Media Release

September 24, 2008

PDC Board Votes to Support Labor Contract

The Portland Development Commission Board today voted 4 – 0 in support of a labor contract with the Commission’s 137 employees represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). This marks the first time in PDC’s 50-year history where a union has been in place.

Prior to the Board’s vote today, represented employees cast ballots on Sept. 19, 22 and 23 and voted 122 – 2 to accept the contract. The votes of the Board and employees cap negotiations that started in December 2007 and concluded with a Tentative Agreement between PDC and its employees on Sept.12, 2008.  With the Board vote complete, the contract is immediately ratified and will run through June 30, 2010.

“I am happy the membership vote was a resounding yes,” said Board Chair Charles Wilhoite. “This shows tremendous confidence in the leadership teams representing both sides. I believe this process has brought PDC closer together as an agency.”

PDC’s non-management employees voted between April 16 and May 1, 2007 and on May 1 became certified members of AFSCME.  “We are extremely pleased to be working with the employees at PDC and feel very good about the contract that has been approved,” said Ken Allen, Executive Director of Oregon AFSCME, Council 75.  “I have negotiated contracts for almost 30 years and have never worked with a smarter, harder working group of employees as those around the table from PDC,” Allen added. 

“I am very pleased to have the negotiations conclude and see the contract supported by both management and staff, said PDC Executive Director Bruce Warner. “I want to congratulate and thank both negotiating teams for their months of hard work in ironing out a contract that both the Board and staff could endorse,” Warner added.                

 “This is an exciting time for the agency,” said PDC Local 3769 President Alan Stubbs.   “We have an extremely professional and hard working staff and we look forward to putting the contract into action and making PDC an even better place to work.”

Some of the key elements of the agreement include:

• Formation of a Labor Management Committee to discuss issues of mutual concern and interest regarding the agency;
• A formal process for grievances, complaints and arbitration that includes a third party;
• Establishment of a new wage salary structure for represented employees that includes an annual cost of living increase and step increases for fully-successful job performance;
• Agreement that represented staff will begin paying a share of their medical, dental and vision health benefits. 

With completion of the contract, both PDC management and the represented staff will begin working toward implementation of the new contract language. 

“Both management and labor have laid out a vision in this contract that works toward building a cooperative and collaborative work environment at all levels of the organization,” said Warner.  “It calls for us to work together to resolve workplace issues as they arise.  I believe this sets a very positive tone for PDC moving forward.”        

Note:  The PDC Board currently has four members and is awaiting an announcement by Mayor-Elect Sam Adams of a fifth and final Commissioner. Today’s vote reflects the current makeup of the Board.

For more information on AFSCME, visit: http://www.afscme.org/about/

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PDC was created by Portland voters in 1958 to serve as the city’s urban renewal agency as laid out in Chapter 15 of the City’s Charter. PDC provides comprehensive housing, development and economic development programs within the Portland region.

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