In a move reflecting the city's efforts to bolster its workforce, the Portland City Council has ratified new collective bargaining agreements with AFSCME and the Portland Police Association (PPA). As reported by Portland.gov, these contracts impact 25 city employees, charting a path for adjusted cost of living, bonuses, and job security measures amidst the creation of Portland's new Oversight System for police accountability.
Announced on Wednesday, the AFSCME agreement, which comes into effect from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, will see a 2.4% Cost of Living Adjustment, retroactive to the start of July 2025. In anticipation of the Oversight System transformation, the Independent Police Review (IPR) workers, who had organized in 2021, will be offered guaranteed interviews and a clear shot at positions within the new Office of Community-based Police Accountability (OCPA) before external applicants are considered. According to the city's announcement, these transitions come with assurances of no pay reduction for members moving to these new positions.
Meanwhile, the PPA Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC) Emergency Communication Supervisors have landed a two-year contract effective as of July 1, 2025, which includes similar cost-of-living adjustments. The contract also bolsters language pay differentials and introduces premium pay based on skill level and performance metrics for dispatch, including an 8% coach premium pay and a $4,000 professional development fund contribution.
These ratifications are a clear indication of Portland's commitment to a stable and supported municipal workforce. For emergency communication supervisors, the contract includes a 1% premium pay for Intermediate or a 2% for Advanced Telecommunicators. Additionally, a professional development fund, sized at $4,000, shows an investment in the continuous training and growth of city employees working in high-stress, essential roles.
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