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The City of Portland and the City of Portland Professional Workers (CPPW) submitted final offers last week, marking a major step in ongoing negotiations to establish the union’s first contract. A strike is possible as early as the second week of June if an agreement is not reached.
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The City of Portland and the City of Portland Professional Workers (CPPW) began negotiating the union’s first contract last year and began meeting in mediation in March.
Earlier this month, CPPW declared impasse, and last week, both parties submitted final offers to the State’s Employment Relations Board triggering a month-long cooling-off period. A strike is possible as early as the second week of June if an agreement is not reached in the meantime.
The City’s final offer commits $7 million in new spending over the next 2.5 years. The unions’ most recent requests would require about $21 million in new spending over the same time period, triple what the City has offered.
The City and CPPW have agreed on more than 20 issues ranging from holidays and sick leave, to grievance procedures and retirement. Wages and benefits remain a significant challenge. A classification and compensation study is underway and is expected to guide further wage discussions in December.
The parties have met in mediation eight times since March, with two more scheduled later this month. The City of Portland is committed to reaching a fair agreement with CPPW - one that balances employee needs with the City’s current financial realities.
City’s Final Offer
The offer submitted last week includes about $7 million in new spending over the next 2.5 years with an agreement to revisit (or “reopen”) negotiations on wages and other contract terms in January 2026. This means that costs could increase depending on the outcome of future negotiations. Highlights of the latest offer include:
- Effective 7/1/2025, a 2.4% cost-of-living wage increase for all members. In addition, a 2% increase for all members, not to exceed the top of the pay range.
- Standby pay for positions in the Bureau of Environmental Services, the Victims Services Advocate group in the Portland Police Bureau and the Duty Officers in the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management.
- Three additional personal days for CPPW employees designated as fully in-person; approximately 13% of CPPW employees report in-person currently
- $165,000 Professional Development Fund per year.
- Increased shift differentials.
City-Calculated Cost Comparison of Final Offers
| City Proposal (view) | CPPW Proposal (view) | |
| Base Wages | $3,710,000 | $7,200,000 |
| Standby Pay | $430,000 | $441,000 |
| Additional Personal Days for In-Person Employees | $312,000 | $322,000 |
| Increased Shift Differentials | $7,000 | $7,000 |
| Professional Development Fund | $412,000 | $412,000 |
| Tribal/Immigration Leave | $230,000 | $233,000 |
| Longevity Pay | - | $1,931,000 |
| Vacation Cash Out | - | $4,260,000 |
| Additional Work Out of Class | - | $16,000 |
| Increase to wage-driven benefits | $1,703,000 | $5,717,000 |
| Increase to COLA | $261,000 | $887,000 |
| Total Cost for 7/1/2025-12/31/2027 | $7,065,000 | $21,426,000 |
The City’s bargaining is anchored by five guiding principles:
- Respect: Honor employees’ service and expertise by providing fair compensation, benefits and working conditions.
- Workforce competition: Attract and retain a talented, diverse workforce.
- Financial stewardship: Make the most of taxpayers’ resources to make Portland safe, healthy and livable.
- Shared responsibility: Ensure that all employees share equitably in the impacts of economic factors outside the City’s control.
- Rules and regulations: Follow laws and best practices for labor negotiations.
The City of Portland has 15 bargaining units, representing more than 80 percent of the City’s 7,500-person workforce. CPPW includes more than 800 employees, with the largest numbers in Parks, Transportation, Environmental Services, Police, Water and Budget & Finance.
Citywide planning efforts have begun, ensuring the essential services Portlanders rely on everyday will continue without interruption should a strike occur.
Stay up-to-date at Portland.gov/Bargaining/News
Final Offers Submitted to Employment Relations Board
May 9, 2025 City of Portland final offer and cost summary for CPPW
May 9, 2025 CPPW final offer and cost summary