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Local 3132 members and supporters at a recent Troutdale City Council meeting. |
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Local 3132 members at the City of Troutdale took a significant step toward a work stoppage as city workers authorized their bargaining team to call a general strike by a 96 percent vote on Aug. 18.
“This vote sends a clear message to the city that workers are not about to see their families’ health insurance coverage slashed,” said Council 75 Staff Representative Ross Grami. “Workers in this city have been disrespected for years by upper-management and their high-priced attorney. Between that and the cuts to health care, workers have had enough. No one here wants to strike, but our members will do what they have to do to protect health care for their families.”
Grami says proposed cuts in employees’ health care coverage have pushed workers to the verge of striking. Local 3132 members took health care cuts as part of contract agreements in 2009 and 2012 to help Troutdale recover from the 2008 recession. Now the city budget has reserves of over $1.2 million and Grami says employees have drawn a line.
“The city is sound financially; it’s the seventh wealthiest city by per capita income in Oregon,” says Grami. “The recession is over, and the City of Troutdale has recovered well, partially because of our sacrifices. The city is going to talk about protecting the taxpayer and the need to tighten their belts. It’s simply not true, their reserves are very healthy and the fact they bring in a high-priced attorney from Lake Oswego to run these negotiations is evidence that budgets and the taxpayers are not their priority.
“This time, workers are holding the line for quality health care for their families.”
Local 3132 President Timothy Shoop is a Waste Water Operator for the city. Shoop says he’s frustrated that the City of Troutdale doesn’t value its own employees.
“It’s sad that it’s become our responsibility as city workers to protect good jobs in Troutdale,” said Shoop. “However, since the city leadership has shirked that duty and abandoned common sense in these negotiations, we stand proud to hold the line for our community, our fellow worker and ourselves.”
Shoop and his colleagues plan to take the fight directly to the city council at the Aug. 25 Troutdale City Council meeting. City workers will be there en masse, he says, to ask councilors directly why they continue to allow upper-management to attack Troutdale city workers for the sake of personal agendas. Other AFSCME members in the greater Portland area are encouraged to turn out to show their support.
“This is about health care, yes, but moreover, it’s simply about respect,” says Shoop.
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