Portland Community College reached a tentative agreement with its 700 classified employees, ending a 16-day strike that forced classes online. The coalition, however, leaves faculty negotiations unresolved: the faculty union remains on strike and is still bargaining over strike-time pay, according to the report. Under the tentative classified agreement, workers receive a 5% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026–27 and a $1,350 lump-sum payment after ratification, alongside improved health benefits and additional worker protections. The school said if the faculty strike continues past March 30, it will push the start of the spring term to April 6 and delay student financial aid disbursements. That combination puts student services and enrollment operations at risk while bargaining continues. The episode underscores how synchronized labor disputes can quickly translate into academic scheduling disruptions and delayed payments, raising pressure on community colleges that already manage tight operating margins.