Category: Issues

Economic Package Info Sessions

Negotiations are heating up and we will not settle for a weak contract!

Two information sessions for CPPW members this month to dig into the details of the proposals for your wages, compensation, and workplace protections.

We will also share a plan for what comes next and actions you can participate in to advocate for ourselves and each other.

Thursday, August 22, noon – 1pm, link to join Teams call

Wednesday, August 28, noon – 1pm, link to join Teams call

Reminder: the August general membership meeting is canceled so these session are the only places to get live updates this month!

Class Comp Study Resources

The consultant running the study, Evergreen, is asking you to fill out a Job Assessment Tool (JAT!) and a Virtual Survey – please do both before July 19th

Update: We’ve just heard that the deadline has been extended to July 31, 2024!

Want a visual? Access the recording of the CPPW Info Session on 7/10/24.

Important Distinction: Class Spec vs Position Description

Classification Specification:
In the JAT, the consultants provide you with a link to your classification specification and ask you to inform them about which tasks from the document you do or don’t do.

Find your class spec on the City website here. Broad, right? This is not enough information to describe your work.

Position Description (PD):
CPPW is encouraging every member to use their Position Description to describe their work and after filling out the JAT, email your Position Description to the consultants directly at jat1@consultevergreen.com.

How to find your PD?

  1. The PD may be the language used in the recruitment for your current position on GovernmentJobs.
  2. You might have written your PD if you have been in your current position since the class comp study of 2018/2019.
  3. Email your HRBP and ask “Can you send me my Position Description, please”.
  4. If you can’t find it – this is the moment to write your own using the tools below.

How to Write a Position Description: 

Use these tools and worksheet to create a robust and detailed description of your particular work. Be sure to focus on the specifics of what you do and the expertise that is required by your work.

Do not focus on what you *might* do or what you *could* do, but just what you actually do.

  1. Position Description Instructions
  2. Position Description Worksheet
  3. Position Description Form
  4. Task Statement Examples
  5. Action Statement Examples

All About Dues

Want to get all your dues questions answered? See the Progressive Dues page for FAQ and lots of details. 

 

____________________

The message below is from 2024 and may be out of date:

A Message from Your Union Treasurer 

Dues graphic.

Hello Union Siblings! 

Dues are a crucial part of having a strong union – they allow us to pay for needed expenses, maintain an infrastructure, get the trainings we need to fight at the contract table, and have the resources to exercise our power. Most importantly, dues allow us all to contribute to building this union together.  

Dues also generate a lot of questions! Let’s take a minute and dig into dues together.   

What are CPPW dues right now? 

In early December 2023, with a vote of 91% in favor, the CPPW membership voted to institute flat interim dues of 0.5% of gross monthly salary as a temporary measure to raise money to fight for our first contract. 

Why aren’t dues being taken out of my paycheck? 

In late December, CPPW alerted the City that they should begin a dues paycheck deduction from all signed members in good standing as of 1/4/2024. Unfortunately, key City administrators say they need additional information from us in order to start the process. At the same time, those City administrators have not shown up to the scheduled meetings where we are supposed to be answering their questions. It is our legal right to fund our organization with interim dues from paycheck deductions. We will continue to press on this matter and will escalate as necessary to get this process going. 

If the City is not taking any dues now, will there be any retroactive dues? 

No. The CPPW membership will not be penalized for the City’s failure to deduct dues in a timely fashion.  

Why do we need interim dues? 

Traditional dues are implemented as part of a final contract with an employer. In the meantime, interim dues are essential to CPPW’s success in bargaining. Interim dues will pay for legal fees, administrative costs, printing, communications, technology, training fees, and more. A dues paying membership also demonstrates to the City that CPPW’s people support the union effort and are ready to back up that support with action! 

What will dues be once we have a contract? 

CPPW has designed a Progressive Dues structure which makes dues both affordable and equitable. This dues structure was codified in the Constitution and Bylaws, specifically Bylaw 2.  

What are progressive dues?  

Progressive Dues are a more fair and equitable dues structure where every person’s base, pre-tax wages are divided into brackets which correspond to a specific dues percentage. If, for example, a member made $50,000 or less annually their dues would be 0%, the next bracket ($50,000-$75,000) pays 1.45% on that $25,000 and so on. 

To put progressive dues in context: 

  • Average CPPW Wage is $102,500 – dues at this wage would amount to .93% (less than 1% of your base wages) 
  • Highest CPPW wage is $163,321 – dues at this wage would amount to 1.75% 

How does this compare to other Unions? 

  • AFSCME 189’s dues are a flat rate of 1.77% for all members. 
  • ProTec 17’s dues are a flat rate of .85% for all members. 

If you have questions please do not hesitate to reach out to treasurer Chris Gustafson at: Treasurer@CPPWUnion.org 

CPPW Constitution Enacted by the Members!

At the November 30th general membership meeting, the vote to enact the proposed Constitution & Bylaws was passed by a vote of 102-2 (98% in favor).  Voting took place over three days and the voting window closed during the meeting so that CPPW could announce the results to the members in attendance in real-time.

You can view the Constitution under the About Section of this website or view a printable copy [ HERE ].

In addition nominations were taken from the floor for officers and board members.  The election for these positions will be announced soon, so be on the lookout.  A candidates forum will also take place so that members can hear from those seeking election to CPPW offices.

 

Layoffs, budget cuts, & the union

Updated: City Council passed a tentative 2023-24 budget on May 17th that put more than 100 jobs at risk of layoff in bureaus funded by fees. Mayor Wheeler proposed last minute rollbacks of fee and utility costs that will mean budget cuts and likely layoffs. Read OPB’s coverage here.

CPPW is asking – how can we preserve services and support the people who make this city work? With our strong union, we can push back against Council’s bad budget decisions and will have more protections during layoffs than we have alone.

Continue reading Layoffs, budget cuts, & the union