Corvallis, OR - Benton County workers represented by Oregon AFSCME Local 2064 have announced an impasse following Benton County’s failure to reach an agreement on safety in addition to refusing to explain why they reject proposals on the table since February. This decision comes after months of negotiations aimed at improving workplace safety and securing fair compensation for the dedicated county workers.

"It’s only been five years since Pete Neuman was killed on the job due to Benton County mismanagement, and they still don’t take the safety of their workers seriously" said Local 2064 President Dawn Dale.

After the union won an arbitration on safety language in August, the county continues to refuse widely requested safety improvements.

As a result of the impasse, both sides must submit their last best and final offers by Tuesday, October 8th. Following these submissions, a 30-day cooling-off period will commence. As for what’s next, Local 2064 President Dawn Dale added “Benton County has us backed into a corner. If they’re unwilling to acknowledge our documented safety concerns, we will have no other option but to continue to escalate, which could include a strike vote”.

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