Sea of Green at City Hall
The Mayor released his proposed budget on 4/20 and it includes cuts to AFSCME 189 jobs. That’s why the next day, 4/21, we were at City Hall demanding that the Mayor and City Council see reason: laying off union workers is not the path out of this budget crisis. Six of us testified before City Council, and Local 189 members from across the City packed the City Hall in green. This was our message to City Council:
- Prioritize funding for direct community services and the workers who make them possible
- Decrease the use of third-party consultants
- Prioritize in-house services over contracted services
- Address management bloat across the City
Here’s what Willamette Week had to say about the day:
During the City Council’s first meeting about the budget ... city employees represented by AFSCME Local 189 filled the chambers in green shirts. Union leaders and members implored the council during testimony to avoid cuts to city jobs and to instead make cuts to consultants and other third parties hired by the city to perform work.
What’s next? We are hard at work analyzing the proposed budget and putting together a comprehensive strategy and concrete recommendations to save jobs. Additionally, Local 189 President, Rob Martineau, is talking with City decision makers daily, and Local 189 members are holding round-table meetings with City Councilors.You can count on more information coming your way as our advocacy progresses.
And don’t forget, there is no union without YOU. Your voice is needed. Sign up to get involved here or respond to this email saying you want to join the effort to save jobs.
AFSCME 189 in the news