Lane Community College Students Picket in Solidarity with Teachers Amid Ongoing Negotiations

Lane Community College students gathered on the Eugene campus on Feb. 10 to picket in solidarity with faculty as contract negotiations that began in June 2025 remain unresolved. The action highlighted growing concern on campus about an $8 million budget reduction the college must navigate in the coming year and the possibility of a faculty strike if talks fail.

Students carried signs and marched on sidewalks near campus buildings; earlier protests included signage reading “Fair Contract Now” and chants through downtown Eugene such as “no contract, no peace” and “Eugene is a union town.” Local social media showed continued organizing and public engagement between students and the Lane Community College Education Association, though some online posts were incomplete or truncated.

Lane faculty and college leaders have been bargaining since June 2025. The college reached an agreement with classified staff the week before the student picket, but negotiations with faculty continued, with a final bargaining session scheduled for Feb. 19. Union leaders have previously prepared members for the possibility of striking, including holding a “strike school” in November 2025; faculty have never gone on strike at Lane Community College.

Students framed their presence as advocacy for classroom stability and future access. LCC student Jennifer Hagerty said, “The $8 million budget cut that's coming next year will only have a negative impact on students. If we don't use our voice, who will? Who will stand up for the future students and the future of LCC as a whole?” Her comments connected the fiscal pressure facing the institution with concerns about program reductions, staffing, and student services.

Adrienne Mitchell, president of the LCC Education Association, emphasized both a desire to reach agreement and the distance between the parties. “We're really hopeful that we will be able to reach an agreement with the administration,” Mitchell said. “But we feel at this point because we are so far apart, that it's really important for all of our members, all of the faculty. To really understand what is a strike, what does it look like?”

College administration framed its position around fiscal sustainability and protecting students' progress. Spokesperson Jenna McCulley said the faculty’s proposals are not financially sustainable and added, “Our goal is to remain committed to negotiating at the table, so that we can come to an agreement and that our students’ academic progression isn’t disrupted.”

For Lane County residents, the dispute matters because a breakdown in bargaining could affect course schedules, student services, and community programs that rely on LCC. The next scheduled negotiation on Feb. 19 and any mediation that follows will determine whether the parties reach a contract or move toward more disruptive measures. Community members and students interested in classroom continuity should expect further developments this month as both sides pursue a resolution.