Portland city workers begin strike after contract talks collapse
Approximately 800 municipal employees walked out at midnight Monday, citing a breakdown in negotiations over wages and contract terms.
By Ethan Cooper ·
About 800 city employees in Portland, Oregon, walked off the job at midnight on Monday, November 9, after mediation sessions concluded Sunday without a contract agreement. The strike involves members of the City of Portland Professional Workers union, or CPPW, who cited failed negotiations over pay as the primary cause of the dispute.
Kari Koch, the CPPW president, stated that the union represents roughly 800 of the city’s 7,500 employees. These workers include financial analysts, wastewater treatment staff, and emergency communication personnel. Koch described the group as the glue holding the city together, noting that many members support police, fire, and 911 response units. She emphasized that critical delays in emergency response are a risk the union seeks to avoid.
The union proposed a contract increase of approximately $9.3 million, or 7%, over two fiscal years. Koch said the city’s negotiating team had been an obstacle for months, describing the process as hitting a brick wall. Although she felt hopeful before Sunday’s mediation, she reported that none of the open articles in the contract reached a tentative agreement.
City officials responded that the strike is unlikely to cause major disruptions for residents. A city spokesperson noted in an email on Sunday that CPPW is one of 17 bargaining units and that the city is prepared to maintain essential services. The city’s current offer builds on a pay increase given to union members in 2025. It includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment retroactive to July 1, 2026, a $1,000 bonus, and a projected 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment in July 2027.
Koch criticized the city’s bargaining approach, calling it bad faith in a statement released by the union after mediation ended. She pointed to the city’s calculation of contract costs, which she said includes about 100 vacant positions during a hiring freeze. Koch also disputed the city’s public comparison of Portland salaries to those in other cities, arguing that this data was never formally presented at the bargaining table during the 11 months of talks.
The union described the strike as a tool of last resort. Koch said that if striking is necessary to secure respect from their employer, the members will proceed with the action. The city issued a statement confirming that no agreement was reached and that employees are expected to strike beginning Monday, November 9. The city said it has plans to maintain critical public safety and infrastructure services.
City officials said they remain committed to reaching a resolution that is fair to employees, sustainable for the city, and responsible to taxpayers. As of Sunday evening, no date has been confirmed for the next mediation session.
The dispute follows 11 months of negotiations that have produced no contract. The city stated that it continues to work toward a resolution, while the union maintains that its members are ready to perform their duties once an agreement is reached.
