SALEM, Ore. (AP) — As public employee unions fight threats to their collective bargaining power in Midwestern state capitols, negotiations with public employee unions are underway in Oregon with much less noise.
But the stakes are high for union members here as the state looks to save money wherever it can. All sides agree that government workers in Oregon will see smaller paychecks when lawmakers wrap up negotiations on a budget for the next two years.
Gov. John Kitzhaber’s negotiating team made its first proposal this week in negotiations with the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, which is the smaller of the two major unions representing Oregon state workers.
Kitzhaber’s proposals would result in smaller paychecks for union workers through decreased pay and increased health care and retirement costs.
