An independent arbitrator ordered Portland State University to reinstate 10 nontenure‑track faculty who were laid off in June, saying the university violated the collective‑bargaining agreement and must provide back pay. Portland State’s legal counsel has refused to implement the award, arguing the arbitrator exceeded her authority because the contract precludes reappointment powers. The faculty union disputes that interpretation and is preparing appeals to the arbitrator or the state labor board. Labor experts say the university’s stance risks protracted legal fights and sets a fraught precedent in campus labor relations as institutions navigate financial pressures and rights in collective agreements.