Vote for Michelle DuBarry for Executive Vice President of FFAP

About Me / Why I’m running

I believe in the transformative power of unions! More than voting, more than volunteering, more than protesting (I’ve done all those things a lot!), being a member of FFAP has allowed me to unite with other people, even across large differences, to claw back some power from the forces that are making life in the United States so precarious for working people.

Union wages have enabled my family to survive financially over 15 years that included the collapse of the housing market, the Great Recession, a global pandemic, and multiple overlapping societal crises. When politicians ask if I’m better off now than I was four years ago, the answer, for the last four presidential elections, is “yes”— because I am a union member.

Unions give us collective power, and we must use it! We live in a society corrupted by corporate greed that puts downward pressure on our wages, denies us healthcare, housing, and safe communities, while funneling wealth to billionaires. But labor is organized. Labor is BIG. It might be the only thing big enough to fight back.

In Oregon, higher education union leaders are discussing aligning our contracts, so that we can leverage a larger strike threat. Maybe, if we band together, we can pressure elected leaders to fund the schools our students deserve. But why stop there? 

What if educators aligned with nurses, trade unionists, Starbucks and Amazon workers, delivery drivers, and public sector employees to demand housing, healthcare, free public transit, decarbonation, demilitarization? This is the vision being put forth by United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, who is calling for a general strike in 2028. What if labor is our best chance to actually move the needle on issues that feel intractable?  

I am running for EVP because I want to help lead FFAP toward a larger vision for change while also securing higher wages, better working conditions, and a classroom and college environment where our students can thrive. To learn more about what I’ve accomplished as Vice President for Communications and a member of four FFAP bargaining teams, you can read my candidate statement here. The links at the top of this page will tell you a little bit about my life and advocacy outside of PCC, where I have published essays about grief and loss, passed a health insurance reform law in Oregon, and advocated for transportation justice as co-chair of the Portland chapter of Families for Safe Streets.

My experience includes 15 years as a Grants Officer for PCC and eight years as FFAP’s VP for Communications. I am a member of the 2025 bargaining team, and also served on the 2019, 2021, and 2023 bargaining teams. I also represent AFT and FFAP on the Oregon Educators Benefits Board.

Expanding the “release-time” model for union work to increase opportunities for AP involvement in union governance. The model of granting course release for union work was designed for faculty and often doesn’t make sense for APs. It is no surprise that no AP has served (or even run for) President or EVP in nearly a decade, and currently no APs are included on FFAP’s Executive leadership team. APs need meaningful, paid time to do union work like serving on the Bargaining Team and Executive Council alongside our faculty colleagues.

There can be no union democracy without transparency. Certain functions of union governance are only known by a small group of officers on a committee known as XComm. Most FFAP members have never heard of XComm, which oversees critical functions of our union. XComm meeting agendas and minutes are confidential, even from your elected union officers. As EVP, I would have a seat on XComm and push the committee toward 1) more transparent practices, and 2) broader representation across all FFAP employee classes.

FFAP must join with education worker unions across the state to defend and fully fund public education. As higher education workers, we need to demand tax reform to increase revenue and fully fund K-12 and higher education.

FFAP must forge connections with students, community members, education workers within and outside of PCC, and workers across sectors. The change we seek is only possible through coalition-building.

Unions can and should hold the line against fascism, racism, xenophobia, inequality, and injustice in the United States. FFAP’s primary charge is to improve the pay, benefits, and working conditions of our members. I believe we should do this while also building toward a larger vision for a just, democratic society.

Endorsements

Michelle DuBarry was the first person who invited me to get more involved in our union. She was a rare voice for transparency and accountability in union leadership long before FFAP was as democratic and inclusive as it is today. I’m not sure we would have won open bargaining without her vision and committment to it! - Laura Wadlin, ESOL Instructor, Lead Steward for PT Faculty, founding member of Unite for a Future reform caucus

“Michelle is a powerhouse on our bargaining team and has represented AP's with a professional fierceness I will always admire. I support Michelle in being a Union Leader. If FFAP is a truly democratic organization, we need more AP's in executive leadership roles.” - Nicole Shappart, Academic Advisor and co-chair of FFAP Shared Governance Workgroup

One of the things that stood out to me from our successful bargaining session in 2023 was...Michelle. The way Michelle was able to stand up to admninistration in a succint, intelligent and respecful manner was impactful. I also appreciate that Michelle is a consistent voice advocating for Academic Professionals. Michelle DuBarry can definitely count on my vote for EVP! -Luke Reyes-White, Academic Advisor and member of the 2025 Bargaining Team

I can't speak highly enough about Michelle. I'm proud and confident to have her participate in bargaining and every other role she plays in our Union representing me. Michelle's experience, values, and priorities are solid. I know she will be stelar in this new role, and I also appreciate the additional of an Academic Professional at this level of Union leadership for the sake of representation where there is currently a gap. - Bonni Goldberg, Academic Advisor and member of the Contract Action Team

I served on the FFAP Executive Council from 2007 to 2018 and worked hard to improve working conditions for APs. I worked with Michelle for almost ten years and I can tell you that NO ONE did more for APs than Michelle. She is relentless in the pursuit of improved working conditions for all union members and will bring this tenacity to the EVP position! I can't think of anyone better suited to do this work. - Peter Seaman (retired), former FFAP Executive Vice President and AP Grievance Officer

I’m proud to be endorsed by my entire team of APs in the PCC Grants Office: Beth Gebstadt, Lori Gates, and Adele Grubb as well as Academic Advisor Amanda Gallo and Grant Accountant Massi Hunaidi.

My supporters include faculty leaders as well: Nick Hengen Fox, Writing Instructor and co-chair of FFAP Shared Governance Workgroup, and Hollie Oakes-Miller, G/GS/ESR Instructor and Vice President for Political Action at AFT-Oregon.

Click the link below to endorse me for EVP!