Portland city workers vote to authorize strike, impact may be ‘drastic’

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland city workers represented by a union have voted “overwhelmingly” to authorize a strike amid ongoing negotiations.

Should the city and the union fail to reach a contract settlement, the strike could happen as soon as June 9, said officials with the City of Portland Professional Workers Union (CPPW).

The union represents 800 city workers in nearly every bureau and has been in negotiations with the city over a contract for over a year. With 88% of its members voting, 92% of them voted in favor of authorizing to strike.

Dr. Robert Layne is a CPPW member who is also a communications strategist for Portland Solutions, which has 21 union members out of its 27 employees.

“We set up and coordinate the Mayor’s overnight shelters. We respond to overnight camping and outreach to our city’s most vulnerable. Our work is time sensitive. If we strike, the impact will be immediate and drastic,” Layne said during a Portland City Council budget session on Wednesday.

This is just one example of the many essential city services CPPW said could be impacted by the strike, with others including those who manage payroll, crisis communications, public outreach, budget analysis and people in charge of overseeing grants and contracts.

The union announced a contract impasse earlier this month.

On Wednesday, the Portland City Council approved Mayor Keith Wilson’s $8.54 billion budget on a preliminary basis. The budget includes a reduction in services for many bureaus due to a $93 million shortfall, which may result in layoffs. However, the budget won’t be finalized until June 18.