The City of Portland could be heading for not one but two strikes as bargaining with two unions representing city employees grinds to a halt.
City of Portland Professional Workers (CPPW) — which represents 800 salaried program coordinators and analysts — has set a Nov. 9 strike date. And Laborers Local 483 declared impasse Oct. 27 in bargaining over a new contract covering 700 city laborers; they could strike as soon as Dec. 4.
A third union — Professional & Technical Employees Local 17 (PROTEC17) — reached agreement on a new contract covering over 900 city employees through June 30, 2029. Members voted Sept. 30 to ratify the agreement, which now goes before Portland City Council Nov. 18 for approval. That agreement provides a 3% cost-of-living increase (known as a COLA) retroactive to July 1, 2026, followed by COLAs on July 1 in 2027 and 2028 based on the consumer price index, with a minimum of 1% and a maximum of 4%.
Coordinators and analysts ready to strike
CPPW so far is rejecting similar terms. In early October, members authorized the strike with a 93% yes vote. The city’s final offer mirrors the wage offer PROTEC17 agreed to plus a $1,000 ratification bonus. CPPW president Kari Koch says that’s not enough to provide a real cost-of-living adjustment that keeps up with inflation…