PORTLAND, Ore. >> The union representing faculty at Portland State University says it will strike on April 16.

The president of the PSU chapter of the American Association of University Professors, Mary King, says the notice was delivered Thursday to the administration. She says it would be the first public university strike in Oregon’s history.

Negotiations have been underway for about a year as administrators deal with a projected $15 million budget deficit for the 2014-15 year.

Portland State officials have said they’ll work diligently to avoid a strike but procedures are in place to maintain operations if there’s a walkout.

In addition to wages, the union is concerned about the number of part-time faculty and students who are increasingly being taught by professors on one-year contracts.