COCC classified staff seeking new union contract plan protest, accuse school of ‘poverty wages’; school president responds
Barney Lerten
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A union newly representing Central Oregon Community College classified staff called a protest Wednesday at the school’s board meeting, accusing COCC of “hoarding reserves” and severely underpaying the workers with what they called “poverty wages.”
The Oregon Education Association said in a news release to KTVZ News that COCC educators, students and community allies will join in the protest late Wednesday afternoon at the Boyle Education Center.
They claimed one in four COCC classified staff now faces food insecurity and that the low wages have “displaced educators from wealthy Bend’s community college.”
COCC President Greg Pereira provided a response to KTVZ News before Wednesday’s board meeting, saying they cannot comment on specifics as contract negotiations continue, but are “committed to reaching a fair and equitable agreement.”
Here’s the rest of the OEA news release and the full response from COCC’s president:
“Central Oregon Community College has amassed excessive reserves and is projecting higher state revenues while classified staff remain underpaid,” the OEA said. “Classified educators at the college are taking action with support of their students, launching a public campaign that calls on the college to stop hoarding reserves and redirect available funds to provide living wages that support quality education and student success.”
“Despite Bend being one of the wealthiest towns in Oregon, classified educators at the community college serving Bend are being paid poverty wages so extreme they have forced community college educators out of the communities in which they teach. Now, educators, students, and community allies are fighting back, and demanding an end to poverty wages for all educators at COCC.
“Linda Rodrigues, a long-time custodian at COCC says, “This is not just about me. When classified workers are living paycheck to paycheck, students suffer. Clean, safe classrooms matter for learning; when custodial staff are exhausted, understaffed, or forced to take second jobs, student health and learning environments decline. I often have only $138–$150 left after bills until the next payday. I’ve had to rely on a church member for groceries. I can’t access SNAP and my autoimmune condition limits what I can eat from food banks. These hardships make it impossible to consistently do my best work for students. One job should be enough. Funding living wages is an investment in clean classrooms, student safety, and uninterrupted support — all essential to quality education.”
“Historically, classified staff at COCC have been represented by their own independent union, but in response to increasing frustration with poor treatment at the hands of College management, just weeks ago, they voted unanimously to join the Oregon Association Education, the powerhouse statewide union representing 42,000 public educators in k-12 and college levels across Oregon.
“Now, they’re negotiating their first ever union contract with the power of both the second-largest union in the state, and the largest international union in America, NEA, behind them. COCC educators said that being part of that larger power was a core reason why they voted unanimously to join OEA this Fall.
“Liz Patterson, a Data Specialist at COCC says, “We joined OEA because doing so gives us strength in numbers. That’s why we’re showing up at the Board tonight — united with faculty, students, and community — to demand living wages for the workers that make this college run. COCC needs to invest in people or prepare for a movement that won’t be ignored.”
“A survey of all COCC classified educators in April of this year found that 1 out of 4 COCC classified educators experience food insecurity; 8 out of 10 report having no money in any emergency fund of any kind, leaving hundreds one to two pay checks away from homelessness.
“Classified educators perform vital work on the Central Oregon Community College campus, including counseling students, custodial work, technology support, and performing specialized resourcing and support to help ensure every student thrives. Now, their students will be supporting them, as they fight to ensure no community college educators in the region experience homelessness or food insecurity due to systemic poverty wages at the wealthy college.”
Statement to KTVZ News from COCC President Greg Pereira:
“Central Oregon Community College deeply values the contributions of all our classified staff. These employees are essential to our students’ success and to the daily operations of the College.
“The College is currently engaged in good-faith negotiations with the Classified Association toward a first contract under their new affiliation with the Oregon Education Association. Out of respect for the bargaining process and all involved, we are unable to comment on specific proposals.
“COCC remains committed to reaching a fair and equitable agreement that balances our responsibility to employees with our obligation to maintain the College’s long-term financial stability and serve students across Central Oregon.
“We appreciate the dedication of our classified staff and the vital role they play in supporting our mission,” Pereira concluded.