@pccffap is proud to endorse Tammy Carpenter @oregontammy Evelyn Kocher @evelynforbeaverton Myrna Muñoz @myrnafororegon David Osborn @osbornfororegon John “Waz” Wasielewski @wazfororegon These endorsements reflect our union’s commitment to building power for faculty, students, and working people across Oregon. Through a member-driven process, we interviewed and evaluated candidates who share our values, demonstrate a commitment to public education, and are ready to stand with us in the ongoing fight for fully funded colleges, fair working conditions, and thriving communities.

Our strike is over, but our solidarity and the community we built together on the line (/ in late night meetings, in signal chats, in giant zoom rooms, phone banking) continues. We won this historic fight together ✊💙 Who’s got the power? WE’VE GOT THE POWER! What kind of power? UNION POWER!

When we fight, we win! We got a T.A.! #WeFixPCC

Yesterday, the Portland Community College Board announced that President Bennings signed a separation agreement with the College and is stepping down from leadership effective immediately. Executive Vice President Katy Ho will assume the role of interim president. While this marks one small step toward accountability and healing, we strongly oppose the terms of the agreement, which allocates roughly $300,000 in public funds to a generous severance, including health benefits and full salary through March 2027. At a time when students and employees struggle to afford basic needs, and PCC programs are fighting for crumbs under the Fiscal Sustainability Action Plan, this payout is shocking and unacceptable. The harm done to this institution over the past several years runs deeper than a single presidency. Dr. Bennings’ tenure has ended, but the structural challenges remain: inequity, financial mismanagement, administrative bloat, and austerity budgets still threaten our ability to serve students. And now, we must reckon with the fallout of the last four years under the terms of a non-disparagement clause that continues to undermine transparency and accountability at the highest levels of college leadership. (Thankfully, FFAP is under no such clause.) Dr. Ho steps into her new role after many years of service at PCC. We recognize that this transition carries both complexity and possibility. We invite her to join us in the continued work of rebuilding trust, advancing equity, and creating a stronger institution that truly prioritizes students, respects workers, and strengthens our broader community. This moment happened because we organized. It happened because we withheld our labor for three weeks. It happened because students and community members stood with us and said “enough.” Democracy in the workplace means we do not need to accept the unacceptable. The work continues for authentic shared governance and institutional transparency. Dr. Bennings’ Fiscal Sustainability Action Plan must be set aside in favor of more flexible and adaptive budgeting models. We expect and deserve a democratic presidential search process meaningfully guided by students and workers.

I've been an educator for 17 years and am proud to have the support of my colleagues. We must do better to fund pre-k, K-12, and high ed. My campaign is building the coalition that can flip this seat and bring change to Salem to support working families and meet the environmental challenges we face. Remember to vote by May 19th! More info at my website: OsbornForOregon.com

Happy May Day. See you out there.

HOW TO TAKE ACTION RE: PCC’s BOARD OF DIRECTORS Did last Thursday’s board meeting remind you of why we need new board members? Do you believe we deserve a union-friendly board that puts students and workers first? Would you like to help investigate our current board members and search for replacements? Join the FFAP & FCE Joint Board Mapping Committee: Marianne Stupfel-Wallace ([email protected]) and Aenghus Taylor ([email protected]). Mark your calendars for the next Board meeting on Thursday evening, May 21. Consider giving public comment yourself this day, or attending in-person to support your coworkers as they give public comments. We are stronger together!

DIRECTOR PENNER WEAPONIZES RACISM TO AVOID CALLS FOR OVERSIGHT, A BOARD RESPONSIBILITY Following public testimony, Director Brandy Penner read a statement claiming that Dr. Bennings and Chair Penson experienced racism and sexism during the strike. Director Penner declined to specify what the alleged racism and sexism entailed, and whether it was committed by union members. FCE leaders and members understand that racism, sexism, and oppression are baked into the structures we operate within, including both union and community college governance. This includes oppression that is perpetuated by PCC administration against workers. We wanted to point you to a couple of responses to Director Penner’s remarks, one from a PCC graduate who gave compelling testimony earlier in same the meeting, and one from a leader in our sibling union: “How dare you sit on your high white savior horse, proclaiming that you speak for marginalized communities while you watch marginalized people beg this board, which has the power to reverse the program closures, for just a shred of humanity.” -PCC gerontology graduate Shawntá Creech, in an open letter to PCC Board of Directors member Brandy Penner “Director Penner’s concern for Black lives excludes those which belong to the working-class […] most workers of color at PCC are either classified staff or casual employees, who earn the least in our striated employee caste system. Casual employees, consistently the majority of PCC hires (see images below) are paid the least and are not represented by a union, and so lack job protections. In addition, we cannot forget that President Bennings failed to make classified workers financially whole following the strike, which disproportionately impacts PCC’s workers of color. Where is Director Penner’s, President Bennings’, or Chair Penson’s concern for these workers’ livelihoods? Do these working-class Black and Brown lives not matter to these women in power?” -FFAP Lead Steward for Fulltime Faculty Yvette Rosales, in a response to PCC Board of Directors member Brandy Penner

Join us on May Day to honor International Workers Day! Show up in solidarity with our migrant and immigrant neighbors 12pm Community Fair 1pm Rally 3:30 March May 1 South Park Blocks Wear your union blue

The LOA on dynamic course scheduling ensures students can get the classes they need by bringing agency back to Faculty Department Chairs and away from restrictive budgeting that is unresponsive to student need #WeFIxPCC

PSU faculty & community members marched on the boss today to demand an end to Ann Cudd's austerity tactics and once again call on the Board of Trustees to chop from the top. The union was joined by labor siblings, including @aft_oregon , @oregoneducationassociation , @_pccffap_ , and @nworlc , as well as students, community advocates like us & @oregontammy and elected leaders like @counciloravalos #portland #portlandstate #solidarity

CPR congratulates @_pccffap_ for securing a fair contract last night and we believe when workers stand together in solidarity, there is nothing we can’t do! Healthcare 🤝 Education ⚡️📚✊