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County advances first reading of labor-harmony ordinance for janitorial, security and laundry contracts
Summary
The board approved the first reading of an ordinance requiring labor-harmony agreements for future janitorial, security and industrial-laundry contracts to reduce service disruptions; the measure is prospective, includes an exception process and will return for a second reading July 23.
Multnomah County commissioners advanced a first reading on July 7 of an ordinance that would require prospective contractors for janitorial, security and industrial laundry services to demonstrate a labor-harmony agreement or documented attempts to secure one.
Commissioner Moyer, who introduced the ordinance, said the measure’s purpose is to protect continuity of critical county services. “It is the interest of Multnomah County that we not have disruption in the public services in which we are contracting these services for,” Moyer said, arguing that pre-negotiated labor-harmony agreements reduce the risk of strikes, picketing or boycotts that could interrupt county operations.
Moyer and other proponents emphasized the ordinance is prospective (it will not reopen existing contracts) and does not require contractors to be unionized or to recognize a union; rather, it requires either an existing agreement or documented good‑faith efforts and an exception/waiver process if an agreement is not practicable.
Brian Smith, the county’s purchasing manager, cautioned that the ordinance front-loads a contractual requirement and will introduce additional procurement steps. “It adds complexity having two separate ways of implementing labor peace and harmony, but certainly in the short term we could do that,” Smith said, noting staff training, contract-administration workload, and the need to harmonize this approach with existing labor-harmony language in preschool and behavioral-health contracts.
Board members discussed whether to broaden labor-harmony policy across more sectors or keep it narrowly tailored to the three industries identified; several commissioners encouraged follow-up work to harmonize existing policy and to develop implementation guidance before the second reading. The board voted unanimously to approve the first reading; the second reading is scheduled for July 23.
