Category: Membership

Interim Dues are Happening!

After months of City feet dragging and City technology issues, interim dues is launching! This is a huge step forward in building our union – thank you for your patience and your commitment to winning a strong contract!

Interim dues will be automatically deducted from your March 21st, 2024 paycheck and will continue to be deducted from each paycheck until a contract is ratified.  (Note:  This applies to those who have signed a membership card and have authorized dues to be deducted.  Membership gives benefits like voting rights, etc.  We encourage all eligible City employees to become members to have the full rights and privileges of CPPW membership.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we pay dues?

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 paying membership demonstrates to the City that CPPW members support the union effort and are ready to back up that support with action!

What are CPPW dues right now (aka, Interim Dues)?

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.

How to I figure out my Interim Dues cost?

Base hourly wage (no overtime and before taxes or any pay enhancements) x .005

For example, if you make $50 an hour
$50x.005=0.25
Or 25 cents an hour
.25×80 hours a pay check = $20 in dues per pay check

What will dues be once we have a contract? 

Great question – check out this website page of all things dues!

How can I contribute to my union through dues? 

Sign your union card now! Signing your union card is a commitment to pay dues and allow automatic dues deduction on your paycheck.

What if I need to stop paying dues? 

You may need to stop contributing because of a financial crisis or some other reason, we understand! You must submit your request for a hardship exception or a request to revoke your membership card in writing to info@cppwunion.org 10 days before pay day so that both CPPW and the City can fully process your request. (That’s the Monday before timesheets are due).

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.

 

Constitution & Bylaws: Membership Review & Vote

CPPW members:

The Constitution & Bylaws Committee has completed work on drafting our formation documents for the CPPW.  This step is the precursor to elections for our officers and board members.

The Organizing Committee has received the draft Constitution & Bylaws from the Committee and approved it for review and voting by the members.

Voting will take place electronically on November 28, 29, & 30th.  You will only be permitted to vote once and a link to vote will be sent to members in good standing on November 27th after 5 PM.

To ensure you’re a member in good standing, sign a membership card electronically [ HERE ].

• Click here to review the CPPW Constitution & Bylaws in PDF format.

Comments and suggestions can be provided on the Google Docs document [ HERE ].  We will close editing on Friday, November 17.

Elections will be announced once the Constitution is adopted and the Elections Committee is formed.

Become A Member!

Join The Union

Membership is the only thing that makes a union a Union!

By law, the City of Portland Professional Workers Union must represent and advocate all persons in our bargaining unit. However, only members in good standing receive all the benefits of the union. To become a member in good standing you must complete the form confirming your membership in the union.

Membership rights and duties include:

  • Contributing dues at an amount agreed upon by the membership.
  • Having a voice through participation in union decision making, voting on the contract and officers.
  • Representing the union as an officer, steward, serving on committees.

Most importantly, membership matters. The more people who become members, the stronger our union is and the more likely we will be to win a powerful contract with fair wages, working conditions, and strong protections for all of us.

Didn’t I Already Sign A Card?

Many of  us signed cards before our May election. Those were the petition to have an election to establish the CPPW as your union, which we of course, won overwhelmingly. Those petition cards do not count as a membership card, so we are back to starting from the beginning and signing you all up as members.

Note that signing the cards will obligate one to pay dues once those are established. By becoming a member you will have input on the decision on how much those dues will be. (Currently there are no dues.)