PAGE 2 | March 20, 2015 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
AFSCME wins big gains for Metro temp workers
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140
An agreement between the
Metro regional government and
AFSCME Local 3580 will de-
liver raises of up to $3.92 an
hour to about 50 newly union-
ized workers at the Metro waste
transfer station and Oregon Zoo
who are classified as temps.
In contract bargaining last
year for a larger group of 300
Metro employees, Local 3580
complained that Metro was un-
dermining standards for full-
time permanent workers by em-
ploying lower-paid “perma-
temps” — workers who were
classified as temporary but
stayed on for years. But Metro
declined in the negotiations to
make any progress on the issue.
So starting last summer, the
union signed up the temps to
join AFSCME using the state’s
card check process. At that point,
Metro agreed to bargain over
terms and conditions for the
temps, and on March 10, after
three months of bargaining, the
two sides reached an agreement
that brings temp wages up to or
close to the wages of permanent
workers doing the same work.
The agreement means Zoo
workers who handle animals for
the public will get raises of 55
cents — to $16.01 an hour, the
same as their permanent coun-
terparts. Meanwhile, wages will
raise from $13.58 to $17.50 for
hazardous waste workers, and
from $12 to $15.75 for Zoo se-
curity officers. The raises are ef-
fective April 1, and will rise
again in July 2015 and 2016
based on inflation. The workers
will also get an allowance for
safety gear and boots, and the
right to earn up to 26 hours of
sick leave per year.
“Issues remain with tempo-
rary work,” said AFSCME staff
representative Ross Grami. “But
this is a great first step. We’re
glad Metro took it with us.“
Grami gave credit to Metro
leaders for the agreement, as
well as to leaders of the groups
Portland Jobs with Justice and
15 Now, who attended the final
bargaining session.
The agreement was reached
March 10, two days before a
planned rally, so instead of
protesting, unionists turned out
to thank Metro leaders. The
agreement runs through June
30, 2017, at which point the next
general contract with Metro will
cover the temps as well.