Dear Local 88 Members,
Just wanted to send out an email to let you know what is happening in our union, our union community and solidarity opportunities for you. You can also go to our website to find more information and resources: www.afscmelocal88.org
And please join us for membership meetings on the 3rd Wednesday evening of the month, register on the website!
What’s happening? This is not a complete list, but a few things you may find interesting.
At Local 88:
Multnomah County main unit bargaining has wrapped up, members ratified the contract and the County will ratify tomorrow, 1/29/26 with an official ratification date of 1/29/26.
Retroactive COLA and new wage changes will be on your 3/13/26 paycheck.
If you have served 15 years of longer, you will receive 40 hours of longevity leave added to your time banks
Pharmacists bargaining: Contract ratified! Here’s a few highlights:
1.45% market adjustment, to be added to base salary upon ratification, in addition to the retroactive 2.4% COLA
Doubled Continuing Ed funds ($500 per year, instead of every other year)
Longevity Bonus of an additional week vacation upon completion of 15 years
At least 2 seats per pharmacy location (so they are able to sit during their shift)
CCC (Central City Concern) bargaining: Contract ratified!
CCC is moving to a 20 step scale, at 1.5% between steps
Raised minimum wage to $21
7% increase for all bargaining unit members. 3% COLA for 2026 and 2027
Stewards now have paid time for New Employee Orientation.
signed up over 100 new members last month and are at 82% membership!
For more information, CCC Contract Highlights 2026
Labor Community/ Solidarity opportunities:
ICE OUT Rally and March
January 31st, 2026 from 3pm to 4:30pm
Elizabeth Caruthers Park located at 3508 S Moody Ave, Portland, OR 97239.
Wear your AFSCME green and AFSCME swag. If you would like a local 88 banner to borrow for the march, please reach out to the local 88 cabinet ASAP and we will try to get you one. 88cabinet@afscmelocal88.org
See flyer on our local 88 website: afscmelocal88.org
Join Local 88 and attend the Jobs with Justice 2026 Faith Labor Breakfast: Standing Together with our Immigrant Neighbors
Date: Tuesday, February 17th,
Time: Doors open at 7 am, breakfast and program 7:30- 9am
Location: St. Andrew Church, 806 NE Alberta in the Community center.
If you would like to join the Local 88 table, click on this link to attend JWJ Faith Labor Breakfast
This cherished event celebrates the deep solidarity between organized labor and faith-based communities, bringing together allies committed to justice and equity. This year’s theme is Standing Together with Our Immigrant Neighbors, which is more important than ever now. We’ll hear from Alaide Vilchis Ibarra, Co-Director of Together Lab on how their work connects at the intersections of faith & community.
Breakfast will be catered by Elephants Deli, with meat and vegetarian/vegan options available. Coffee is being graciously donated by Equal Exchange. There will also be non-caffeinated beverages available. (Masks strongly encouraged when you’re not eating or drinking. There will be masks at the reception desk.)
Labor notes Conference: The Labor Notes Conference is the biggest gathering of its kind of grassroots union activists, union reformers, and all-around troublemakers!
WHEN: *Friday, June 12, 9 a.m. to Sunday, June 14, 3 p.m. (*probably travel on Thursday June 11th)
WHERE: Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Rosemont (Chicago), IllinoisBudgeted for 10 people (last year did 8)
Interest form Due by February 28, 2026
Join our Political Action Committee:
We stand in solidarity with all of our siblings and their right to safe workplaces, safe communities and safe homes. We must stand together and protect one another, in particular our siblings whose color, immigration status, sexual orientation and gender identity place them at higher risk for harassment, violence and attack by our federal government. The recent deployment of federal agents in Minneapolis underscores our shared vulnerability and strengthens our resolve. We will continue to raise our collective voice-the unified voice of our members and community-against fear, stress and uncertainty.
Oregon state was the first in the nation to pass legislation in 1987 declaring our status as a sanctuary state. While Oregon cannot legally prevent federal agents conducting operations, investigation or deportations within its borders, we do have the power to speak truth to power and stand together against our federal government’s violation of anyone’s Constitutional Rights. Harnessing our power as a union; our collective voice, our organizing, our protesting and our creativity, we will resist any effort made by the federal government to silence us.
The Local 88 Political Action Committee (PAC) is where we turn our collective voice into political action. Joining your union’s political action committee (PAC) is vital because it transforms your collective strength into a powerful political force, ensuring that the local officials who decide your budget, staffing levels, and workplace safety are those who truly prioritize workers over bureaucracy.
Contact Rachel O’Rourke at vicepresident@afscmelocal88.
Thanks for reading and I hope you will choose to participate in some activities, actions or committees. I know there is a lot going on these days and a lot of it feels really overwhelming; I hope you are taking care of yourself. I appreciate everyone who has reached out with encouragement, support and the desire to help their fellow members! I try to remember that I am a small part of a whole and that I can’t do everything, but together, we can do a lot. You all remind me everyday that we are a community of people who care about each other, about our work and about our community; let’s remember we are in this together!
