I have no objection in principle to the idea of giving city employees free TriMet passes (“Portland mayor wants to give a free public transit pass to all city workers,” Aug. 31).
However, most city employees are unionized and therefore covered by collective bargaining agreements. Benefits, such as free TriMet passes, have real value, and should be part of the give-and-take of collective bargaining. They should not simply be given out for free by the city because it feels good.
If city councilors want to extend such a benefit to its unionized staff they should have directed their labor representatives to offer that benefit, in exchange for something else that might benefit the taxpayers…