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Oregon City employees press commission for contract progress as police union warns of retention risks
Summary
City employees, library staff and multiple Oregon City Police Employee Association leaders told the commission Nov. 5 that stalled contract talks and staff cuts are straining public services. Police union leaders said the association has been working without a contract since June 30 and urged the commission to help resolve mediation.
Members of Oregon City's workforce urged the City Commission on Nov. 5 to push for timely contract settlements and staffing fixes that they said affect core services.
At public comment, Alex Moss, president of the Oregon City Police Employees Association, told the commission the association had been working without a contract since June 30 and was entering mediation next week. "We've been working without a contract since June 30," Moss said, adding that members need competitive pay and benefits to recruit and retain officers.
Patrol Sergeant Chris Conkey described recruitment and retention pressures inside the police department, citing multiple vacancies and officers in the final stages of leaving for other agencies. Conkey said a year of training and onboarding for a solo officer costs about $100,000, and that unsettled contracts make it harder to keep experienced staff. "This contract is an investment for the future," Conkey said, arguing a strong contract is an instrument to retain quality officers.
Representatives from AFSCME and other city departments echoed the concern. Suzanne Mills, a library technical services specialist, described the library's service breadth and urged administration to settle fair contracts so staff can afford living costs. Hunter, an AFSCME public‑works representative, asked the commission to consider frontline workers amid hiring freezes and structural budget pressures.
Zach Knutson, representing records staff, asked the city to consider restoring positions in the police records unit. He said staffing reductions over recent budget cycles left a single records specialist handling a backlog he estimated at "over 1,600 reports," and contrasted that with earlier staffing levels that had reduced backlogs to the low hundreds.
Commissioners acknowledged the concerns and did not take immediate action at the meeting, but staff and union representatives said they expect continued talks and mediation. Several commissioners encouraged ongoing dialogue with labor representatives and noted the city is balancing tight finances with service needs.
The next formal steps are mediation for the police association and continued negotiation between AFSCME and city management; the commission did not vote on contracts at the Nov. 5 meeting.
