Union stews over health insurance proposal

Clackamas County union members marched outside of government offices during their lunch break

By Anthony Roberts

The Clackamas Review, Oct 15, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (5 Reader comments)

anthony roberts / clackamas Review

Union organizer Steve Hughes (with microphone) fires up the crowd at a rally Thursday afternoon for AFSCME Local 350 at the Clackamas County Red Soils Government Campus.

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OREGON CITY – More than 150 union members marched outside of Clackamas County’s Red Soils Government Campus Thursday afternoon to protest the county’s handling of ongoing contract negotiations.

AFSCME Local 350 staged a “Solidarity Lunch Break” rally in the courtyard outside of the Government Services Building, where county commissioners have offices, to drum up support and announce that they’re filing an unfair labor practice charge against the county with the state Labor Relations Board. Local 350 represents about 360 employees from the county’s Water and Environment Services, Transportation and Development, and Communications departments.

Employees have been without a contract since July 1. Representatives said they are amenable to wage discussions, but balked when the county proposed changing its health insurance contribution.

“That sounds like unfair bargaining and it’s illegal,” said union officer Andrea Hall. Hall said she didn’t fault the county for seeking concessions, but faulted them for seeking too much.

Oregon AFSCME Public Affairs Director Don Loving said negotiations for many unions have been more difficult over the past year as the economy tanked, but he said health care is a sticking point.

“Most people are willing to talk about some change in compensation in exchange for health insurance,” he said. “Insurance is a big factor.”

Union representative Stacy Chamberlain said the county proposed a regressive proposal on health insurance, proposing to reduce the cap increase on the county’s portion of insurance premiums from a 9 percent increase each year to 5 percent this year and a 6.5 percent increase the following two years.