After eight months of bargaining with Portland State University’s administration, the faculty union believes the two sides are no longer making significant progress on a new labor contract.

This week, PSU’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors filed a declaration of impasse with the Oregon Employment Relations Board. The union represents close to 1,200 faculty and academic professionals at Portland State.

This declaration comes after the two parties entered mediation sessions last month. Since then, the union and the university met for over 70 hours in seven mediation sessions, according to PSU-AAUP.

“But after all of that, the administration still didn’t move enough to satisfy what our members need,” PSU-AAUP President Emily Ford said. “What our members need are working conditions that allow us to support a positive environment for students.”

Proposals related to wages and job protections are the last remaining sticking points.

At the last mediation session between the two parties on Feb. 12, PSU-AAUP proposed a 7.5% cost of living adjustment in year one of the contract for all of its members. Portland State administration has proposed a 3.15% salary increase with a $500 signing bonus, according to the union.

‘Our faculty are not a liability’: PSU professors, students push back on staff cuts amid budget crisis

Cristina Restad, an academic advisor at PSU’s School of Business, said many union members are frustrated with the university’s lack of movement on wages. Turnover is high. And Restad said her salary at Portland State barely supports herself and her three children.

“I’m seeing advisor after advisor leave. They’re burnt out, they’re paid better elsewhere,” Restad said. “When we don’t retain our staff, we all do way more work and the students suffer.”

Portland State said it has been negotiating in good faith since June, when contract negotiations first began.

“PSU remains committed to reaching a fair agreement that meets the needs and interests of our employees, protects our students’ investment in their future, advances PSU’s strategic goals and supports our long-term financial sustainability,” a PSU spokesperson said in a statement.

The union also proposed a lower salary boost of 4.25%, on the condition the university agrees to reverse previously announced layoffs of its union members. In December, Portland State administration sent termination notices to 17 non-tenure track faculty. All faculty in that group are represented by PSU-AAUP.

The cuts are part of a larger financial sustainability effort from the university to close an $18 million budget deficit this school year. Portland State’s operating deficit is largely due to years of falling tuition revenue related to declining enrollment as well as increasing personnel costs.

But PSU-AAUP and the university continue to disagree on how extreme PSU’s financial situation is. An independent report commissioned by the union found Portland State to be “in a solid financial position.” An analysis of the union’s report by PSU’s finance team said the report did not fully account for future financial scenarios.

Involuntary layoffs, mostly consisting of the union’s 17 laid-off faculty, are saving PSU just over $2.4 million this year. PSU faculty and students have pushed back on the university’s financial plan, saying the cuts will negatively impact PSU’s reputation and student learning.

The union said there has been no movement from the university on its proposal to reverse layoffs in exchange for a lower cost of living adjustment.

The declaration of impasse sets off a process that could lead to the union’s first-ever strike at PSU. A 30-day “cooling-off” period will begin after the state publishes both parties’ best and final offers. Negotiations can still continue during this time.

Students, faculty argue Portland State University’s financial sustainability plan does more harm than good

PSU-AAUP is hoping to avoid a strike, but it is encouraging its members to sign a strike pledge.

Ford said coming to an agreement on a new contract with additional job protections and wage increases has become even more critical now, as higher education institutions are feeling attacked by the Trump Administration.

“It’s a very scary moment for everyone in higher education, including our student body,” said Ford. “Faculty and staff put [students] first. The reason that we are at an impasse is because the administration is not giving us what we need to be able to put students first.”

PSU-AAUP is not the only faculty union in Oregon currently bargaining over a new contract.

The University of Oregon’s faculty union, United Academics of the University of Oregon, has been bargaining for over a year. UAUO also declared an impasse this week.

Meanwhile the United Academics of Oregon State University, OSU’s faculty union, has filed for mediation with the state after a year of negotiations.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/02/21/portland-state-faculty-union-potential-strike/