Faculty at Central Oregon Community College voted overwhelmingly last week to authorize a strike — a move that could disrupt classes at all COCC campuses, including the Madras location, if contract talks break down.
The COCC Faculty Forum voted 96% in favor of authorizing a strike during a voting period that ran through Wednesday, September 23. The vote does not trigger an immediate walkout, but it gives union leadership the authority to call one if negotiations with college administration remain unsuccessful.
The Core Dispute: Pay vs. Cost of Living
Faculty representatives say the central issue is a growing gap between instructor salaries and the cost of living in Central Oregon — a region where housing costs have climbed sharply in recent years. Union members argue that current compensation makes it difficult to recruit and retain qualified instructors, particularly in a competitive regional job market.
College administrators, meanwhile, are pointing to projected reductions in state funding as a constraint on what the institution can offer at the bargaining table. Both sides have continued negotiating through this week.
What a Strike Could Mean Locally
COCC’s Madras campus serves Jefferson County students seeking two-year degrees, workforce training, and transfer pathways — many of them working adults and first-generation college students who depend on local access to affordable higher education.
A faculty strike would likely pause or cancel classes across all campuses until a resolution is reached. No strike date has been announced, and college officials and union representatives are continuing bargaining sessions. The strike authorization simply gives the union negotiating leverage while talks proceed.
What Happens Next
Both parties are expected to continue bargaining in the coming days. Oregon law requires that parties in public employee contract disputes engage in mediation before a strike can legally begin, meaning there are additional steps before any work stoppage could take effect.
Students at the Madras campus who have questions about how a potential strike might affect their coursework are encouraged to contact COCC’s Madras campus directly or monitor announcements on the college’s website at cocc.edu.
The Madras Bulletin will continue to follow this story as negotiations develop.