Central City Concern workers will get raises totaling 14.5% over the coming year and another 3% in 2024 under a contract workers approved in September.
The AFSCME Local 88-represented workforce includes about 300 of the roughly 1,000 workers at Central City Concern, a Portland homeless services nonprofit. In ballots cast Sept. 16-23, workers voted by 99% to ratify a new three-year contract.
It provides an immediate 7% raise retroactive to July 1, with an additional 3% in January, 1.5% in July and 3% in October 2023. A final 3% raise comes in October 2024.
The contract includes an immediate $300 bonus for all union-represented workers. It replaces every-other-year anniversary raises with annual increases. The total wage increase hasn’t changed, but workers won’t have to wait two years any more. As in the previous contract, annual anniversary raises continue through 14 years of service, concluding with a final 6% raise for the 15th year.
The contract also includes a neutrality agreement covering all non-union Central City Concern workers. That means management agrees not to oppose organizing efforts if those workers choose to unionize in the future.
The contract comes after workers voted by 98% in August to authorize a strike if they couldn’t get an acceptable contract. It was the first time the bargaining unit voted on a strike.Â
