Tentative Agreement Reached Between COCC Union and Administrators

Union members expected to approve deal averting planned strike

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:34pm

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The Classified Association of Central Oregon Community College (CACOCC) has reached a tentative agreement with college administrators, potentially averting a strike that was set to begin on April 2. The agreement includes raises of up to 25% for the lowest-paid members and new health insurance savings.

Why it matters

The tentative agreement represents a significant victory for the CACOCC union, which has been advocating for living wages and better working conditions for its members. The union's unwavering unity and public advocacy helped flip the balance of power and secure this deal, which addresses long-standing issues of poverty wages and financial hardship faced by many COCC classified staff.

The details

Under the tentative agreement, CACOCC members will receive raises of up to 25% for the lowest-paid employees, as well as new health insurance savings. Union members were expected to approve the agreement by Wednesday night, April 1, which would officially avert the strike that was set to begin the following day. The union credited the support of the COCC community, students, and the COCCFF faculty union as essential in securing this victory.

  • The tentative agreement was reached on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
  • Union members were expected to approve the agreement by Wednesday night, April 1.
  • The strike that was set to begin on Thursday, April 2 will be officially averted if the agreement is ratified.

The players

Classified Association of Central Oregon Community College (CACOCC)

The union representing classified staff at Central Oregon Community College, including custodians, grounds keepers, library workers, and IT specialists.

COCC Administrators

The leadership team at Central Oregon Community College who negotiated the tentative agreement with the CACOCC union.

COCCFF

The COCC Faculty Federation, an OEA-affiliated union representing faculty at Central Oregon Community College, which provided support and unity to the CACOCC union during the negotiations.

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What they’re saying

“A tentative agreement that could avert strike has been reached. COCC Administrators have listened to reason and made the laudable choice to listen to the voices of their classified staff instead of fighting against living wages for college employees.”

— CACOCC, Union

“Without the courage of COCC classified staff, our union's members, victory would never have been possible. We got here by interrupting business as usual to speak out about what's really been happening at COCC, and exposing poverty wages that had brought employees and their families to their knees.”

— CACOCC, Union

What’s next

If the tentative agreement is ratified by CACOCC members, the strike that was set to begin on April 2 will be officially called off.

The takeaway

This tentative agreement represents a significant victory for the CACOCC union and its members, who have been advocating for living wages and better working conditions. The union's unwavering unity and public advocacy, as well as the support of the COCC community and faculty union, were essential in securing this deal that addresses long-standing issues of poverty wages and financial hardship faced by many classified staff.