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PORTLAND, Ore. — More than 800 Portland city employees belonging to the City of Portland Professional Workers Union (CPPW) could be on strike on Monday, November 9, after negotiations between the city and the union stalled.
State mediators are due to bring the two sides together again on Sunday, November 8, in a final effort to avert the strike.
Portland Workers Vote Overwhelmingly in Favor of Strike
Nine out of every ten union members who voted supported strike action. The vote followed stalled negotiations with the city over pay, job security, and working conditions.
Administrative specialists, analysts, financial professionals, operational coordinators, and some emergency operations support staff belong to the union.
Union president Kari Koch said members would prefer to continue providing services to Portland residents but had seen no movement from city officials during the November 4 bargaining session.
Mike Grimm works as an emergency management coordinator, helping keep the city’s 911 operations floor and backup center ready for calls. He says a strike could mean longer waits when equipment needs repairs.
Why Portland’s Pay Negotiations Remain Stuck
The city and CPPW have agreed on this year’s 3% cost-of-living adjustment and a CPI-linked adjustment next year. Additional base-wage increases and longevity pay remain disputed, alongside job security and working conditions.
The city’s offer includes a 3% increase backdated to July 1, 2026, and a one-time $1,000 payment.
A further increase would follow in July 2027, based on inflation within a 1% to 4% range. It is currently projected at 3.6%.
CPPW wants cost-of-living increases, but also higher base wages and longevity pay.
The cost estimates diverge. The city puts its own proposal at around $9 million through December 2027. Its estimate for the union’s offer is around $19 million.
CPPW has a different calculation. Figures it submitted to the state put the increase at approximately $9.3 million over two fiscal years, which the union says is comparable to increases negotiated with other city unions.
Tidings Data Snapshot
Why the Strike Cost Estimates DifferPublished estimates of added compensation costs| Proposal / estimator | Estimate | Period |
|---|---|---|
| City offer / city | About $9M | Through Dec. 2027 |
| Union offer / city | About $19M | Through Dec. 2027 |
| Union offer / union | About $9.3M | Two fiscal years |
These are the parties’ estimates, not agreed costs. The city uses a vacancy allowance; the union uses filled positions and a different baseline. The estimates are not directly interchangeable.
Source: City of Portland / November 6 update; CPPW / October 1 ERB cost summaryDailyTidings.com
The city says the difference comes partly from its staffing assumptions and the way it calculates longer-term compensation costs. It is also preparing to keep essential services running if the strike goes ahead.
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