The City of Portland and AFSCME-represented Independent Police Review continue mediation

Following several months of contract negotiations, the City of Portland and AFSCME entered mediation on Aug. 21, two days after members voted to authorize a strike. On Sept. 11, AFSCME declared impasse, and both parties submitted final offers to the State's Employment Relations Board, triggering a month-long cooling-off period.

Their current labor agreement expired June 30.

If no agreement is reached, employees could strike as early as the third week of October.

View the City's final offer

View AFSCME 189's final offer

Oversight System Transition

Independent Police Review employees unionized in 2021, ahead of the development of Portland's new Oversight System, which is still in the process of being established.

Under the new structure, oversight of police investigations and discipline will transition to the new Office of Community-based Police Accountability (OCPA) and the Community Board for Police Accountability. The Office of Independent Police Review and the Citizen Review Committee will remain active until work initiated within the current system is completed.

Latest Mediation Session

The parties met in mediation again yesterday, and the City presented an updated proposal offering additional options to AFSCME-represented Independent Police Review employees who would be impacted by the transition to the new Oversight System. The proposal includes the option to revisit negotiations to consider direct appointments to positions within the Office of Community-based Police Accountability once the office's director is hired.

The development of the OCPA will include new bodies of work and the creation of new positions that are distinct from the current work of IPR investigators and administrative staff. However, as the current work of IPR investigators and the existing duties performed by IPR administrative staff migrate to the OCPA, the City will recognize those OCPA positions as AFSCME's work under a new bargaining unit.

View the City's updated transition proposal

City's Final Offer

The City's proposal costs $5.8M total (not including health insurance) over three years and includes:

• Continuation of current wage scale
• Continuation of $5,000 Professional Development Fund per year
• Continuation of $3,500 retention bonus per member per year
• Cost-of-living increases consistent with other City employees

The City remains committed to reaching a fair agreement and supporting employees through this process. The next mediation session is scheduled for Oct. 14.

Five guiding principles anchor the City's labor negotiations

• Respect: Honor employees' service and expertise by providing fair compensation, benefits and working conditions.
• Workforce competition: Attract and retain a talented, diverse workforce.
• Financial stewardship: Make the most of taxpayers' resources to make Portland safe, healthy and livable.
• Shared responsibility: Ensure that all employees share equitably in the impacts of economic factors outside the City's control.
• Rules and regulations: Follow laws and best practices for labor negotiations.

Planning is underway to ensure essential services will continue in the event of a strike.