City workers and management are scheduled for their final mediation session on Tuesday, October 13th, just one day before AFSCME Local 2975 intends to begin a strike unless a contract agreement is reached.
The latest round of negotiations ended on October 8th, without a settlement. In the Union’s bargaining update, they claim city management arrived without a proposal, prompting its bargaining team to submit a mediation package that morning.
The union characterized management’s response to that package as offering less than its September 10th proposal. That account has not been independently confirmed with the city, and both sides have been viewing the numbers in their own subjective ways.
(Photo: AFSCME Local 2975)
The unresolved issues include wages, additional pay steps, hazard pay, and health insurance costs. The previous contract expired June 30th, and negotiations have been underway since January.
The union is requesting back pay to July 1st as part of their negotiations. July 1st was when their old contract expired. They have even added a live counter to their website showing how much back pay they are owed based on their raise request.
Support has been visible downtown. We noticed more than a few stores with “Proud to Support City of Corvallis Workers” signs in their windows this weekend. Local 2975 says that more than 20 downtown businesses had displayed those posters.
Labor disputes often come down to last-minute resolutions. SEIU Local 503, which represents classified staff at Oregon State University, announced a tentative agreement just hours before those workers were scheduled to strike.
There is no assurance that the city’s negotiations will follow the same course.
For now, the strike remains scheduled. Tuesday’s mediation is the last announced opportunity to reach an agreement before workers head to the picket line.
This article was written by Jesse Grant, a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com
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