Two major faculty strikes highlighted the growing pressure on higher-ed budgets and the widening gap between faculty pay and institutional leadership compensation. New York University’s non-tenure-track faculty walked out and later reached a tentative agreement, while faculty at Portland Community College continued strike activity even after staff ratified an agreement. The reporting comes amid broader data showing faculty compensation lagging inflation while other employee groups have also fallen behind since the start of the pandemic. An analysis referenced by the coverage from CUPA-HR found tenure-track faculty wages down 11.7% and nontenure-track teaching faculty down 6.8% when adjusted for inflation. Separate analysis also cited by the piece points to long-term declines in average faculty pay from 2013 to 2023. Negotiations are unfolding in a fiscal climate where colleges say they cannot absorb new personnel costs. At NYU, leadership also disclosed a 2025 deficit, underscoring the financial constraints now driving labor disputes.