Two unions representing Portland first responders have agreed to contract concessions that will ultimately save the city more than $3 million.
They agreed to take more hours and fewer raises in response to Mayor Ted Wheeler's call for help freeing up room in the budget during the economic crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Related: Portland Mayor Says Proposed Budget Can Withstand COVID-19 Shortfall
On Thursday, the City Council unanimously approved new contracts for the unions, which will lead to more hours and fewer raises for Portland’s first responders, many of whom are on the front lines of the response to the pandemic.
The two unions that agreed to the deal were the Portland Police Commanding Officers Association, a small 34-member union representing the city’s police lieutenants, and the Portland Fire Fighters Association, representing the city’s roughly 700 firefighters. Both of these groups made concessions from their original agreement with the city, hammered out earlier in the spring. The Portland Police Association, on the other hand — negotiating on behalf of the 911 operators at the Bureau of Emergency Communications — were unwilling to do the same.
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Instead, the Police Association was pressing for the city to stick by the previous agreement, which the mayor said was negotiated “under a completely different economic reality.” Presented with the unchanged agreement on Thursday, the council unanimously voted against it.
“I want to be crystal clear. Our 911 call takers are the best in the nation. They sacrifice a lot to be that calm voice on the phone,” said an emotional Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, who oversees the bureau. “I know — because I know them. They are fine people who deserve everything in this contract and more, but today I can just not in good conscience vote to support it as it stands.”
The city will now need to return to the bargaining table with the union. Daryl Turner, head of the police association, declined to comment, citing the potential that there’s going to be more negotiations on the horizon.
The other two unions, however, proved more willing to make concessions. Here’s where those negotiations ended up:
Portland firefighters:
Portland firefighters will save the city $4.7 million over the next two years — by working more.
According to Alan Ferschweiler, the president of the Portland Firefighters Association, the agreement will extend the number of hours firefighters are able to work in a week, from roughly 52 to 53, allowing the city to spend less on overtime.
“Essentially, we’re working for free, and then they don't have to hire an overtime person as well,” Ferschweiler said.
The association has also agreed to extend the contract up to the end of June 2023 instead of expiring in summer 2022, so the city can put off coming back to the negotiating table, Ferschweiler said.
As a concession from the city to the union, members will be guaranteed a reduced workweek during the final year of the contract.
Ferschweiler said that while he understands city employees had to make sacrifices, these are difficult to take when first responders are already bearing so much.
“This is a time where we were on the frontlines along with the nurses and the doctors and the police and then the AMR paramedics that are transporting,” he said. “It’s a little bit shocking to have to make big budget concessions in a time where we are risking our lives out there.”
Portland lieutenants:
Portland Police Commanding Officers Association leaders, meanwhile, have agreed to forego raises associated with seniority, known as longevity pay, until next year.
Based on the agreements reached back in March, lieutenants had been scheduled to get pay bumps for reaching various milestones: 2% for 15 years, 3% for 20 years and 4% for 25 years.
That won’t happen now until July 2021, saving the city $138,000, according to city documents.
As Commissioner Amanda Fritz pointed out during the council meeting, this presents a particular sacrifice for the most senior lieutenants soon to retire, who will not be getting the longevity pay calculated into their retirement.
The city made concessions in return. Two years from now, officers completing their 25th year will receive a raise of 7%; the original agreement had been 5%. Pay raises for officers completing their 20th years were also upped from the previously agreed-upon 4% to 5%.
“We recognize what’s going on around us. We believe we have a role to play in helping as well and this was our ability to contribute.” said Craig Morgan, president of the association. “And then in exchange, in an optimistic view where things come back a couple years from now, then we ended up in a slightly better position than where we were.”
Commanding officers will still receive their agreed-upon education-based raises: 1% increase for a bachelor’s degree, and a 2% increase for a master’s. They’ll also get the standard cost of living allowances.
