"Portland State University's adjunct faculty union recently won an unfair labor practice case against Portland State University (PSU) over the withholding of special benefit funds. The outcome was a victory for the Portland State University Faculty Association (PSUFA), but adjuncts at the university are still shaken by PSU's actions amid ongoing contract negotiations. The union and university are currently in the middle of bargaining for their next contract, as their previous collective bargaining agreement expired on June 30."
"In August, PSU refused to administer benefit funds, including financial assistance from a fund often used for rent and groceries, to adjunct faculty who requested it. The move was deemed bad-faith bargaining by the Oregon Employee Relations Board. The board ruled PSUFA members were entitled to the funds even after the contract expired. By withholding them, PSU failed to uphold the status quo requiring employers to maintain benefits for union employees even after a contract's expiration."
PSU refused in August to administer special benefit funds, including financial assistance often used for rent and groceries, to adjunct faculty who requested them. The Oregon Employee Relations Board found the refusal constituted bad-faith bargaining and ruled that PSUFA members remained entitled to those funds despite the contract's expiration. The board ordered PSU to release the withheld funds with interest and to post a notice of wrongdoing for PSUFA-represented employees. The unilateral withholding was the first unfair labor practice charge filed by the union in 46 years and caused serious financial stress and shaken trust among adjuncts.
Read at Portland Mercury
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