We know the County is facing financial difficulties, but we want it to prioritize keeping staff positions and prioritize services and programs. Layoffs negatively impact workers, government services, and the communities we serve. While we are fighting for your jobs and programs, we acknowledge our limited power to prevent these budget cuts. Nevertheless, we will vigorously work to preserve every job, protect every worker, and save every program. Should the County proceed with cuts, we are committed to ensuring any resulting layoffs are handled fairly and in strict adherence to our collective bargaining agreement. During recent bargaining, we successfully:
- extended recall rights from 24 to up to 36 months, with additional rights to remain on the recall list
- secured the ability for employees to maintain their original seniority upon rehire
- secured the option to decline a recall offer while retaining their position on the list, and
- improved County requirements for documentation and transparency regarding the recall process.
Actions we are taking:
- We are advocating against layoffs and program cuts and we are enforcing the contract.
- Our leadership and stewards are attending layoff committees to make sure management is following the contract, treating represented workers fairly and we are asking the hard questions
- We are making sure proposed cuts impact management positions too and not just represented staff.
- We are attending Board meetings and meeting with Commissioners individually to advocate for our workers.
As we advocate for you, we want to share ways you can advocate too. It is all of us working together that will give us the best results. Here’s what you can do:
- Write emails, letters and call County Commissioners. We consistently hear from them that they want to hear from workers directly. Here is the Board of Commissioners Contact Information. Ask them to prevent layoffs, preserve staff and keep programs. Here are some guidelines and suggestions that may help:
- Do:
- Email or write on your own time and from your personal email, etc.
- Share with them your name, where you work, what you do and how layoffs will impact you personally, your family and your colleagues
- Tell them how layoffs will impact the work/services you provide in the community now and in the future.
- Be heartfelt and explain to them in a way that they can understand without them being subject matter experts.
- Do Not Use:
- County resources like email, chat or your county phone
- Acronyms, assume they know about your position or cuts, suggest cuts to other workers or programs
- Abusive language or make any kind of threats
- Do:
- Attend board meetings on Thursdays and give public testimony on the impact of layoffs and program cuts. Your testimony may be featured on our website and social media.If you would like support from the union, please reach out to the cabinet: 88cabinet@afscmelocal88.org and we can attend to support you and help you sign up to attend if you need assistance.
- Wear green or union t-shirts
- If notified, cabinet members will attend the Thursday board meeting to support members giving testimony. Our goal is to support members and we can meet you to provide union swag and even look over testimony if you would like.
- Testimony and meeting attendance is on your own time. You must take PTO and get prior approval from your supervisor for time off.
- Learn more: Board Meetings
- Reach out to other organizations or places that you work with who will be negatively impacted by layoffs and encourage them to reach out to the County Commissioners to advocate and support the work that you do or your program does. Here is a partner flyer that you can share with concerned citizens, and other advocates on how they can reach out and advocate about keeping essential programs and staff and help prevent staff being laid off.
- Download, print, post and share our union flyer
County Board of Commissioners Contact Information
- Multnomah County Chair, Jessica Vega Pederson: Email: mult.chair@multco.us or Jessica.vegapederson@multco.us
+1 (503) 9883308 x83308 (Telephone) - Megan Moyer: District1@multco.us or meghan.moyer@multco.us
+1 (503) 9885220 x85220 (Telephone)+1 (971) 4212698 (Mobile) - Shannon Singleton: District2@multco.us or shannon.singleton@multco.us +1 (503) 9885219 x85219 (Telephone) +1 (971) 4212033 (Mobile)
- Julia Brim-Edwards: District3@multco.us or julia.brim-edwards@multco.us +1 (503) 9885217 x85217 (Telephone)
- Vince Jones-Dixon: District4@multco.us or vince.jonesdixon@multco.us +1 (503) 9885213 x85213 (Telephone) +1 (971) 4697689 (Mobile)
