*Authorize Letter of Agreement with the Laborers' International Union of North America, Local 483 Recreation for premium pay to Assistants and Aides as defined in the Preschool for All Program
The City of Portland ordains.
Section 1. The Council finds.
- The City and Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 483 – Recreation (LiUNA-Rec) are parties to a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) effective July 1, 2022, to September 30, 2026.
- On December 4, 2024, Multnomah County allocated the City grant monies for spots for 154 students in eleven classrooms across nine City facilities as a pilot site for the Preschool for All program. In receiving the Preschool for All grant, the City agreed that preschool classrooms would meet the program requirements set by the Preschool for All program, which includes a minimum pay rate set by Multnomah County and adjusted for each fiscal year.
- The City intends to have employees in the classification of Recreation Associate perform work as teachers' aides in the Preschool for All programs. The current entry hourly wage rate for the Recreation Associate classification is $19.52. With the expected cost of living adjustment (COLA) for fiscal year 2025-2026, the entry rate for this classification will increase to $19.99 per hour.
- The minimum wage set by Multnomah County Preschool for All program work for fiscal year 2025-2026 is $22.27 per hour, which is $2.28 more than the entry rate for the Recreation Associate classification for the same fiscal year.
- To comply with the grant requirements, the City must increase the entry rate for work performed in the Preschool for All program, and this is best accomplished with a premium pay.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
- The Director of the Bureau of Human Resources is authorized to enter into a Letter of Agreement between the City and LiUNA-Rec in a form substantially similar to Exhibit A, to implement a $2.28 per hour Preschool Specialty premium for all hours worked by Recreation Associates in City preschool classrooms.
- This Letter of Agreement expires on July 1, 2026.
- This ordinance is binding City policy.
Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because delay would negatively impact the ability to comply with base pay standards required to staff the program in time for the start of the school year; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect after its passage by the Council.
Exhibits and Attachments
An ordinance when passed by the Council shall be signed by the Auditor. It shall be carefully filed and preserved
in the custody of the Auditor (City Charter Chapter 2 Article 1 Section 2-122)
Passed by Council
Auditor of the City of Portland
Simone Rede
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
Multnomah County runs the Preschool for All program to provide tuition-free preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds.
The City applied for and was granted funding for the current eleven classrooms at the nine Parks & Recreation sites to become Preschool for All pilot sites for 154 students starting in the 2025/2026 school year.
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize a letter of agreement with LiUNA-Rec to implement the premium to comply with the grant requirements from Multnomah County for the preschool program. The current classification of Recreation Associate is identified similarly to this program role to serve as the Preschool Aides as defined in the Preschool for All program. The Preschool for All program sets the minimum wage for Teachers and Assistants/Aides yearly with the wage set at $22.27 for the 2025/2026 program year. After the July 1, 2025 Cost-of-Living Adjustment, the entry wage for Recreation Associates will be $19.99. This premium will make up the difference between the entry wage for Recreation Associates and the requirements of the Preschool for All grant effective July 1.
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
The total wages and wage-driven benefits for the preschool support staff are expected to be between $780,000 and $1.1 million for the fiscal year 2025-26. The actual amount will depend in part on the wage step placement of the staff and their eligibility for retirement benefits. The costs for the preschool support staff are 100% funded by the Preschool for All program.
Economic and Real Estate Development Impacts
The classification and associated wage requirements for this Preschool for All Program allows the City of Portland to support families and children with childcare access. The premium pay ensures that these classifications receive comparable pay for similar roles, such as kindergarten teachers, in the state. The premium pay meets minimum requirements for program eligibility to support high quality care and economic mobility for childcare workers and families.
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
The Preschool for All Program tax was approved by Multnomah County voters and the premium pay for these positions will benefit City of Portland families and workers. The minimum wage will meet Multnomah County program requirements for Portland pilot site eligibility.
100% Renewable Goal
Not applicable.
Document History
Document number: 2025-155
President's referral: Labor and Workforce Development Committee