The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) has reached a tentative agreement on a new two-year contract with the state of Oregon.
The sides came to terms at about 11 p.m. on July 7, following almost 14 hours of bargaining. Economic highlights of the proposed two-year agreement include:
- Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) totaling 5 percent over the contract: 2.25 percent on Dec. 1, 2015 and 2.75 percent on Dec. 1, 2016.
- Health insurance plans with options of a 95-5 percent split for employees who choose the more expensive of the two plans, or 99-1 percent for those choosing the plan of less cost.
- The day after Thanksgiving as a paid holiday for AFSCME-represented state employees.
“This agreement makes particular advancements on health care issues and equitable wage increases,” said Ken Allen, executive director of Oregon AFSCME Council 75 and chief negotiator. “We will whole- heartedly recommend passage to our membership.”
The contract includes all AFSCME-represented state agencies except the Department of Corrections; negotiations with the DOC continue. The state contract covers over 3,000 AFSCME-represented workers; the DOC contract covers roughly another 3,000.
Union members will begin a ratification process this month.
