Unionized faculty and classified staff at Portland Community College launched a historic strike over compensation and benefits after months of stalled negotiations. More than 2,300 employees are represented by two AFT chapters and the unions said the college’s pay proposals fall far short of cost‑of‑living needs. PCC moved many classes online and limited campus operations while the strike is ongoing; union leaders said the college’s contingency plans amounted to union‑busting. The unions are pressing for cost‑of‑living increases above 3.5% and stronger benefits; the college has proposed significantly smaller additional raises tied to state funding levels. The strike is a warning sign for community colleges nationwide: constrained state budgets and flat funding formulas are intensifying labor disputes. Administrators should be prepared for service disruptions and prioritize transparent bargaining to limit instructional impacts on students.