LCC Faculty Colleagues —

I hope your summer is going well whether you are on campus or off. 

I am writing to share with you a brief update. The Employment Relations Board, which is a panel of three judges, issued a ruling and order finding that the LCC Administration engaged in several unlawful unfair labor practices. (See full decision below.)

Specifically, the judges determined that the College Administration violated ORS 243.672(1)(a) by engaging in surveillance of union emails on the faculty email list. This is especially concerning in light of the Administration’s recent proposal in bargaining to eliminate language in our contract that protects faculty privacy rights. 

The judges’ order also confirms that the LCC Administration violated ORS 243.672(1)(a) by threatening Faculty Council with legal action and seeking to prohibit legally-protected discussion at their Council meeting.

In addition, the ERB panel of judges found that the LCC Administration engaged in unlawful direct dealing and violated ORS 243.672(1)(b) and (1)(e) by dealing directly both with a group of faculty members and also through a survey of bargaining unit members over potential changes which would require bargaining.

Finally, because of this unlawful activity, the Employment Relations Board has issued an order requiring the LCC Administration to post a notice about their legal violations and to send the notice to all LCC faculty members by email. You should expect to receive the email notice from the LCC Administration within ten days of  July 22, 2025.

Please find more details below in a message that I sent to the LCC Board of Education advocating for a positive, productive, collaborative approach to labor relations in light of this decision. 

While it is troubling that the LCC Administration has engaged in unfair labor practices, I am hopeful that this decision will be a catalyst for change and remain unwavering in my commitment to working together with you all to create the conditions on campus where faculty can do our best work in service of students — a campus where the Administration engages in transparent, inclusive decision making characterized by ethics and integrity; seeks settlement over disputes; takes a reasonable, fair approach to contract negotiations that honors faculty as professionals; and, importantly in an ever more fragile democracy, welcomes and encourages the free exchange of ideas.

All my best,

Adrienne