EUGENE, Ore. – According to a July 22 ruling from Oregon’s Employment Relations Board, Lane Community College (LCC) violated labor practice laws after issues were brought to them by LCC’s faculty union, Lane Community College Education Association (LCCEA).
According to the 71-page ruling, LCC must cease the violations and post notice of the ruling to employees after it was determined administrative officials “surveilled” an email list belonging to union members that contained information about bargaining.
The ruling also stated LCC violated workers rights when they threatened co-chairs of the Faculty Council with legal action after the topic of “minimum requirements” was brought up in a 2023 meeting. LCC officials reportedly thought it was inappropriate to discuss at the time considering that was a topic between bargaining teams during contract negotiations.
“We conclude that the College violated ORS 243.672(1)(a)1 by telling the Faculty Council Co-Chairs that they could not discuss minimum qualifications and certifications for faculty members at Faculty Council meetings and threatening legal actions,” the three-judge panel stated in the ruling. “We also conclude that the College violated ORS 243.672(1)(b) and (e) through its communications with bargaining unit employees about the Division Faculty Coordinator position. However, we reject all of the Association’s other legal claims. We also conclude that the Association is entitled to a notice posting but we decline to award a civil penalty.”…