Faculty and classified staff at Portland Community College commenced a coordinated strike after contract talks over pay and benefits stalled, union leaders said. The AFT‑affiliated chapters authorized the walkout after months of negotiation and accused the college of union‑busting; college officials said they moved operations online to keep campuses safe and maintain services. Roughly 2,300 employees across two unions represent instructional and non‑instructional personnel; the unions are pressing for cost‑of‑living adjustments above the college’s proposed modest increases tied to state funding. The strike disrupted in‑person classes and forced PCC to pivot many courses to remote delivery while grading and administrative tasks were paused by union members. The labor action highlights pressure points at community colleges nationally—shrinking state appropriations, enrollment volatility and rising living costs—and could signal further union activity at two‑year institutions unless districts and state funders address compensation.