CGCC union bargaining for wage increase, more coverage

Bargaining began on Jan. 30, is in the early stages, and may last through summer, union communications officer and CGCC literature department professor Leigh Hancock said.

The union collected a number of interest cards from academic professionals starting in January, and turned them over to the Employee Relations Board on April 1. Academic professionals include academic advisors, student services, and outreach.

The union receives dues from roughly 93 faculty at CGCC, meaning teachers and professors. The union also bargains for and represents members who don’t pay dues. Included in the Collective Bargaining Unit are 84 faculty (teachers and professors) and 16 classified staff — administrative assistants, technicians, specialists, and employees of student services, the business office, the library and custodial staff.

The college’s roughly 52 academic professionals have no union protection. The union continues to receive interest cards from them, and holds cards from more than 50% of them to date, said Kisa Clark, Oregon field representative from the American Federation of Teachers Union.

Some classified staff, covered by the union, are not making a living wage, Hancock said. CGCC has the lowest-paid faculty of an Oregon community college, according to previous bargaining agreements.

At its last bargaining session in 2022, CGCC raised classified staff pay scales by 20%, added annual increase of 3% and cost of living adjustments, reported public information office Tom Penberthy.

“In recent months, we have surveyed our membership and held open discussions and contract review meetings. One message we have heard loud and clear from our members is that there is a lack of trust in leadership at CGCC,” the union wrote in its Jan. 30 opening statement, which is public. “While our Strategic Plan endeavors toward shared prosperity, belonging, integrity, and open communication, there is a marked belief among CGCC employees that these principles exist in word but not in deed. Faculty and staff feel under-supported, and institutional dysfunctions create excess unpaid labor.

“With a new President, Mission, Vision, and Strategic Plan, and the departure of multiple members of the Administrative team since our last negotiation, we see potential for a positive shift in culture at CGCC.”

In response, college administration told Columbia Gorge News via email through a spokesperson that it is “committed to understanding and addressing concerns raised by all CGCC employees. To better understand this question, the administration will seek clarification from the union and looks forward to working collaboratively to resolve specific issues.”

The response also noted bargaining has proceeded “respectfully” on both sides.

As for money, living wage for one childless working adult in Wasco County is about $24.89, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s calculation. If that person has a partner, also working, living wage for them is about $16.80.

According to CGCC’s publicly-available previous bargaining agreements, starting pay for faculty is $47,228, against an average of $59,550 for starting pay at other community colleges across Oregon. CGCC’s top pay is $83,745, against a state-wide average of $101,372.

That’s a difference of $12,322 and $17,627 between CGCC and Oregon’s average, respectively.

Classified staff get paid an hourly wage between $17.87 and — after at least 14 years’ employment — $36.58.

“Rising PERS (Public Employees Retirement System) rates and stagnant state funding to higher education pose significant challenges for community colleges statewide. CGCC continues to advocate for increased funding at the state level while implementing measures such as wage adjustments and professional development opportunities,” said the administration’s collective response to Columbia Gorge News, emailed by Penberthy.

The administration denied the union’s request to extend coverage to academic professionals on Feb. 6.

The college’s response said it “respects the formal process outlined for unionization,” noting the academic professionals did not petition directly themselves.

The union keeps academic professionals’ requests and interest cards confidential to ensure their privacy and protect from any retaliation, Clark said.

The union is now working with the Oregon Employment Relations Board, which will decide whether union coverage will be extended to academic professionals.

Some other Oregon community colleges, such as CGCC’s former parent college Portland Community College, offer union coverage to academic professionals.