WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
The Ruling: Independent arbitrator ruled November 6 that Portland State University violated its union contract when laying off 10 non-tenure-track faculty members. PSU must restore their jobs and make them "whole" financially.
The Victory: Jennifer Kerns, associate history professor with nearly 25 years at PSU, is ecstatic: "I love the work that I do. I want to serve my students, and I'm happy to be able to get back in the classroom."
What Went Wrong: PSU used quick-layoff contract clause requiring detailed justification for eliminating specific programs. Arbitrator ruled university should have used lengthy economic-downturn procedure instead, and failed to provide sufficient reasoning for eliminations.
The Cost: PSU saved $12.3 million (88 full-time positions) from academic affairs cuts. Reinstating 10 jobs will eat into those savings. But that's just the beginning—PSU plans to cut $35 million more by 2027.
The Pattern: This is PSU's second labor violation in two months. October: Oregon Employment Relations Board found PSU violated state labor law withholding funds from Faculty Association members.
Union President Bill Knight: "These were all folks who had full classes. They were great contributors to PSU in all kinds of ways: research, teaching and service. To see them restored to their positions — it feels like justice."
