Phased return to office (and coffee shop)
In fact, most governments are considering returning workers to their offices in phases over time. That includes Portland, which had previously said significant numbers of workers would not return to their offices until Multnomah County is in the least restrictive Lower Risk category established by the Oregon Health Authority. The will happen when 65% of county residents 16 and older receive at least one vaccination. The categories will be eliminated entirely when 70% of state residents reach that point. We know this shift will raise many questions, said Heather Hafer, Office of Management and Finance public information officer. Multiple bureaus own facilities and have unique business needs, so not all facilities may transition. Limited access still places a cap on the number of employees allowed in a facility at any one time.
Pamplin Media Group - Businesses: Governments should lead reopenings
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By Don McIntosh
Seven Portland Police Bureau internal affairs investigators joined AFSCME Local 189 on Jan. 25 a vanguard that could swell to several hundred city employees in the months ahead.
An effort to win a union among non-represented City of Portland employees erupted last year when workers began to organize themselves, but their legal path to official union recognition was paved by an earlier battle. City attorneys and HR managers, trying to oppose an effort by three analysts in the Portland Housing Bureau to unionize, ended up opening the door to unionizing non-represented workers across the city.
At the City of Portland, most employees are already union-represented, members of one of 11 separate unions. But at least 942 city employees are not represented. Not all of those have the right to unionize under state law. Some are considered managers because they have the power to hire, fire, and discipline other workers. Others like administrative assistants for top bureau man
By Don McIntosh
At Portland’s Bureau of Development Services (BDS) union-represented workers review plans, issue building permits and inspect buildings to make sure electrical, mechanical, plumbing and other work is done safely and to code. But 98% of their agency’s budget comes from fees, and with an anticipated downturn in office and hotel construction, layoffs could be coming.
BDS employs about 400 in all, including about 300 who are represented by Protec17 and the unions of the District Council of Trade Unions (DCTU).
Due to COVID-19 and reduced commercial development activity, BDS anticipates reduced revenue over the next two to three years, says bureau spokesperson Ken Ray. The bureau has substantial reserve funds, but is looking at cutting costs, including personnel costs, to make those reserves last.
Rob Martineau
On Dec. 1, affiliated unions elected AFSCME Local 189 president Rob Martineau as DCTU president; IBEW Local 48 business representative Jenna Bazner as vice president; and Machinists District Lodge W24 organizer Will Lukens as secretary-treasurer. DCTU also named as trustees Painters District Council 5 member Jack Johnson; Operating Engineers Local 701 member Chris Montgomery; and UA Local 290 member Nichet Newsome.
Martineau, Bazner and Lukens say they want to chart a new course for DCTU, breaking down walls and building solidarity across unions and bureaus. They also want to make DCTU processes more transparent and open the coalition up to direct involvement by rank-and-file members of affiliated unions.
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