About 200 Portland, Ore. workers are set to strike next week due to stalled contract negotiations between city leaders and trade unions. Mark Hinkle, president of the District Council of Trade Unions, announced that the strike will commence on February 6. An additional 1,000 workers from AFSCME Local 189 may also strike shortly after. The unions represent approximately 1,200 workers, or 16% of Portland’s 7,500-member workforce. The negotiations have been complicated by a projected budget shortfall exceeding $100m for the next fiscal year. Hinkle said: “The main issues are wages and wage premiums when performing extra, specific or dangerous tasks.” The city has proposed $19m in wage increases, while the unions are seeking $40m.
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