6/29 Bargaining Update
/Contract Ends June 30th: The current PCL contract ends June 30th. So what happens when our contract ends while we are still negotiating the next one? Not that much. Almost all of the provisions of the current contract will carry on uninterrupted until a new agreement is reached. One of the few exceptions to that is Cost of Living Adjustments. The COLA figure for PCL members is a subject of contract negotiation and will not take effect until a new contract is reached. For more information about this transition, and everything to do with PCL bargaining, please check our website https://www.laborers483.org/city-of-portland-pcl .
COLA Info: Many members have raised concerns about an email from the City that mentions a 5% Cost of Living Adjustment. The details in that email do not apply to LiUNA 483’s PCL members! The cost of living adjustment for our contract is still under negotiation. As previously stated, the PCL Bargaining Team has committed to making sure our members receive a retroactive COLA to July 1st that is actually in line with the true cost of living in the City of Portland. Not one with an artificial ceiling of 5%. We need everyone working under our contract to stand together to achieve that goal.
PCL Caucus Work: This week the PCL Bargaining Team focused on the remaining non-economic article proposals left on our agenda. That work includes additional protection from unfair discipline, more compensation for required certs/licensures, improvements to the calculation for pension benefits, and much more. Important to note, we are legally prevented from dramatically altering our asks to articles once Original Proposals are presented to the city! Articles 8 Shifts, 9 Overtime, 17 Health and Life Insurance, 26 Maintenance of Standards ,27 Wage Scales, 32 Training, 33 Evaluations,/Counseling 34 Discipline and Discharge, and 38 Date and Duration have not yet gone across to the city. Please contact a member of the bargaining team about these articles before our next meeting with the City on July 12th to make sure your voice is heard in our contract language.