Clackamas County employees press commissioners for retroactive pay, health premium relief as mediation looms

Clackamas County employees and union leaders urged the county Board of Commissioners on March 20 to resolve an expired collective bargaining agreement, return a budgeted retroactive cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) dating to July 1, 2024, and address a recent jump in Kaiser Health Plan premiums that employees say has left many unable to pay bills.

The Employees Association (EA), which speakers said represents more than 1,300 county workers, asked the board to authorize full retroactive COLA pay and to halt or reimburse the unbudgeted premium increases. Alex Gonzalez, president of the Employees Association, told commissioners the county’s bargaining team has told the union it lacks final authority to settle the contract and that mediation is scheduled for March 24, 2025.

The union’s demands are tied to a personnel-costs line the board adopted in the county’s FY 2024–25 budget, speakers said. Several employees said the COLA was budgeted and approved on June 20, 2024, and they expect it paid back to the July 1 effective date. “Retro pay is particularly important for contract resolution,” Gonzalez said. “The package proposal we received last night still does not include full retro pay.”

Union members described financial strain after the county’s December health-plan change. “With a single email, the county destroyed my trust,” said Bridal Honto, who said her monthly premium rose by $214.74. Leah Brower, a county health-center employee, said the premium increase amounted to 287 percent for some members and called the change a “breach of trust.” Several speakers said the county offered reimbursement but that reimbursements do not cover immediate bills.

Speakers also cited other bargaining concerns: limits on vacation and sick-time increases, alleged denials of union representation in meetings, and management access to supposedly anonymous Gallup survey results. Don Miller, a recently retired longtime county employee and former union officer, said frontline staff have gone without increases in leave accruals “for almost 25 years.” Alex Gonzalez and others said the union has filed unfair labor practice (ULP) complaints and that bargaining has proceeded into mediation while the contract remains expired.

Several presenters stressed service impacts if talks fail. Danny Stanum Thomas, director of the Early Learning Hub, said his program has set aside grant funds that assume retroactive COLA payments and that unspent funds would need to be returned to the state if the retro pay is not paid. Carrie Van de Koovering, the EA vice president, said members worry most about clients and residents who depend on county services should a strike occur.

County leaders responded that they hear employees’ concerns and that they are limited in what they can say during public testimony. Chair Roberts and Commissioner Schroeder thanked speakers and emphasized that staff and the administrator, Gary Schmidt, are following up on complaints. Schroeder encouraged employees to report any alleged retaliation to Administrator Schmidt for investigation.

The union asked the full board to attend the March 24 mediation session so the county’s bargaining team can secure any necessary guidance or approvals at the table. Commissioners did not take formal action on the union’s requests at the March 20 meeting.

Speakers at the March 20 meeting who addressed the union and labor issues included Alex Gonzalez, current president of the Employees Association; Carrie Van de Koovering, EA vice president; Katie Knutson, Clackamas County employee; Abigail Garrett, county dental department; Don Miller, retired county employee and former union leader; Patricia Ramirez, EA negotiating team member; Michelle Schimpke (online commenter); Leah Brower, EA member; Derek Marquez, Housing Authority employee; Danny Stanum Thomas, director of the Early Learning Hub; Bridal Honto; Cynthia (last name not specified); and others who identified themselves as union members or county employees.