Imagine being a dedicated educator, pouring your heart and soul into teaching and mentoring students, only to have your employer withhold crucial funds that were rightfully yours. This is exactly what happened to the adjunct faculty union at Portland State University, who have just scored a major victory against the university in an unfair labor practice case. But here's where it gets interesting: the Oregon Employment Relations Board has ordered PSU to release the withheld funds, totaling around $100,000, plus a 9% prorated interest. This ruling is a significant win for the union, which represents over 1,200 adjunct faculty and researchers at the university. The dispute began when PSU withheld professional development and emergency financial assistance funds from union members over the summer, sparking a complaint from the union that the university had violated state labor law. The board's decision is clear: Oregon employers must maintain the status quo in employment relations between the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement and the completion of statutory bargaining procedures. In other words, PSU should have continued to make payments to faculty members as usual, even after the union's contract expired. And this is the part most people miss: the university's actions were not just a minor oversight, but a deliberate decision that affected the livelihoods of many adjunct faculty members. For instance, Rachel Hibbard, an adjunct professor who's been teaching art at PSU for over 25 years, was worried she wouldn't be reimbursed for a professional development opportunity she paid out-of-pocket for. The funds in question are a lifeline for many union members, helping them cover housing and food expenses in emergency situations. But PSU is not taking the ruling lying down, arguing that its interpretation of the state labor law does not mean it was bargaining in bad faith. The university is considering an appeal, which could lead to further controversy. The question on everyone's mind is: will PSU finally take responsibility for its actions and respect the rights of its adjunct faculty, or will it continue to dispute the ruling? The timing of this dispute is also noteworthy, as university administrators are grappling with a years-long budget crisis. In September, PSU leaders released a plan to cut nearly $35 million from its operating budget by 2027, which has sparked concerns among faculty and students. The faculty and administration bargaining teams are still trying to agree on a contract that works for both sides, but union members say they're facing their own crisis. As Alli Schisler-Blizzard, PSUFA's chair of membership, put it: 'These funds that the university didn’t release were already bargained and budgeted for. This is less about PSU’s budget and much more about them flexing their institutional muscle and institutional power over a group of marginalized faculty.' So, we have to ask: what do you think about PSU's actions, and do you think the university is doing enough to support its adjunct faculty? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
