Students and families connected to Central Oregon Community College — including those at the Madras campus — should pay close attention to ongoing contract negotiations after the college's faculty union voted overwhelmingly this week to authorize a strike.

The COCC Faculty Forum, which represents 171 faculty members across the college's campuses in Bend, Redmond, Madras, and Prineville, voted 96% in favor of a strike authorization on Tuesday, September 23. The authorization means the union could call a work stoppage with relatively short notice if bargaining with college administration does not produce an acceptable contract.

What Is the Dispute About?

At the heart of the dispute is faculty pay. The union argues that COCC faculty earn roughly $28,000 less per year than their counterparts at comparable community colleges across Oregon — a gap that union members say is untenable given the high cost of living in Central Oregon.

"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," said bargaining chair and humanities professor Mindy Williams.

Faculty also cited concerns about healthcare options and the ability to adequately prepare for retirement on current wages.

Negotiations Still Active

The union and college have been bargaining for more than nine months. The two sides met for a mediation session on September 17, and another bargaining session was scheduled for Thursday, September 25. COCC's Board of Directors acknowledged the faculty's concerns.

"The Board of Directors and the President strongly agree with the Faculty Forum that their members are in need of and deserve increased compensation," said COCC board chair Jim Porter. "We are committed to continued bargaining to find a compensation package which the College has the ability to fund."

The college presented six alternative salary proposals during the September 17 mediation session as negotiations continue.

Historical Context

A faculty strike at COCC would be only the second community college faculty strike in Oregon history, following Portland Community College's walkout earlier this year. Notably, COCC's classified staff narrowly avoided a strike in April 2026 when a last-minute deal was reached less than 24 hours before a planned walkout.

What Madras Students Should Know

Fall term classes at the Madras campus started earlier this week. If a strike is called, classes taught by union faculty could be disrupted or canceled. Students are encouraged to:

  • Monitor COCC's official communications at cocc.edu
  • Stay in contact with their instructors and advisors
  • Watch for any announcements about potential schedule changes

No strike date has been set, and both sides remain at the table. The Madras Bulletin will continue to follow developments that affect local students and families.