Clackamas County employees press commissioners over retroactive COLA, Kaiser premium spike; mediation scheduled April 8

Dozens of Clackamas County employees and representatives of the Clackamas County Employees Association told the Board of County Commissioners on April 3 that proposed contract terms and a sudden Kaiser Permanente premium increase are endangering families and county services.

Speakers said the county notified employees in December that retroactive cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) budgeted for 2024 would not be paid unless contracts were ratified by an arbitrary year-end deadline. They also described a Kaiser Permanente monthly premium that rose from about $88.46 to about $303.20 with two business days’ notice, leaving many employees facing surprise out-of-pocket costs.

The testimony came as employees and union leaders urged the board to finalize a contract that would restore retroactive COLA payments and stabilize benefits. Commissioners and county staff said negotiations are constrained by bargaining rules, that mediation is set for April 8, and that the county will reimburse employees for increased Kaiser premiums dating back to January 2025 once an updated contract is in place.

Employees described direct effects on households and county services. Sophia Butler, a senior program planner, said prevention services for families are “about reducing stress on families” and asserted that blocking that work “is endangering families.” Sarah Zachary, secretary of the Employees Association, said the December 17 statements setting deadlines damaged trust and urged the board to provide the same COLA given to other county employees. Several speakers noted the union represents about 1,300 members.

Union presenters and individual staff described working conditions: shared or reserved desks, double- or triple-staffing of duties, and service disruptions if a strike occurs. Carrie Van de Koovering, vice president of the Employees Association, warned that a strike would interrupt transportation to dialysis, homeless services, mental-health access, and other frontline programs.

County responses and next steps

County commissioners and County Administrator Gary Schmidt acknowledged employee contributions while stressing limits on public communication during bargaining. Chair Roberts and other commissioners said they must balance employee requests with stewardship of taxpayer funds.

Gary Schmidt told the board that when Kaiser Permanente notified the county in August of premium increases, the county asked the union to notify members; he said the county offered an option to switch to Providence, which did not increase premiums for the same period. Schmidt said the county will reimburse employees on Kaiser coverage for the premium difference dating back to January 2025 once a contract is updated.

Chair Roberts said mediation with the parties is scheduled for April 8 and asked both sides to come to the table in good faith. Commissioners emphasized they are negotiating on behalf of county taxpayers while the union negotiates for members.

Numbers and funding cited at the meeting

- Kaiser premium (monthly) cited by multiple speakers: approximately $88.46 before the increase, approximately $303.20 after the increase (employees’ testimony). - Size of the Employees Association cited by speakers: roughly 1,300 members. - County statement: about 90% of the funding for retroactive COLA for the union comes from outside funding sources (speakers’ testimony). - County staff said there are approximately $90 million in reserves and contingencies in the county budget (county comment).

Why it matters

Frontline county employees provide transportation to medical appointments, shelter and outreach services, mental-health and child-family supports, and public-health care. Commissioners and employees said service disruptions from a strike would affect residents who rely on county-operated programs. Mediation on April 8 will determine whether parties close the remaining gaps and how the county will implement reimbursements for premium increases.

What was not decided

No final contract or retroactive payment was approved during the April 3 meeting. The county said reimbursements for Kaiser premium differentials will occur only after an updated contract is approved.