Bargaining Update – December 8, 2025

Bargaining Update #42

CBA: Collective Bargaining Agreement

ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act

MAT: Member Action Team

GM: General Membership (meeting)

TA: Tentative Agreement

Monday (12/8/25) was our first day of mediation, and while we’re unable to facilitate observers during mediation, we still plan to keep you all informed on what’s going on during our sessions. 

At our 12/4/25 Bargaining Session we reached Tentative Agreements on 11 articles!  We secured major wins: 6 month probation, bereavement leave, catastrophic leave, and much more.   

County Proposals (12/4 Bargaining Session)

The County returned our non-economic counter package from last week, which consists of the following articles and addendums:

  • Article 2: Definitions
  • Article 10: Other Leaves
  • Article 15: Job Profiles and Pay Ranges
  • Article 22: Shift and Work Assignment
  • Article 24: Non-Discrimination
  • Addendum E: Auto Reimbursements, Travel Compensation, and Transit Subsidies
  • Addendum K: Limited Duration Positions
  • Addendum L: On-Call & Temporary Employees
  • Addendum M: Jail-Side Assignment Premium
  • Addendum N: Shelter Staffing

The County returned the package to us with three significant changes:

  • In Addendum K, the County proposed language that would allow them to extend Limited Duration Positions without prior approval from our Union that are scheduled to end within six (6) months prior to the close of the current fiscal year. 
  • In Addendum L, the County struck-out our language that would have ensured they could only terminate On-Call employees who have reached 1040 hours worked if they can present Just Cause. 
  • In Article 10, the County responded to our most recent advocacy for Trauma Leave/Critical Incident Leave with a statement that they retain “sole discretion to establish and administer Critical Incident Leave Guidelines” and that all eligibility criteria, approvals, and guidelines are not subject to bargaining or the grievance procedure. 

As a reminder, when articles and addendums are proposed as a package the other party either has to accept the package in whole or split it up, which allows both parties to make changes to the individual item. In addition to our proposal for Trauma Leave/Critical Incident Leave, Article 10 contained many significant wins that our bargaining team had to weigh as we prepared to enter mediation. These wins include:

  • Bereavement Leave for loss of pregnancy
  • Bereavement Leave for loss of parent(s) in-law
  • An additional two (2) paid days of Bereavement Leave for employees who need to travel more than 350 miles of their residence
  • Catastrophic Leave donations for employees in need of Immigration and Citizenship Leave
  • The agreement of the County to “view” rather than retain documents that employees provide in support of their requests for Immigration and Citizenship Leave

Holding the County accountable for creating a standardized practice for administering paid-admin leave to employees who experience traumatic events while working is a clear priority of our membership, and a fight that can and will continue outside of our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). 

Action Items & Upcoming Events

Local 88 Thirsty Thursday (12/18/2025 5:30 – 8pm)

Join us for a beverage in the upstairs conference room of Worker’s Tap on Thursday, December 18th from 5:30 – 8pm. Worker’s Tap is located at 101 SE 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97214. Please note that this venue is not ADA accessible. 

Local 88 Boardgame Day (01/17/2026 2 – 6pm)

The Member Action Team (MAT) is hosting a board game event at Board Bard Games on January 17th from 2 – 6pm. We’ll be meeting in the Castle Room and pizza from Flying Pie will be provided. If you’d like to join us for board games, please RSVP using this form. Board Bard Games is located at 7960 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215. This business is wheelchair accessible and has an accessible bathroom; please note that there is a sharp turn to enter the hallway. There is free street parking available; the nearest accessible parking is located on Washington Street.

Join the Local 88 Strike Fund Committee! 

(next meeting is on 12/16/2025 6:30 – 7:30pm)

At our AFSCME Local 88 General Membership (GM) meeting on April 16th, a motion was brought forward and passed for our Local to create a Strike Fund by setting aside $250,000 of our reserve funds. A Strike Fund Committee has formed to determine: 

  • eligibility criteria for receiving financial support from the Strike Fund
  • how and when disbursements from the Strike Fund can occur
  • how the Strike Fund can be supplemented 

In addition, the Strike Fund Committee will facilitate member education around strike-readiness as individuals and as a Union, with a focus on self-sustainability and fostering connections and solidarity with community allies. Sign-up to participate in our AFSCME L88 Strike-Fund Committee by filling out this Google form. 

Remember, having a strike fund or being strike ready does not mean we have to strike. Only you, the membership, can decide if we strike by a super majority membership vote; neither the bargaining team, cabinet or union president can just declare a strike. Being strike ready is a tool our Union can use to build power and show management our strength and solidarity.

Did You Know?

Update your Profile Images and backgrounds: One simple way to show your support for the best possible contract is to change your virtual meeting backgrounds and profile images. You can find instructions and lots of beautiful images to use here!

Follow Us on Social Media: Stay up to date on all the latest news by following AFSCME Local 88 on our Instagram and Local 88 Facebook!

In Solidarity, 

Your Bargaining Team

Questions? Email us at bargaining@afscmelocal88.org

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