Portland Community College Federation of Classified Employees; Local 3922

JOIN OUR SIBLING UNION IN FIGHTING PROGRAM CLOSURES TONIGHT!

Here is a message from FFAP (Faculty and Academic Professionals):

We cordially invite you to a magical night of fighting program closures during the PCC Foundation’s Together for Tomorrow gala on Saturday, May 30, 2026, 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Join the Stop the Cuts organizers in an informational picket, hear from speakers, and glam-up our ongoing efforts!

Fancy attire is encouraged but not required (come as you are!). ASL interpretation provided.

The party starts at the gates of PCC Sylvania, 12000 SW 49th Ave, Portland, OR 97219.

Resistance is fun! Solidarity forever!

On behalf of the Stop the Cuts organizing group,

Jenny Sasser, PhD
Gerontology Faculty & FDC

PLEASE TELL OUR UNION ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH UNEMPLOYMENT DURING THE STRIKE

Willamette Weekly recently reported that the College estimates they spent $260,000 on unemployment benefits for striking workers (which is $1,000 more than Dr Bennings’ severance package). But our union has been hearing from members who faced barriers accessing these funds.

A member of our union created a survey about applying for Unemployment Insurance for Striking Workers and the claims process during to the PCC strike 3/11 - 3/27. This was a new unemployment process for all of us and the Employment Department, so your responses will help improve support and provide advocacy.

Time: 3–5 minutes | Responses are confidential
Use the survey link in the union newsletter sent to your work email.

RESULTS OF CLASSIFIED DELEGATE AND AMENDMENT ELECTION

Danny Ryel, PCCFCE VP of Membership and Elections Committee Chair, emailed the election results on Tuesday. Here is the info again in case you missed it:

AFT National Convention Delegate winners are:
- Aurora Newkirk
- Ty Graham
- Juanita Lognion
- Caitlin Recor

Convention Delegate Alternates are:
- 1st Alternate: Aaron McKee
- 2nd Alternate: Blanca Coma
- 3rd Alternate: Tania Rezaie

All proposed amendments to the PCC FCE Constitution & Bylaws have PASSED and will go into effect immediately:

Passed - 94% Yes votes: Reformat Constitution & Bylaws document for improved accessibility.

Passed - 86% Yes votes: Update Bylaws Article VI, Section 4 to give all officer election candidates equivalent access to member data.

Passed - 72% Yes votes: Update Bylaws Article II, Section 6 to adopt term limits for all elected officers.

Passed - 70% Yes votes: Update Constitution Article IV, Section 3 to adopt term limits for all elected officers.

Please allow your Executive Council some time to update the Constitution and Bylaws documents to reflect these amendments.

Thank you very much to everyone who voted in this election! Stay tuned for the announcement of Candidates for the 2026 PCC FCE Executive Council next week.

DON’T FORGET TO RSVP TO THE 2026 CLASSIFIED RETREAT!

Join us on Thursday, June 18th, 2026, for a day of connection, learning, and community.

This year’s retreat will be held in person at the Rock Creek Campus, Events Center (Building 9) from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Please RSVP using the form in the union newsletter sent to your work email by Monday, June 1st, 2026 so we can ensure there’s plenty of food for everyone.

We also encourage you to get involved! We’re looking for volunteers to help on the day of the event, as well as members interested in sharing workshop ideas.

Do you have an interesting skill, hobby, or knowledge you’d like to share with your coworkers? Please lead a workshop! Our union often gets requests for fun activities like games and art, and we need more volunteers for these workshops.

If you have questions, need accommodations, have an idea for a workshop you would teach, or would volunteer to help at the event, please reach out to [email protected].

REFLECTIONS FROM OUR CLASSIFIED UNION’S PRESIDENT

In President Jeff Grider’s State of the Union Report at the General Membership Meeting on May 16th, he declared that our union was “Ready to shape what comes next instead of simply reacting to it.” Reflecting on PCC workers’ historic strike and the resignation of Dr Bennings, Jeff said:

“We now have the opportunity - and the responsibility - to carry this energy forward. To make sure that the board of directors represents the community we saw out on the picket line. To make sure that the NEXT college president focuses on the COMMUNITY part of PCC. To keep developing leaders. To keep deepening our member engagement. To keep strengthening our community. To keep demanding not only fair contracts, but a fairer institution.”

A few days later, Jeff gave a Board Meeting Report on May 21st. Addressing PCC’s Board of Directors, he spoke of the financial instability many classified employees are feeling, as we wait for the upcoming increase to healthcare premium caps on our next check, and the upcoming COLA (cost of living adjustment) on our August check. Then he said:

“I’ve heard tonight reference to a reset, which I can get behind conceptually, but only after acknowledging that many of us have been going full speed since before the pandemic. Full speed while understaffed. Full speed while being ignored, minimized, shut down, and shut out.”

Jeff went on to describe how the College could stop playing games with our union and support workers’ rights by approving release time for himself and other union leaders in a timely and efficient manner.

You can read Jeff’s reports in full in the union newsletter sent to your work email.

Reminder: VOTING CLOSES TOMORROW FOR CLASSIFIED UNION ELECTION ON AMENDMENTS & DELEGATES

Keep an eye on your inbox for emails from [email protected] for ballots & results of the upcoming elections. If you don’t see your ballot, be sure to check your spam folder. Email the Elections Committee at [email protected] if you need assistance.

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS

The following amendments to PCCFCE’s Constitution & Bylaws have been proposed:

- Bylaws Article II - Update elections rules to include term limits
- Constitution Article IV - Include updated election rules on term limits
- Bylaws Article VI - equal access to member data for all candidates running for election
- Entire Constitution to be updated to an accessible, digital format as its base format

NOMINEES FOR 2026 AFT NATIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATES

The Executive Council (EC) has voted to send five delegates and up to three alternates to the 2026 AFT National Convention, which will be held in Washington, D.C. from July 15, 2026 through July 18, 2026. Voting opens on May 18, 2026.

Delegate Nominees

Aaron McKee
Adam Padilla
Amina Saseyi
Aurora Newkirk
Blanca Coma
Caitlin Recor
Juanita Lognion
Sara Lampert
Scot Brooks
Tania Rezaie
Ty Graham

Voting by rank and file members on these proposed amendments and delegate nominations closes on Friday May 22nd.

FEEDBACK FROM CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES GATHERED AT PIZZA LUNCHES

In April our union held pizza lunches at PCC’s 4 campuses, to give members a chance to reconnect with each other at our workplace, reflect on the strike, and shape what comes next at PCC.

Participants responded to four open-ended questions:
- How did our strike change you? What did you learn?
- How has being back at work compared to your expectations so far?
- What support do you need right now?
- If you could do something with our union, what would that be or look like?

HERE’S WHAT WE HEARD FROM YOU

The strike strengthened the sense of community workers felt at PCC. We saw high participation during these meetings, with more members comfortable speaking up and engaging. They mentioned deeper connections with other employees and feeling empowered through collective action.

However, many members reported that the return to work was abrupt and felt emotionally unresolved. Trust in College leadership plummeted, and the lack of acknowledgement from managers in the workplace further strained relationships. Our union also heard about awkward dynamics between striking employees and coworkers who crossed the picket line. Classified employees reported financial and practical needs, as well as stress from an increased workload and backlog.

Many workers were eager to debrief the strike, learn from the recent lessons, and put stronger plans in place for future bargaining cycles. The unprecedented and historic nature of the strike seemed to activate members’ creativity and increase their desire to be involved.

Our union needs your innovative ideas. Union leaders have also been debriefing the strike in various groups, including with our sibling union FFAP. Please consider bringing your energy and talents forward and into one of opportunities shared recently in our newsletter:
- Worksite Leader Program
- Communications Committee

Reminder: TODAY IS A KEY DATE FOR BOTH CLASSIFIED ELECTIONS

Nominations close today for potential new leaders in our union’s Executive Council, and voting begins on amendments and delegates! Keep an eye on your inbox for emails from [email protected] for ballots & results of the upcoming elections.

FCE Constitution & Bylaws Amendments & AFT Delegates Election
- Ballots will be arriving in your PCC inbox on Monday May 18th.
- This election closes Friday May 22nd.
- Results will be emailed out Monday May 25th.

FCE Executive Council (EC) Election
- A nominations ballot will be arriving in your PCC inbox on Monday May 11th.
- Nominations close Monday May 18th.
Ballots to vote for EC candidates will be sent out Thursday June 18th.
- This election closes Monday June 29th.
- Results will be emailed out Wednesday July 1st.

If you don’t see your ballot, be sure to check your spam folder. Email the Elections Committee at [email protected] if you need assistance.

Our historic strike changed PCC and shed light on issues within top leadership. Collective action works. 💙✊💙

Portland Community College (PCC) President Adrien Bennings is leaving the school, effective Friday.

The school’s board of directors approved a severance package in a May 14 meeting. News of the expected separation comes amid a challenging time for the school and its president, including multiple state ethics complaints, unfair labor practice complaints, and weeks of PCC worker strikes in March.

Read more at the 🔗⬇️