Representatives from seven labor organizations visited Portland City Councilors and Mayor Keith Wilson’s offices on Feb. 26 to present ideas for how to avoid layoffs.
The city is forecasting a $93 million budget gap in the fiscal year starting in July.
Northwest Oregon Labor Council Executive Director Laurie Wimmer and leaders from the Fire Fighters Local 43, Portland Police Association, AFSCME Local 189, City of Portland Professional Workers, PROTEC17, Laborers Local 483, and the District Council of Trade Unions presented a handful of suggestions for balancing the budget without cutting jobs. Suggestions included using general fund reserves, using more of the general fund’s start balance, and bringing services in-house rather than paying contractors.
Wimmer said the group wanted to weigh in before City Administrator Michael Jordan released his preliminary budget proposal on Feb. 28 so that the elected leaders would be thinking “about our voice being in partnership with them” as they develop the budget.
Two days after the visit, the group was invited to present their ideas to the city council’s labor and workforce development committee in March.
