Two campuses escalated workforce tensions this week: The New School announced plans to reduce faculty and staff by about 15 percent by June 1 as part of a broad financial reorganization, and Portland Community College faculty and classified staff launched a historic strike over wages and benefits. At The New School, administrators cited rising deficits and falling enrollment — the university reported an estimated $48 million deficit in 2025 and enrollment down from about 10,400 in 2019 to 8,800 — and said reductions would be targeted by program need. Faculty leaders described the process as “agonizing” and said prior voluntary reductions left the institution short of targets. In Portland, union leaders said months of stalled contract talks forced the strike; hundreds rallied across campuses demanding cost-of-living adjustments and protections. Together the events show labor pressure in both private and public higher education as institutions confront budget shortfalls and rising operating costs.