City of Salem workers to rally Thursday for 'fair contract' amid tense union talks

Jonathan Bach | Statesman Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption U.S. Supreme Court rules against unions on mandatory fees The decision affects 5 million workers.

A contingent of Salem's municipal workers will converge Thursday outside City Hall to rally for higher wages, the latest salvo in increasingly heated collective bargaining talks.

At the "Rally for a Fair Contract" in Peace Plaza, city employees will address the status of contract negotiations between the city of Salem and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2067. Workers are also expected to equip themselves with picket signs and march.

Negotiators from the two camps met Monday, but talks continue to drag. At issue are the desire for higher wages, overtime calculation and pay, as well as the ability of members to file class-action grievances. Union and city representatives will convene for another round of talks July 24.

"Everyone I work with is frustrated at how slow this process is going," AFSCME Local 2067 President Matthew Starbuck said in a prepared statement. "Let's settle a fair contract now and get back to why we are all here: to provide great public service to Salem’s families, businesses and visitors."

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City spokesman Kenny Larson could not immediately be reached for comment.

AFSCME Local 2067 represents more than 600 workers, including library assistants, custodial workers and administrative assistants. It does not represent Salem's police force and firefighters.

Union leaders in June asked for 3.5-percent raises each year for the next three years, which they say would bring Oregon's capital more in line with other municipalities of similar size. The city responded by proposing 1-percent wage increases. City officials later upped their proposal to 2-percent, but union leaders remained unsatisfied.

Union and city negotiators were "still far apart on wages" after Monday's talks, union officials said in a press release.

Elected officials have been invited to Thursday's rally, though only Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth, has said he will come, union officials said.

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City workers' three-year contract with Salem expired at the start of July, though employees have been working day-to-day under old provisions until a new agreement is reached. Contract negotiations began in March.

The "Rally for a Fair Contract" begins 4:30 p.m. July 19 at the Peace Plaza near the Salem Public Library at 585 Liberty St. SE.

Email jbach@statesmanjournal.com, call (503) 399-6714 or follow on Twitter @jonathanmbach.

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