7/21 Bargaining Update

Bargaining Team Member Update: Monday July 11th Field Rep Kim Gates informed our union that she would be moving on from her employment with LiUNA 483. Her role as the PCL contract’s lead negotiator will be filled by LiUNA OSI District Council Director of Organizing Ben Nelson. Ben is an organizer with over 20 years’ experience who was a long time representative of local 483.  Additionally, CAT Lead James O’Laughlen has begun working for local 483 as the Field Rep for Portland City Laborers. James was a Wastewater Operator on our contract with 5 years’ experience as a steward for our union. He has been working with the PCL bargaining team since the beginning. Both organizers will be working full time for LiUNA 483 on the contract campaign and all other matters our members need addressed.

Columbia Park Picnic: This Saturday come celebrate union strength with your union brothers and sisters. From 1pm - 5pm LiUNA 483 Members and Staff will be throwing a picnic at Columbia Park for all our members to enjoy. This is a great opportunity to meet members of the bargaining team and get to know people from across our contracts. More importantly, it’s an occasion to eat barbeque and have a few drinks with some hard working, hard partying people. A strong union forms strong bonds and barbeque bonds are forever. 

 Saturday July 23rd
Columbia Park - Site F
4503 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
1pm-5pm

PCL/City Meeting 07/19: This past Tuesday was Ben Nelson’s first session as lead negotiator for the PCL bargaining team. It was also by far our most active bargaining session to date. The City finally offered counters to our longstanding proposals on Holidays, Grievances, FMLA and more. While some minor movement was seen and many pleasantries were offered, the City’s overwhelming message was “No thanks”. By now everyone who works for the City is familiar with this approach. The City’s reluctance will not stop our PCL Bargaining team from making the demands for improved wages, more safety, and better contract language that our members need. Those demands rely only on the support and solidarity of PCL Union members. Our next scheduled bargaining session with the City is Tuesday August 2nd. More details about this meeting will be communicated as they become available.