**Sent to all members by email January 30, 2025. Didn’t get it? Check your spam folder and add 88cabinet@afscmelocal88.org to your contacts. Need to check your membership? Contact the Member Services Center.
On this page
- County budget
- Complaints Investigation Unit (CIU) Action
- W-2 mailing mistake
- Assistance for members dealing with federal attacks on their rights
- Upcoming Union elections / Council 75 Convention
- Steward training
- Our sub-locals, Central City Concern (CCC 88-1) and Transition Projects (TPI 88-3)
- Lobby Day, February 17, 2025
Dear siblings,
If you are like me, you are feeling a bit overwhelmed as well as a whole host of other emotions (angry, sad, scared, hopeful) and I just wanted to share with you that our union is with you and none of us are alone as long as we have each other to lean on. We are stronger together.
Recently, I sent out a flyer about staffing cuts and I wanted to apologize as it caused some of you additional stress. My intent was to share information on the County’s financial status, but our execution was poorly timed and poorly executed. Please accept my sincere apology. I may not always be perfect, but I will strive to be better because I care about, value and respect each of you and the work you do.
There is a lot happening and a lot we are working on, so let me share some highlights:
County budget
The county is projecting major budget cuts that would result in the elimination of important programs, services, and jobs.
In preparation for bargaining, our international union did our own financial analysis and found that the county is in a better financial situation than they report.
They have over 20% in reserves, exceeding their own 12% requirement.
They consistently project lower revenue than they receive.
We shared this information to counter the county’s narrative and keep you informed. We want to send a message to the county that we want them to preserve services and jobs.
Read the analysis via this link to see the full report. We have also shared this information with the media.
Complaints Investigation Unit (CIU) Action
CIU was formed in response to employees of color reporting racial harassment and abuse that was not being responded to or resolved by management or HR
They requested a neutral, third party, but that never happened
Instead, the CIU is within the county and recently moved to HR, and is less accountable than HR and uses an investigatory process that undermines employee rights and the union’s role as member advocates unlike the HR investigatory process.
It has been used to harm our members and as a tool of retaliation by managers against employees
Our stewards and members report widespread trauma, abuse and distrust of the CIU process. We have been complaining to the County for years to no improvement and believe CIU needs to be eliminated.
We have formed a team to work on actions and will be reaching out to members to gather peoples experiences and thoughts on CIU and forming a plan; stay tuned for more information.
A recent article was published in the Oregonian that came from members exposing their negative experiences with the CIU.
W-2 mailing mistake
A member brought forward that our W-2s were mailed out in non secured envelopes allowing employee Social Security Numbers, names, wages, etc. to be visible through the envelope.
We notified Chair Vega-Pederson on January 31, 2025, of the breach.
The County has notified us that they are looking for a vendor and intend to offer a year of credit protection to employees. Look out for notification from the County as you will need to opt in if you want the protection.
A huge thank you to the member who brought it to our attention! We rely on our members to keep us informed of what is happening in the workplace and help us take action to protect each other.
Assistance for members dealing with federal attacks on their rights
We are angry and sickened by the attacks on people based on their color, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other protected class. Our International, State and local are all looking at ways to help. Here are a few resources and we encourage you to also look at the resources compiled by ERG leaders and members on the County Commons if you are a County employee.
In our Local 88 contract: We want to remind you of an important benefit available to you: Immigration and Citizenship Leave. You can use up to 40 hours of your accrued sick leave for matters related to immigration or citizenship. This includes, but is not limited to, attending meetings with immigration attorneys, deportation hearings, or other events related to immigration and citizenship status . For more detailed information, please refer to Article 10.VI, Immigration and Citizenship Leave, in your collective bargaining agreement. Should you have any questions or need assistance with this benefit, please contact your union steward or reach out to the executive team at 88cabinet@afscmelocal88.org
Our union has printed Red Cards in Spanish/English from this Immigrant Legal Resource Center, but they are available to download in multiple languages and help folks know their rights and respond to ICE. If you want printed cards, please reach out to 88cabinet@afscmelocal88.org.
The Oregon Department of Justice also has a toolkit that shares resources for immigrants and the page also talks about civil rights and reporting bias and hate to their hotline.
Please let us know of other resources we can share out as appropriate.
Upcoming Union elections / Council 75 Convention
We will be taking nominations at the February 19th, 2025, General Membership Meeting for the below named position(s). The meeting is virtual and starts at 6:15 pm. Please register for the meeting.
3 Executive Board positions
1 Trustee (Trustee #1, term ending in 2027)
Convention Delegates for AFSCME Council 75 convention in Bend, Oregon, May 2-4, 2025
If the nominations are not contested, the person(s) (if present) will be elected by acclamation. If there are more nominees than positions, there will need to be an election via electronic ballot that will be sent out to all members to your personal email.
The voting period will take place from 8:00 am February 27, 2025, through 8:00 pm March 4, 2025. If you do not have access to a computer or smartphone, you can contact the Cabinet at 88cabinet@afscmelocal88.org or call 503-857-9225 by February 14, 2025, for assistance.
Steward training
Local 88 is in the process of hosting mandatory 2 day steward training that we are rolling out to Multnomah County stewards first as the training will address the Multnomah County contract. The training is more advanced and comprehensive steward training so we can make sure all stewards are prepared to be great stewards and have a shared understanding of their role since it is vital to upholding our contract and protecting our members. The training is mandatory so that all stewards have the same basis of knowledge, skill and expectation. When members ask a steward for help, we want them to have the tools and training to assist that member/staff.
The first session was January 24-25th and had about 60 stewards participating. It went very well and had very positive feedback. It was great to see the stewards working and learning together!
The second steward training is February 28, 2025, and March 1, 2025, and will have a hybrid option
They are working on scheduling third session based on need for April 25, 2025, and April 26, 2025
The goal is to get all stewards trained within 6 months
Our sub-locals, Central City Concern (CCC 88-1) and Transition Projects (TPI 88-3)
Though the majority of our union is Multnomah County workers, we also are proud of our 2 sub locals from the non-profit sector who do incredible work in the community with some of our most vulnerable citizens! We are proud of these workers, their excellent work and their fantastic organizing to grow their membership! Great job siblings! Here are just a few highlights.
CCC 88-1 doubled its bargaining unit size and is now a wall-to-wall unit, meaning all employees in represented classifications will be represented.
CCC is ramping up to bargain their contract expiring in September and will hold bargaining team elections in March.
TPI 88-3 members ratified a new contract with increased protections, training, and a 14% wage increase in the first year, reaching a $25 minimum wage by November 2026. Great Job team!
Membership at TPI grew from 53% to 83% during bargaining. Wow!
Lobby Day, February 17, 2025
Join us for Oregon AFSCME Lobby Day at the State Capitol in Salem. This is your chance to speak directly to Oregon lawmakers and make your voice heard on critical issues like worker safety, fair wages, and more. Sign up for Lobby Day here. Members will receive training, lunch and a t-shirt. Carpooling available.
That was a lot! Thanks for your time and attention. I know there is a lot of uncertainty and chaos happening these days. I am hopeful because we have each other. The stronger we can stand in solidarity with each other and other workers, the better able we will be to protect the things that are important to us.
In solidarity,
Jackie Tate
AFSCME Local 88 President
