COCC-Faculty Forum Negotiations
Overview
Central Oregon Community College engages in collective bargaining with the Faculty Forum, represented by Oregon Education Association (OEA), as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting students, faculty and the broader community. Collective bargaining is a structured, legally defined process in which designated negotiation teams from COCC and the Faculty Forum meet to negotiate working conditions, compensation and other employment‑related matters.
Negotiations occur over time and involve multiple steps, including the development, discussion and review of proposals. This webpage serves as a resource and will be updated on a regular basis.
While not all details can be shared during active negotiations, COCC remains committed to clear communication, transparency and continuity for students, employees and the community throughout the process.
Timeline
COCC and the Faculty Forum bargaining teams began formal negotiations on Thursday, January 15 under Oregon’s Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA). Per ORS 243.712, PECBA mandates at least 150 calendar days of good faith direct bargaining following the exchange of proposals. If no agreement is reached by the end of that period, either party may request mediation.
Once mediation begins, which may occur after the 150 day negotiation phase or be jointly requested earlier, the parties have a minimum of 15 days in mediation. If mediation does not result in an agreement, either party may declare impasse. At that point, they must submit final offers and cost summaries within seven days, followed by a 30 day cooling off period while further resolution efforts may continue.
For more details on the full PECBA process, visit the Employee Relations Board website.
Current Contract
The current Faculty Bargaining Agreement can be found on our Contracts and Manuals webpage.
COCC Budget
For the most current budget reports and financial forecasts, please refer to the latest Board meeting packet.Bargaining Calendar
Articles Under Negotiation
The following existing Articles are currently open for bargaining; any not listed are not presently open:
| Article | Status |
|---|---|
| Article 1 – Recognition | Tentative Agreement Reached |
| Article 2 – Forum Rights | Under Negotiation |
| Article 3 – Management Rights | Tentative Agreement Reached |
| Article 4 – No Strikes and Lockouts | Tentative Agreement Reached |
| Article 5 – Grievance Procedure | Under Negotiation |
| Article 6 – Faculty Appointments | Under Negotiation |
| Article 7 – Salary Compensation | Under Negotiation |
| Article 8 – Teaching Assignment, Compensation and Agreements | Under Negotiation |
| Article 9 – Fringe Benefits | Under Negotiation |
| Article 10 – Discipline and Dismissal | Under Negotiation |
| Article 12 – Evaluation and Personnel Files | Under Negotiation |
| Article 13 – Promotions | Under Negotiation |
| Article 14 – Professional Improvement | Under Negotiation |
| Article 16 – Intellectual Property Rights | Under Negotiation |
| Article 18 – Duration | Under Negotiation |
New articles proposed by the Faculty Forum bargaining team:
| Article | Status |
|---|---|
| Tenure | Under Negotiation |
| Academic Freedom | Tentative Agreement Reached |
| Artificial Intelligence | Under Negotiation |