University Bargaining Guiding Principles
Portland State University (PSU) is committed to negotiating in good faith and collaboratively with the Portland State University Faculty Association (Union), AFT Local 3571 to reach an agreement on a successor collective bargaining agreement. Our bargaining principles include financial stewardship, operational flexibility, competitive compensation, and accountability to all of our employees. Importantly, our positions and approaches are informed by the PSU Strategic Plan “Future in Focus” and in alignment with the strategic imperatives of PSU, which include:
- Create clear pathways for learners to achieve their goals and secure a strong return on investment.
- Lead the Pacific Northwest in serving minoritized students and boosting college success rates.
- Support and empower PSU employees and operations.
- Drive Portland's economic, social, and cultural resurgence through research partnerships and community engagement
View all exchanged proposals using the linked heading above or here.
Next Scheduled Bargaining Session:
Parties will meet again in person on August 22, 2025 from 12pm to 5pm.
Observers: Observers are welcome to attend using the Zoom link (Observer Zoom Link: https://pdx.zoom.us/j/82473666791)
Bargaining Summary
July 22, 2025 - Bargaining Session Update
The PSUFA and the University bargaining teams came together for a negotiation session that focused on the University finances, and the processes for resolving workplace issues.
The University presented a summary of the material that was present to the Board of Trustees at the June 2025 meeting. As the University's overall enrollment has declined, revenue from tuition and the state's PSUF fund have also declined, resulting in an $18 million budget deficit last fiscal year. This year's budget that was presented to the Board includes continued reserve spending. The University is committed to developing a balanced budget and the message was one of fiscal constraint. The University is also committed to curricular stewardship that improves student and faculty experiences and outcomes, and optimizes resource use.
The University then presented another counterproposal on Article 4, Orientation and Onboarding. Both sides have found common ground on the idea of a main, university-wide orientation for new hires that would be mandatory and paid. The University also stated that it views these university wide new hire orientations as meeting the needs of onboarding all new and existing adjunct employees and providing the Union with the necessary new employee access it deserves.
Later in the session, the union presented a counter proposal to update the grievance and arbitration process. These are the formal steps for resolving contract violations. The union’s proposal aimed to make the process only two steps. PSUFA also suggested eliminating the required grievance forms in favor of simple email written notice, and allowing for "group grievances" that affect many adjuncts at once.
The University then asked the union to clarify its proposals on how courses are assigned. The union explained that two-year contracts are vital for providing stability, allowing adjuncts to plan their lives. The Union maintained its position that it’s important to create pathways for adjuncts to secure full-time positions, while the University emphasized the importance of applying an equity lens when hiring for full time positions and other hiring obligations.
The session ended with an understanding that the university team would review the day's discussions and prepare formal responses to the union's proposals.
The Parties have agreed to meet again on August 22, 2025 from 12pm to 5pm. Observers are welcome to attend using the Zoom link (Observer Zoom Link: https://pdx.zoom.us/j/82473666791)
July 2, 2025 - Bargaining Session Update
The Parties met for their 15th in-person successor negotiations session. Prior to the session, PSUFA agreed to the University’s last proposal on Article 9. Personnel Files. The University agreed to PSUFA’s last proposal on Article 18. Notices and Communications. To start the session, PSUFA exchanged counterproposals on Article 4. Orientation and Onboarding and Article 3 Union Privileges. The parties are working towards agreement on these articles. For Article 3, the parties continue to disagree about the location of work. PSUFA insists that the assigned classroom is a worksite location; the University maintains that, like all other University employees, the worksite is best defined as the employing unit. Additionally, PSUFA requests that the University include the classroom schedule in the regular monthly bargaining unit reports that are sent out on a monthly basis. The University already provides this information to the University community. The classroom schedule is provided on the public website for course registration and is available to all University employees as a default Cognos report.
The University then shared its second proposal on Article 7, incorporating amendments designed to address many of PSUFA's stated interests from their last proposal on May 2. When sharing the proposal, the University stated that many of PSUFA’s proposals in Article 7 from May 2, 2025, are outside the scope of collective bargaining and are permissive subjects of bargaining. As the employer, PECBA does not require the University to bargain about these topics. These topics, as defined by the University, are not identified in PECBA as mandatory topics and either have a greater impact on management's prerogatives than on employee wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment or have an insubstantial effect on these areas. Additionally, several permissive proposals by PSUFA are topics that should not be decided in collective bargaining. These topics require input from the entire campus community and are not issues that the University can resolve at the bargaining table. Some of these permissive topics proposed by PSUFA include the following, which would require PSU to:
- not introduce AI tools designed for teaching and research,
- be a fossil fuel-free campus,
- end current and future partnerships, including acceptance of donations, with weapons producers and fossil fuel producers,
- provide support to community members, including those experiencing housing insecurity, by creating resilience hubs on campus, and
- disarm campus police safety officers.
Additionally, the University identified the Union’s proposal in Section 8.1, which suggests that some adjuncts can volunteer to attend departmental faculty meetings, while others are paid to do so, as a prohibited subject of bargaining. The University asserts (and the current CBA makes clear) that attending meetings is compensable work. Therefore, allowing adjuncts to voluntarily attend department meetings without pay would be a violation of employment law and, thus, the Parties are prohibited from bargaining the proposal.
The University acknowledges that PSUFA may dispute the classification of these subjects as permissive or prohibited. Under Oregon law, neither party is compelled to agree to a proposal or make concessions. The University is committed to fulfilling its obligation to negotiate in good faith and is not required to seek agreement or negotiate a waiver of its reserved rights on these proposals.
The Parties have agreed to meet again on Zoom webinar from 11am to 3pm. Observers are welcome to attend using the Zoom link (Observer Zoom Link: https://pdx.zoom.us/j/82473666791)
June 18, 2025 - Bargaining Session Update
The Parties met for their fourteenth in person successor negotiations session.
The session started with the University exchanging its third proposal on Article 4. Orientation and Onboarding. The proposal provides for orientation and training compensation and has added the ability for the PSUFA to work with the University in Labor Management meetings to collaborate on orientation content development. New adjunct faculty who are unable to attend the hybrid new hire orientation will now have the option of completing the orientation and training asynchronously.
The University then presented its second proposal on Article 3. Union Privileges and Limitations. The University proposed including the relevant Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) reference in this article. This move would allow for future changes to the legal statutes to occur without the need to change contract language. The University then presented a proposal on Article 6. Academic Freedom and Responsibility. The proposal aligns the contract language to reflect the PSU Board of Trustees Policy on the Roles of the Board, President and Faculty, Shared Governance and Academic Freedom, adopted by the Board on June 22, 2017.
Next, PSUFA presented its proposal on Article 8. Appointments and Assignment Rights. PSUFA proposed edits and additions to the letter of appointment notices. It also outlines the increased access adjunct employees will have to internal department adjunct appointment and assignment rights tracking sheets. PSUFA proposed a new concept of adjunct “recall rights” in cases where adjuncts have had their appointment offers rescinded. This proposal would require the University to keep and review the recall lists first before offering any instructional appointment to a new hire. PSUFA also proposed that In cases when full time positions become available, PSUFA has proposed contract language requiring the University to interview adjuncts who meet the open faculty positions' minimum requirements/qualifications and give them preference over other applicants in the pool.
The Parties have agreed to meet again in person on the 2nd July, 2025 from 12pm to 5pm in the RMNC Building. Observers are welcome to attend in person or using the Zoom link (Observer Zoom Link: https://pdx.zoom.us/j/82473666791)
June 04, 2025 - Bargaining Session Update
The Parties met again in person for their thirteenth bargaining session.
PSUFA began the session by presenting their proposal on Article 9. Personnel Files. The Parties are getting close to an agreement on this article with PSUFA adding more specific references to current University Standards. The University was able to turn around a counter to this proposal in the session and the Parties are hoping to find agreement soon.
The PSUFA then moved to presenting their proposal on Article 4. Orientation and Onboarding. In the presentation, PSUFA advocated for the need for more involvement of the PSUFA in onboarding material development and adjunct researcher related onboarding materials. The Parties still need to collect additional information regarding all mandatory trainings and the time required for an employee to complete all of them.
The University presented its proposal on Article 10. Grievances. The University proposed having three instead of four steps in the grievance process which would allow for more time at each step for Parties to schedule meetings with supervisors and to develop responses. Next, the University presented its proposal on Article 11. Arbitration. The University removed old language referring to the American Arbitration Association (AAA) that is no longer applicable to the process used by the Union and University in these cases. The University also maintains its position that academic judgement is not grievable as the current contract language and the PSU proposal is that it is not arbitrable.
The Parties have agreed to meet again in person on the 18th June, 2025 from 12pm to 5pm in the RMNC Building. Observers are welcome to attend in person or using the Zoom link (Observer Zoom Link: https://pdx.zoom.us/j/82473666791)
May 23, 2025 - Bargaining Session Update
The Parties met in person for the second scheduled negotiation session in May.
The session began with the University presenting a proposal on Article 4. Orientation and Onboarding. The University accepted PSUFA’s proposal to have orientations on a term by term basis. However, the University reserved its right to develop the onboarding materials itself.
Next PSUFA presented its proposal on Article 12 Salaries and Payroll, Article 13 Faculty Education and Development Fund and Article 15 Adjunct Financial Assistance Fund.
The Parties have agreed to meet again in person on the 4th June, 2025 from 12pm to 5pm in the RMNC Building. Observers are welcome to attend in person or using the Zoom link (Observer Zoom Link: https://pdx.zoom.us/j/82473666791)
May 02, 2025 - Bargaining Session Update
The Parties met in person again to continue successor negotiations for the first scheduled session in May.
The session started with the University exchanging a counter proposal on Article 18. Notices and Communications. The Parties are close to agreement and only need to finalize the Union contact.
Next, the University exchanged its counter proposal on Article 3. Union Privileges and Limitations. The University restored current contract language in Section 1: Strikes and included language complying with the requirements outlined in HB2016. The Parties continue to discuss the appropriate amount of time to accurately respond to a request for information (RFI).
After a brief caucus, the Parties returned to the bargaining room for the PSUFA guest speaker presentation. The guest speaker spoke as a representative of AAUP National about the importance of academic freedom in higher education. PSUFA then followed up by exchanging a proposal on Article 6. Academic Freedom and Responsibility. The University affirmed its support of academic freedom but noted that it reserved its right not to bargain articles or topics that were not included in the Parties' opening letters that were not submitted by the date in the current contract (January 31, 2025), or another date that the Parties agreed for negotiations to commence. In the ground rules, the parties could not agree on the start date of negotiations.
After a second caucus the PSUFA then exchanged their counter proposal on Article 9. Personnel Files. PSUFA then presented a counter proposal to Article 7 Bargaining Unit Member Rights.
The Parties have agreed to meet again in person on the 23rd May, 2025 from 12pm to 5pm in the RMNC Building. Observers are welcome to attend in person or using the Zoom link (Observer Zoom Link: https://pdx.zoom.us/j/82473666791)
April 18, 2025 - Bargaining Session Update
The Parties met for their second in-person session scheduled for April. The Parties discussed a number of procedural and formatting issues related to proposal exchanges.
The parties then discussed Article 3. Union Privileges and Limitations and Article 18. Notices and Communications. The University asked clarifying questions about PSUFA’s Article 3 proposal. PSUFA’s proposed changes to the language include significant revisions to Section 1, Strikes and Lockouts, granting access to PSU buildings and property to employees of the Union and its local and/or national federation, changes to the information shared with the Union monthly, a request to add dedicated bulletin boards in Fariborz Maseeh Hall, Smith Memorial Student Union, and the Academic Student Resource Center, and the Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design.
After a short caucus PSUFA returned to present their counter proposal on Article 4. Orientation and Onboarding. PSUFA maintained its position that it wishes for the Orientation to be a collaborative event run by both the University and the PSUFA. The University did question the Union about what a jointly run orientation would look like and PSUFA stated that it viewed a joint orientation as being run and managed by the University while maintaining the Union’s legal right to meet privately with the new employees.
The Parties have agreed to meet again in person on the 2nd May, 2025 from 12pm to 5pm in the RMNC Building. Observers are welcome to attend using the Zoom link (Observer Zoom Link: https://pdx.zoom.us/j/82473666791)
April 4, 2025 - Bargaining Session Update
The Parties began with PSUFA presenting their counter proposal on Article 18. Notices and Communications. The Parties discussed the differences between the meanings of upon delivery and upon receipt and how that applies to time-sensitive email communications. The University then shared its counter proposal on Article 9. Personnel Files. The proposal focused on cleaning up old contract language and bringing the language into alignment with current University processes and State Law.
After a short caucus PSUFA shared their proposal on Article 3. Union Privileges and Limitations. The main language changes being the addition of language retaining striking workers access to University property. There were also substantial language changes made to Section 4. Union Membership and Dues Deductions. PSUFA is also requesting the addition of four (4) bulletin boards to be placed in Fariborz Maseeh Hall, Smith Memorial Student Union, and the Academic Student Resource Center, and the Schnitzer School of Art, Art History & Design for the purpose of PSUFA communications. PSUFA has also proposed additional worksite communication requirements for the University to comply with.
The University then passed its counter proposal on Article 4. Orientation and Onboarding. The University proposed offering an orientation session, at least once per term, centrally or at the unit level, and retained the PSUFA proposal idea around making the orientation sessions compensated. In developing its proposal, the University needed to be cognizant of its financial constraints and the additional workload these requirements place on the administrators tasked with supporting these programs.
The Parties have agreed to meet again in person on the 18th April, 2025 in the Mt. Rainier room (RMNC Building Room 3-316). Observers are welcome to attend either in-person or remotely using the Zoom link (Observer Zoom Link: https://pdx.zoom.us/j/82473666791)
March 21, 2025 - Bargaining Session Update
The session began with the University passing their proposal on Article 12, Section 9 Compensation for Contract Negotiations to PSUFA. This proposal changes the contract language in this section to allow for up to four (4) PSUFA members to receive compensation to prepare for and engage in contract negotiations. PSUFA will receive up to the equivalent of twelve (12) credits of compensation for the four (4) PSUFA negotiating members each academic term during the period of negotiations. PSUFA accepted the proposed language and requested that the proposal be agreed to and made effective upon signature. This would allow PSUFA access to the new language and compensation structure immediately for use in these current negotiations. PSU agreed to this suggestion and the proposal language is being finalized for tentative agreement (TA).
PSUFA then presented their proposal language for Article 4. Orientation and Onboarding. PSUFA proposed changes to the language around orientations and onboarding as well as adding the concept of adjunct inclusion funds into the article. PSU then passed a proposal on changes to Article 7. Bargaining Unit Member Rights. Most of the proposed language changes aimed at making the older language align with current processes at the University. PSUFA then passed a counter on Article 19. Miscellaneous Provisions with minor formatting changes to the University’s proposal. The parties agreed and are preparing the TA for signature. The agreed language will require the University to post the contract but no longer print paper contracts after negotiations end.
The Parties have agreed to meet next on Friday, April 4th, 2025.
March 14, 2025 - Bargaining Session Update
The session began with the PSUFA bargaining team exchanging its counter proposal to PSU’s previously-proposed Ground Rules. The Ground Rules are an agreement between the bargaining teams outlining basic procedures for how the Parties will bargain, such as including the opportunity for observers to watch sessions, setting agendas for sessions, and sharing proposals. The Parties were initially unable to agree on the date on which the negotiation of the successor agreement began. After the parties resolved all other remaining outstanding issues in their respective Ground Rules proposals, the bargaining teams decided not to include a negotiation start date in the Ground Rules (basically agreeing to disagree) and reached an agreement on the Ground Rules for negotiation.
PSU advanced a proposal to amend existing contract language in Articles 9 (Personnel Files), 18 (Notices), and 19 (Miscellaneous Provisions). The PSU bargaining team explained the basis for its proposals for each article, the PSUFA bargaining team requested a caucus, and then PSUFA returned to the table and offered a counter proposal on Article 9.
At the end of the March 14 bargaining session, the Parties set an agenda for the next session, scheduled for March 21. The Parties agreed to come to the next bargaining session prepared to exchange new proposals on Articles 4 and 7. As referenced above, the PSU team will also provide a counter proposal on Article 9, Personnel Files.
Finally, the newly agreed upon Ground Rules for bargaining allow observers to participate via the Zoom web conferencing platform and in-person (subject to room capacity). If you are interested in attending the next bargaining session, whether in-person or by Zoom, the venue address and Zoom link for the next session are as follows: (Bargaining Venue: RMNC 3-316 Mt Rainier Room. Observer Zoom Link: https://pdx.zoom.us/j/84306099553)
February 28, 2025 - Bargaining Session Update
The Parties met in person for the bargaining session. Prior to this first session the Parties exchanged ground rules proposals over email. At the start of this session PSUFA began by asking clarifying questions of the University's initial ground rules proposal. The University team also asked clarifying questions about PSUFA’s proposal. The Parties were very close to agreement on these first proposals. The Parties have agreed to their next in-person bargaining session on Friday, March 14, 2025.
February 14, 2025 - Bargaining Session Update
In preparation for the scheduled bargaining session, PSU sent PSUFA its opening letter that indicated the new subjects and/or current sections of the CBA that the University proposes to negotiate. In addition, PSU sent proposals for ground rules and a proposal for Article 12, Section 9, Compensation for Contract Negotiations, on February 10, 2025. Due to inclement weather, the campus was closed. The University offered to move to a remote session for bargaining, but PSUFA requested that the session be canceled.