Contract negotiations are at a standstill for three big unions that together represent over 3,000 workers at the City of Portland — Laborers Local 483, Professional & Technical Employees Local 17 (PROTEC17), and City of Portland Professional Workers’ Union (CPPW). All three unions say the sticking point is the City’s refusal thus far to offer a full cost-of-living increase, a wage increase that would catch workers up for the buying power they’re losing to inflation.
Local 483’s contract expired June 30. PROTEC 17’s expired the year before. CPPW’s runs through Dec. 31, 2027, but it’s bargaining over the contract’s final raises. On Sept. 24, CPPW formally declared impasse, meaning members could strike after a 30-day cooling off period.
