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City workers urge council to press negotiators to settle first CPPW contract and avoid mediation or strike
Summary
Members of the newly formed City of Portland Professional Workers (CPPW) union asked the City Council to support their bargaining team and encourage the city's negotiators to settle the union's first contract, saying stalled talks and fear-based budget communications harm morale and service delivery.
Representatives of the City of Portland Professional Workers (CPPW) — a newly formed union representing roughly 800 city employees — addressed the council during public communications on Feb. 5, 2025, urging elected leaders to press city negotiators to conclude contract talks and avoid expensive mediation or strike preparation.
Speakers Carrie Coe, Glenn C. Devitt and Anna Maria Perez, all CPPW members and bargaining-team leaders, described classifications covered by the union (coordinators, analysts, administrative specialists) and the role those workers play across bureaus including permitting, emergency management and planning. They said bargaining began in March 2024 and that while the union has secured about 12 tentative agreements (many described as boilerplate), important articles remain unsettled — examples noted in testimony included sick leave, layoff protections and overtime.
The CPPW speakers asked councilors to "empower" the city’s bargaining team to reach a fair contract without forcing the union into mediation or a strike, which the speakers said would be costly and damaging to city services. They also said recent messaging from the administration about budget shortfalls and layoffs has created fear and low morale among workers, which they urged council to counter by refocusing on essential services and stability for employees.
Why it matters: CPPW members perform data, permitting and program work across bureaus; bargaining outcomes affect workforce stability and the city’s capacity to deliver services. Speakers framed settlement as a fiscal and operational priority for the coming budget cycle.
What speakers requested: CPPW asked council to support negotiators at the table, pursue settlement rather than prolonged mediation, and consider the union’s perspective in budget conversations.
