More than 1,100 municipal trade workers may soon walk off their jobs as Portland leaders and a coalition of public employee unions remain unable to reach a new contract agreement.
Members of the District Council of Trade Unions voted to authorize a strike after overwhelmingly rejecting the city’s latest offer of an annual pay bump and four-figure bonus, the coalition announced Thursday.
The decision comes weeks after the union’s bargaining team declared an impasse over ongoing contract negotiations. It gives workers the ability to officially go on strike 10 days after the union gives notice to the city, a move that could threaten basic services across Portland.
“After nearly two years working through a global pandemic, and facing unprecedented challenges, it’s time the city recognizes the sacrifices our members make day in and day out,” said Rob Martineau, the coalition’s president and an operations mechanic with the Portland Water Bureau.
The District Council of Trade Unions’ members make up about 16% of the city’s workforce. The members, who belong to six smaller unions, comprise an array of employees, including maintenance workers, building inspectors and clerical staff.
A new contract has eluded city and union bargaining teams for more than a year as both the pandemic and a steady rise in inflation has continued to exhaust many public and private sector workers and squeeze them financially.
The median salary of employees represented by the District Council of Trade Unions is $35.14 per hour or $73,091 annually, according to estimates provided by Portland’s human resources bureau.
The city’s current offer includes a 1.6% cost-of-living adjustment retroactive to last July and another 5% increase beginning next fiscal year. All members would receive a $3,000 bonus and some would also see additional fringe benefits.
Heather Hafer, a spokeswoman with the Office of Management and Finance, said the total price tag for the offer is about $33 million.
Martineau on Thursday said 86% of union members voted not to accept it.
“The city’s proposal drastically undervalues the work city employees are doing, providing essential services, to keep our communities healthy and safe,” he said.
The District Council of Trade Unions represents workers from AFSCME Local 189, IBEW Local 48, Operating Engineers Local 701, Machinists District Lodge 24, Plumbers Local 290 and Painters and Allied Trades District Council 5.
Hafer said the city had yet to receive official notice of the vote as well as the required 10-day intent to strike notice.
“We respect the right of union members to strike, and we will continue to work with DCTU in hopes of coming to an agreement on the outstanding issues,” Hafer said.
Earlier this week, the coalition filed an unfair labor practice complaint, alleging city supervisors attempted to interfere with their effort to organize a possible strike.
The last time members of the coalition walked off their jobs in Portland was 2001. The strike lasted for 45 minutes before the city and the union reached an agreement.
-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632
Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com
Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh
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