently at approximately $8 million. The College’s projections show that the Forum’s offer is not financially sustainable – it would deplete all of the College’s reserves and require the College to make significant cuts that would negatively impact the College and its students.

The Faculty Forum’s current offer includes an average salary increase of 26.1% for full-time continuing faculty and 68.1% for adjunct faculty in the first year of the agreement. In years two and three, probationary faculty would receive a 2% step increase and tenured faculty a 3.75% step increase, in addition to a 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) each year.

Under Oregon’s collective bargaining process, a declaration of impasse does not end negotiations. Following an impasse declaration, both parties submit final offers and cost summaries within seven days, followed by a 30-day cooling-off period during which efforts to reach an agreement may continue. Currently, a mediation session is scheduled for Thursday, September 17.

“We remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached,” Porter said. “Impasse is another step in the bargaining process, not the end of it. The College remains ready to work toward a fair and sustainable resolution that supports our faculty, our students and the communities we serve.”

Additional information, including bargaining updates, current proposals, financial information and frequently asked questions, is available on COCC’s Faculty Negotiations webpage at https://cocc.edu/about/faculty-negotiations.

This story is based on submitted information and has not been verified by our news team.