PSU Part-Time Faculty Concerned About Salary Negotiations

By Andrew Theen

Portland, OR  February 14, 2008 2:24 p.m.

About a dozen part-time professors demonstrated in front of Portland State University's  student union  Thursday.

They wanted to draw attention to ongoing negotiations between faculty and the administration at the state's largest university.

Part-time faculty members say their salaries aren't increasing enough to cover cost of living increases.

Brooke Jacobson is an adjunct assistant professor of communications at PSU.  She's taught there for 20 years.  She says faculty decreased some of their demands but to no avail.

Brooke Jacobson: "There's a lot of disaffection, feeling of demoralization among the faculty at being so disregarded."

Jacobson says they are asking for an increase of $39 per credit taught.  Officials with PSU say they can't comment on on-going negotiations.

The next mediation session is slated for next Friday.

Share this article: del.icio.us digg newsvine

© 2008 OPB