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- Bargaining Proposals
Bargaining Update #40
JwJ: Jobs with Justice
JVP: Jessica Vega Pederson (Multnomah County Commissioner Chair)
GM: General Membership
AWF: America’s Workforce (labor podcast)
Due to facilities issues at the Multnomah Building, our bargaining session on November 13th was cancelled and we had a full-day caucus instead. Our Union has counter-proposals prepared for all remaining articles, except for Article 14: Compensation. Our bargaining team’s primary focus at this time is finalizing our next wage counter. Sign-up to observe our next bargaining session on November 20th via this link.
Action Items & Upcoming Events
48 cents letter campaign
While our Union’s Bargaining Team has fought for a fair wage increase for all employees- especially those lower wage earners- the County has maintained a wage proposal that doesn’t honor the work we do every day. The County’s wage proposal would represent a mere forty-eight cent per hour increase to the lowest wage earners in our Union. We think the County can do better!
We are doing a letter campaign calling on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners to take action- amend the budget to provide fair wage increases in the interest of the people who keep the County running.
Sign our letter here to add your voice to our message to all County Commissioners and Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. Let’s remind them that the County works because we do!
Vote for JVP as Scrooge of the Year!
Every year Jobs with Justice (JwJ) holds a competition to name the worst boss in Portland, otherwise known as the Scrooge of the Year. In light of our challenges at the bargaining table this cycle, the Bargaining Team submitted County Commissioner Chair Jessica Vega Pederson (JVP) as a contestant for Scrooge of the Year. You can read a poem highlighting all of the Scrooge-worthy actions here.
Join the Local 88 Strike Fund Committee!
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?
- Bargaining Team members were recently featured on an AWF (America’s Workforce) podcast to discuss how contract negotiations are going. You can listen to the podcast episode on AWF’s website here, or follow that link to see a variety of other platforms you can access the episode on.
- Our first mediation date with the County has been scheduled for Monday, December 8th. Our members will not be able to observe mediation, but we will keep you all updated with post-mediation summaries.
- You can review the status of Tentative Agreements reached and see which articles need a response from our Union and the County on this chart.
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
