Strike to the future!

Something remarkable is happening in Portland. Both unions of Portland Community College - PCCFFAP and PCCFCE, the faculty and staff at PCC, have gone on strike. PCC employees have never gone on strike before, nor has any other community college in Oregon history.

It’s been a long time coming. We’ve been bargaining for almost a full year, only to be stonewalled by PCC administration. They are offering us peanuts: a minimal COLA (cost of living adjustment), no retroactive pay to make up for the lack of a COLA, no increased healthcare coverage, and no say over how the college is fun. It is being run quite poorly, to be frank. It is infuriating. All of this is. You can follow along with all the drama and all the ins and outs of what is going on at the PCC subreddit.

As most of you know, I am an adjunct instructor at PCC and have been for 16 years now. I work extremely hard, I am very highly regarded as an instructor, and I have been exceedingly flexible with my work schedule. I have done literally everything that has ever been asked of me, without almost any complaints.

I have never been offered a full-time job, nor do I expect to ever be offered one. The vast majority of faculty at most college universities are adjunct, or contingent (read: part-time) faculty, and at PCC fully 70-80% of faculty are part-time. Believe it or not, this is perfectly normal even if it isn’t even remotely ethical, moral, or right. And believe it or not, this isn’t even part of why we are on strike.

In short, this whole thing is a shitshow. You can read more about it here. If you’re in the Portland area, please join me on the picket lines if you are available! You can find more information here about where and when you can picket with us. For now, expect that I’ll be on the picket line every work day until this is over.

The picket lines have been so fulfilling, and the vibes have been immaculate. Though we’re all incredible frustrated and upset at the terrible offers coming from administration, not to mention the demeaning, deceitful and even gaslighting messages coming from PCC administration, we’ve been dancing, connecting, organizing, and enjoying each others company. The weather was absolutely horrendous the first two days of picketing, and we still had a blast. It has been so meaningful to me, and it has taught me again this fundamental truth:

The only way to change this nightmare we’re all living through is organizing, community, and solidarity. Let me know if you want to get involved in any of this, or if you need help with anything. I’m here for you, too! Stay strong, friends!

Love,

Matt