AFSCME Local 2064 Urges County to Address Unfair Wage Practices and Safety Concerns
CORVALLIS, OR – Yesterday, 94% of Benton County workers represented by Oregon AFSCME Local 2064 voted in favor of a strike, with 90% of the 200 represented workers participating in the vote. In light of false and inflammatory information that has been posted to the County website in an attempt to dissuade workers from voting in favor of a strike, the union filed an Unfair Labor Practice complaint against the County yesterday, in addition to the four others that have been filed since bargaining began nine months ago.
After the County continued to refuse wage increases that reflect the high cost of living in Benton County, the union bargaining team declared an impasse last month. One of the biggest concerns has been the widening pay gap between non-union and union-represented positions. A wage study for non-union workers was recently conducted using the cost of living index for the Portland-Metro area, which led to double-digit wage increases for these positions. Yet, the County remains adamantly opposed to providing proportionate wage adjustments for union-represented county workers, even while acknowledging the financial strain its employees face.
“It’s unfair that while non-repped workers get substantial wage increases, union workers are struggling to make ends meet while doing the same work,” said Dave Malone, a Land Surveyor with Benton County Public Works. “Housing costs have skyrocketed, and basic necessities are harder to afford. The County needs to step up and show that they value us by giving workers the wages we deserve.”
In addition to wage fairness, workers are calling for the County to establish countywide safety committee protocols to ensure a culture of safe working environments for all departments. In the wake of a worker’s death in 2019, the county Road Department was able to access resources to help improve safety measures for road crews. Now, the union is demanding that the countywide safety committee have a larger role in giving workers the support and protection they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.
"The Oregon AFL-CIO and the entire Oregon labor movement stands firmly with Benton County workers who have been forced to strike due to the county’s failure to offer a fair contract that addresses both wages and safety concerns,” said Oregon AFL-CIO Executive Director Graham Trainor. “We urge county leadership to take responsibility, return to the table, and negotiate a fair deal that respects these workers and the essential services they provide."
The union and County bargaining teams will go into their next mediation session on November 1, and workers are prepared to strike if an agreement cannot be reached on their top priorities.
