01/12 Mediation Session:

Thursday’s negotiations were dominated by a back and forth on wages. The City continues to plead poverty. The PCL Bargaining team has been unconvinced by the City’s argument given the facts as we understand them. Portland’s budget assessment process has consistently “found” tens of millions of dollars, every 6 months, for years. The state and federal government have created huge pools of money specifically targeting Portland parks, wastewater, and road infrastructure. City decision makers also have significant control over revenue for Bureaus under the PCL contract.

Additionally, the City has blatantly refused to implement the wage increases they agreed to in our union’s settled Recreation contract. This explicit violation of a signed agreement gives our bargaining team extreme reservations about taking the City at their word.

Our next scheduled mediation is this coming Tuesday. An update will be available at the PCL Townhall that same evening.

Downtown Rally

The union is planning a final rally for noon Saturday, January 28th at Terry Schrunk Plaza. This is an opportunity for all of us to come together at the City’s seat of power and demonstrate our strength to the people of Portland. It will also be an opportunity for members to talk to staff, the bargaining team, and various committees to get all the details they need to be a strong member of our union through a strike. There will be additional details about this rally in later union communications.

At this event we would like to see members, family, friends, allies, and anyone interested in a real future for working people. If you are serious about getting a contract that secures the wages, safety, and respect we all need, you need to be there!

LiUNA 483 Downtown Rally
12:00-3PM Saturday, January 28th
Terry Schrunk Plaza 431 SW Madison St, Portland, OR 97204

Strike Preparation

We want to remind members that we are asking everyone to prepare for a strike as early as the beginning of February. Part of being prepared is being informed. To that end we have created a STRIKE FAQ and CONTRACT COMPARISON SUMMARY for members to review. We will also be meeting online and in person at the Laborers training center Tuesday at 5:30 PM for a Townhall on everything about the PCL contract negotiations. Though originally planned as part of the monthly membership meeting, the Townhall will now be split off into it’s own event to focus exclusively on all things PCL.

PCL Townhall in person at 17230 NE Sacramento St, Portland, OR 97230
PCL Townhall online at THIS LINK!

Anyone interested in getting more involved should text or email Field Representative James O’Laughlen at (503) 735-7573 or james@liuna483.org.

City of Portland PCL Bargaining