In order to prevent two possible labor strikes and significant interruptions to municipal services, the city of Portland reports that it has reached tentative deals with two public employee unions whose members had threatened to quit their jobs.
To secure an agreement, some expensive compromises had to be made, which will almost certainly make the city’s already severe budget deficit worse.
Although final terms were not made public until late Wednesday, AFSCME Local 189, which represents over 1,000 clerical staff and other employees across Portland agencies, agreed to a new three-year contract with the city last week.
Following weeks of stalled labor discussions, members of the city’s largest union had decided to authorize a strike and were about to give the city a 10-day notice of strike before the two parties could come to an agreement.
Just hours before the union’s 200 plumbers, electricians, and other craftsmen were set to go on strike Thursday morning, Portland officials announced late Wednesday that the city and the District Council of Trade Unions had reached an agreement.
About 1,200 employees, or 16% of the city’s 7,500-member workforce, are collectively represented by Local 189 and the District Council of Trade Unions. In April, both unions started discussing new contracts with officials in Portland.
Before the two parties announced an impasse in late December, the city had promised Local 189 pay and benefit increases of around $14.7 million over three years, above the planned yearly cost of living adjustments. Meanwhile, the union had suggested raising pay and benefits by $28 million.
According to the city’s statistics, Portland will spend $22.2 million more over the duration of the contract under the tentative agreement negotiated last week, which is 50% more than what it had proposed before Local 189 voted to authorize a strike.
Details of the city’s agreement with the District Council of Trade Unions will be made public by the end of the week, according to Portland authorities on Wednesday. The union had requested an additional $17 million, and the city’s most recent offer to the union contained roughly $4 million in wage and benefit increases.
Portland authorities revealed last month that the city is considering major layoffs and service reductions in order to make up for a predicted budget deficit of over $100 million for the upcoming fiscal year.
— Shane Dixon Kavanaugh focuses on accountability and watchdog reporting while covering politics and city administration in Portland.
His number is 503-294-7632.
Get in touch with [email protected].
On BlueSky@shanedkavanaugh, follow X@shanedkavanaugh.
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