Central Oregon Community College Faculty Demand Fair Pay

Faculty at Central Oregon Community College are seeking a new contract to address a significant pay gap, alleging their salaries are $10,000 lower than the average starting faculty pay across Oregon's 17 community colleges.

The COCC Faculty Forum claims that college administrators recently granted themselves 24 percent salary increases while offering faculty only a five percent raise. Faculty member Michael Funke and other critics argue these disparities demonstrate a lack of commitment to a living wage for teaching staff.

Supporters are urging students and community members to contact the college president and the Board of Directors to demand higher pay. The Faculty Forum noted that classified employees at the institution previously had to threaten a strike to secure their own contract improvements.