Bargaining Update 9/22/22

AFSCME and ONA Members with Picket Signs

Last week hundreds of AFSCME Local 88 and ONA members came out to three informational pickets around Multnomah County and showed their support for better working conditions, fair and equitable treatment and wage increases that will support their families.  We appreciate their support and energy!

Over the first eight days of September, we continued to meet and bargain with the County management team in effort to reach a tentative agreement on a new union contract. Recently, the County modified their economic proposal on several major items. They dropped their proposal to increase the employee’s premium share of the Kaiser premium which would have resulted in increased payroll deductions for Kaiser members. Additionally, they increased their bonus proposal in the first and second years of the contract. Finally, the County also agreed to our proposal for a $20/hour minimum wage for employees retroactive to July 1, 2022. Our Union bargaining team responded with a new comprehensive package for settlement.

Our package proposal included a combination of bonuses and wage increases over the three year contract term that provides more compensation to workers up front and substantially increases their overall salary by the end of the contract. Additionally we are continuing to pursue our other major priorities including:

  • Contract language protecting our rights to safe and healthy workplace
  • Protections against mandatory overtime
  • Indigenous Peoples’ Day
  • Improving the process for bilingual pay
  • Protecting our paychecks from County wage deductions for alleged wage overpayments
  • Leave policies that support equity, specifically the creation of trauma leave and emergency leave

County Compensation Proposal

Year 1

5% wage increase, 2% bonus with a minimum of $1,500 (minimum is prorated based on FTE). Increase minimum wage to $20/hour.

Year 2

5% wage increase, 1% bonus with a minimum of $1,500 (minimum is prorated based on FTE).

Year 3

1-4% COLA increase based off of Consumer Price Index.

Union Compensation Proposal

Year 1

5% wage increase, 2% bonus with a minimum of $2,000 (minimum is prorated based on FTE). Increase minimum wage to $20/hour.

Year 2

5% wage increase, 2% bonus with a minimum of $2,000 (minimum is prorated based on FTE). Increase minimum wage to $21/hour.

Year 3

1-4% COLA increase based off of Consumer Price Index. Plus 3% wage increase or $1.91/hour increase whichever is greater. Increase minimum wage based on COLA.

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