About 800 Portland city workers set to strike Monday after talks stall over raises and layoff protections
The city's professional workers union says the city made no movement in mediation. A final session is Sunday.
About 800 City of Portland employees are set to walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, unless their union and the city reach a deal at a final mediation session on Sunday, according to the Portland Mercury and the union. The City of Portland Professional Workers Union (CPPW) represents analysts, specialists and community engagement staff.
CPPW members authorized the strike with 93% support. The union says bargaining has run about ten months and that a session on Nov. 4 ended without an agreement. In a statement on its website, the union said the city made no movement in mediation and gave its bargaining team no added economic authority. Mediation with state mediators resumes Sunday at 1 p.m.
What the two sides say
The union wants cost-of-living increases, standard wage increases and layoff protections comparable to other city union contracts. Kari Koch, CPPW's president, told the Mercury: "We call ourselves the glue that holds the city together, because it is a lot of behind the scenes work." On the union's website she said: "we would prefer to be at work providing the services Portlanders depend on."
The city says its current offer includes a 2.4% cost-of-living adjustment, a 2% wage increase and a $1,000 bonus. City spokesperson Alison Perkins told the Mercury that compensation is the main gap between the sides. She said the city remains committed to a fair agreement that "recognizes employees' contributions." The city declared an impasse in September and issued a final offer, followed by a 30-day cooling-off period, the Mercury reported. The union estimates its demands would cost the city an additional $9.3 million over the next two fiscal years, the Mercury reported.
What a strike would touch
The Mercury reported that services at risk include public records requests, vehicle maintenance, payroll for thousands of city workers, city revenue collection and on-call responses for victims of serious crimes. Emergency management and some public safety and public works maintenance could also be affected. The Mercury reported that 911 call operators are not CPPW members and would not be part of the strike. The union's website says the walkout could affect 911 technical support and emergency coordination.
CPPW member Mike Grimm, an emergency management coordinator, told the Mercury: "If a strike happens, equipment that breaks down would take longer to get repaired." Glenn Devitt, a duty officer and community resilience coordinator and CPPW member, said: "If we walk off the job, managers would have to cover every shift while also coordinating our strike response."
What happens next
The union plans daily pickets at City Hall from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting Monday and has invited the public to join. If a deal is reached Sunday, the strike is off. The union has said its bargaining team will work to avert a strike while holding out for what it calls a fair, strong contract.
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