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Local 3132 members and supporters celebrate the contract victory in Troutdale. |
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A successful bargaining campaign that included lots of public pressure and an overwhelming strike vote has led to a big contract win for Local 3132 at the City of Troutdale.
Local members in the Portland suburb stared down Troutdale management, including the city council, chiefly over health care benefits. In an effort to help the city recover from the 2008 recession, Local 3132 members had accepted health care cutbacks in their last two agreements. While the city has recovered nicely from the economic downturn and has ample money in reserves, Council 75 Staff Representative Ross Grami says they wanted further health care cutbacks based on ideological principles.
“They just wanted to give employees less,” he said simply.
A 97 percent strike authorization vote, coming on the heels of several actions, turned the tide. With a big public protest aimed at the Aug. 24 Troutdale City Council meeting, city management contacted the union that morning with a settlement proposal. Grami says the key components are as follows:
• Status quo on insurance benefits with no further decreases, which was the union’s position;
• A 3 percent pay increase in each year of the contract’s three-year life, for a total of 9 percent;
• An additional paid personal holiday for each bargaining nit member; and
• Several other contract language improvements.
Grami says the agreement is a testament to the power of unity in bargaining.
“This agreement came about because we took the fight to them,” he said. “Members stood together and participated in events. We didn’t back down. The strike vote showed we were serious. This is a big win for Local 3132, and for the union overall.”
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