Bargaining Update – April 7, 2025

We’ve heard it all before: dire warnings, worst-case scenarios, and deep cuts to essential positions, all justified by conservative financial forecasts. This year is no different. But our Union is tired of fear being used as a tool to threaten employees’ jobs and the community services we provide.

Initially, the County projected a $21 million shortfall in general funds. But, after persistent advocacy and questioning by our Union, employees, and community members, that forecast has been slashed to $15 million. The $6 million improvement is proof that the forecast is significantly more flexible than the County would like us to believe. 

The AFSCME Research Department in Washington D.C. has also reviewed the County’s budget thoroughly. Their analysis shows what we’ve suspected all along: there are alternatives. The Chair has the power to ease this shortfall even further. Reserves exist. New revenue streams can be built. Strategic and equitable reallocation is possible. 

The truth is, if the political will is there, our jobs and our communities don’t need to be sacrificed. 

Yet, despite the so-called crisis, the Chair has been working with the Coraggio Group, a private consulting firm, to facilitate and implement high-level strategic plans. The County frequently spends huge sums for consultants to support executives – Corragio’s work is budgeted for $250,000. But where else could that money be spent? How many of our jobs did they hand to Coraggio, or any number of firms, when these consulting contracts came due? Why weren’t County employees, who are already informed, entrenched, and invested in our communities, empowered and paid to do that work? 

It’s a painful contradiction. On one hand, we’re being told our Departments have to scale back or cut entire programs. Positions are being eliminated without a hiring freeze in place. Essential services our community depends on are at risk. But, somehow there’s always funding available to reward outside firms for duplicating work County staff have done and continue to do. 

We know what our communities need. We are our communities, just as we are our Union. The County needs to be reminded that employees keep shelters open, run our clinics, and prevent climate disasters from claiming our most vulnerable. We keep Multnomah County safe, healthy, and running when all else fails. Public servants innovate, pivot, collaborate and care – often while being underpaid and overworked, to the point of burnout, injury, disability, and even death. It’s unacceptable to threaten our livelihoods while funneling money to the private sector and fearmongering to push a conservative financial agenda. 

We’re not naive. We understand budgeting requires tough decisions. We want those decisions to be honest and driven by the values on which the County claims to operate. We want transparency, accountability, and true equity in our budget priorities. 

Let’s face facts – austerity is not our only way forward. The County needs to start valuing its workers, before the work stops instead.