New details have been released about the proposed agreement between the City of Portland and the Portland City Laborers. The agreement is a four-year collective bargaining agreement that is retroactive to July 2022 and it includes a minimum 13% salary increase for all PCL workers by July 1, 2023. Additional increases for some positions will be available to make their pay competitive in the market.
The agreement will have to be voted on by both the Portland City Council and PCL.
Tentative Agreement Highlights:
- 4-year contract term: July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2026
- Cost-of-living salary adjustments (COLA)
- Year 1: 5% retroactive to July 1, 2022
- Year 2: 5% effective July 1, 2023
- Year 3: 1-5% in accordance with Consumer Price Index, effective July 1, 2024
- Year 4: 1-5% in accordance with Consumer Price Index, effective July 1, 2025
- A 3% across-the-board increase for all Portland City Laborers classifications, effective July 1, 2022
- Market-wage adjustments for employees in specific classifications determined by a market study and through negotiation
Additional enhancements include:
- Increases to standby pay
- Dedicated length of rest period between shifts
- Wastewater premium pay improvements
- Eligibility to participate in the City’s language premium program
- Addition of the Juneteenth holiday
- Increased shift premiums
- A reduced waiting period for new hire sick leave and vacation use
- Removal of cap on sick leave for dependent care
- Increased annual work hours for seasonal park rangers
- Premium share for seasonal park rangers’ health insurance benefits increased from 90% City-paid/ 10% employee-paid to 95% City-paid/ 5% employee-paid
- Bureau of Environmental Services Commercial Driver License premium pilot
- An increased clothing allowance for eligible positions
- 1,600 hours of City paid time annually for designated representatives to conduct union activities
“We’re grateful that we were able to maintain the essential services Portlanders rely on every day,” said Cathy Bless, the City’s Chief Human Resources Officer. “We’re also grateful that we can welcome our colleagues back to work, bringing their expertise to perform these essential services.”