Faculty at Central Oregon Community College voted nearly unanimously last week to authorize a strike, with 96% of participants supporting the measure and 98% of bargaining unit members taking part in the vote. If contract negotiations fail, students across all COCC campuses — including the Madras campus — could face disruption as early as the first weeks of October.

The authorization vote, which ran September 10–22, grants the COCC Faculty Forum bargaining team the authority to call a work stoppage if an agreement cannot be reached. The union and college administration are continuing negotiations this week, with both sides scheduled for another session Thursday.

At the Heart of the Dispute: Pay

The central issue is faculty compensation. The union says COCC instructors earn nearly $28,000 less per year than faculty at comparable community colleges across Oregon — a gap made more acute by the high cost of living in the Bend area.

Bargaining chair Mindy Williams was pointed in her assessment after the vote:

"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. 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."

The college board has acknowledged faculty deserve better pay, but administration has pointed to reduced state funding as a constraint on what the college can offer.

What It Could Mean for Madras Students

COCC operates a Madras campus serving Jefferson County students, many of whom use it to pursue two-year degrees, workforce training, and transfer credits. A strike would affect instruction across all COCC locations.

Oregon Education Association President Enrique Farrera called the authorization vote a clear signal:

"COCC Faculty are the foundation of student learning. They deserve a contract that reflects that. 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."

Timeline

Bargaining continues this week. If no deal is reached, union leadership has indicated a strike could begin in early October. Students concerned about their coursework should monitor COCC communications for updates and speak with their instructors or advisors about contingency plans.

The Madras Bulletin will continue following this story as negotiations develop.