Strike Averted - District Council of Trade Unions Ratify Contract With City

After over 25 months of bargaining, the members of the six unions that make up the District Council of Trade Unions (DCTU) have voted in favor of accepting city management most recent proposal, which calls off a declared strike with just over 24 hours to go.

The agreement includes:

  • A 2% across the board raise on top of COLA in the fourth year of the contract

  • Preservation of essential worker language

  • A new process to allow for classifications to be considered for upward wage adjustments during the life of a contract instead of only once per cycle

  • A $3,000 one time payment to each member

  • The first shift differential adjustment introduced since the 1990s, this time tied to inflation

  • A 1.6% COLA, retroactive to July 1st of 2021, 5% in 2022, and COLA between 1% and 5% in 2023 and 2024 depending on the Consumer Price Index.

“While this agreement meets the goals of our union by not falling behind, we are disappointed in the City’s lack of leadership in addressing the overall staffing problem. With no plan or vision on how best to restore full resources and services to those that live in the City of Portland, understaffing will continue to plague our city services. We are not done addressing the staffing crisis facing the City and will be working with community partners to help develop this plan” said Rob Martineau, President, AFSCME Local 189 and DCTU.

The District Council of Trade Unions (the “DCTU”) – is an umbrella labor organization for City employees that engages in coalition bargaining with the City. The DCTU includes the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 189; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 48; International Union of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District Lodge 24; Auto Mechanics, District Lodge 24; International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 701; United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States, Canada (UA), Local 290; and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), District Council 5.

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