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County employees say $214.75 Kaiser premium deduction is causing financial hardship
Summary
Several county employees and union members told the Board of County Commissioners that a temporary $214.75 payroll deduction for Kaiser premiums is hurting household budgets and that some employees fear retaliation for speaking up. Commissioners described ongoing bargaining and mediation on health benefits.
Several Clackamas County employees told the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 23 that a temporary $214.75 payroll deduction tied to Kaiser health coverage is creating financial hardship for some households.
Natalie Lutmer, an EA union member from Happy Valley, told the board this was her third week speaking on the issue and said the deduction leaves members “feeling powerless.” “It is regarding the extra and, what I feel is unnecessary, $214.75 taken out monthly of the EA employees' paychecks until the new union contract is ratified,” Lutmer said. She said that once the contract is settled the Kaiser premium would revert to $88.46.
The complaint surfaced again in public testimony from Daniel Cubes, who identified himself as a county employee and senior facility maintenance worker with more than 10 years on the job. Cubes said he and some colleagues live “paycheck to paycheck” and that the deduction has “drastically affected” him. “I do more technical repairs than those other two departments and we are not compensated for this,” he said.
Commissioner West responded to the testimony by summarizing the county’s bargaining timeline. West said there have been more than a dozen bargaining sessions, three sessions in December, two completed mediation sessions and a third mediation session scheduled for Jan. 29. “The parties have reached tentative agreements on a majority of the contract articles with eight articles still under discussion, including health and welfare employee benefits,” West said, and directed employees to the county’s employee and labor relations website for details presented to the association.
Commissioner Savas and Commissioner Fireside offered expressions of sympathy and said they value hearing from employees. Savas said he understands the financial impact employees described and called the testimony “passionate.” Fireside called the meeting a listening session and said the board had moved public comment earlier on the agenda to ensure commissioners would hear from employees before votes.
No formal board action or vote on the Kaiser premium or contract terms occurred at the meeting. West and the board described the item as part of active labor negotiations and mediation; West said bargaining remains ongoing and some contract articles remain unresolved.
The county’s consent agenda later approved unrelated contracts and grants, including several jail maintenance and software contracts, but did not include a vote on reversing or altering the Kaiser premium deduction discussed in public comment.
The board did not receive any formal motions linked to reversing the deduction during the meeting, and no staff report or public-record action on the deduction was presented at the dais.
