Attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and other workers in Portland’s City Attorney’s Office have unionized.
The 58 workers joined American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 189 when signed union authorization cards were verified Dec. 16 showing that the union had majority support.
They’ll be members of a new sublocal of Local 189, which already represents around 1,050 workers under its main contract with the city, 11 workers in a sublocal in the city’s police oversight system, and 25 workers in a sublocal in the auditor’s office.
The new unit excludes attorneys and other workers who handle labor relations. Previously, some paralegals and legal assistants split time between labor relations and other work. After the union announced its intent to organize workers in the city attorney’s office, the city moved to concentrate labor relations work among fewer employees so the remaining workers could join the union.
Local 189 President Rob Martineau said he applauds the city for reorganizing the work in order to support employees’ desire to join the union.
