Portland Workers Plan to Strike Nov. 9
The City of Portland Professional Workers Union, representing more than 800 employees, plans a strike after 93% of members voted in favor.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Unions
Live Poll
Should Portland give city workers bigger raises despite tight budgets?
The City of Portland Professional Workers Union plans to strike on November 9, 2026, after 93% of members voted in favor of a walkout. Mediation between the city and the union is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, 2026.
Why it matters
The dispute centers on compensation after nearly a year of stalled contract negotiations, and the city says it will maintain essential services for Portland residents if members walk out. The outcome could affect public services across the city's 17 bargaining units.
The union's current contract through 2027 totals $5.9 million, and the city estimates its own proposal would bring total contract cost to $15 million. Whether the two sides can close the gap between a $9.3 million union estimate and a $19.8 million city estimate remains unresolved.
The players
City of Portland Professional Workers Union
The union represents more than 800 city workers across every bureau and office and voted 93% in favor of a strike.
Lauren Bailey
Bailey is a records coordinator for the City of Portland who said the city is already behind on a backlog of public records requests.
The details
The union represents more than 800 workers across every bureau and office, and its current contract includes a 2.4% cost-of-living increase, a 2% wage increase for employees not already at the top of their pay range, and a one-time $1,000 bonus. The city has proposed a 3% cost-of-living increase retroactive to July 2026, an additional increase of 1% to 4% in July 2027, and another $1,000 one-time bonus.
Timeline
July 2026: The city's proposed retroactive 3% cost-of-living increase would take effect.
November 8, 2026: Mediation between the city and the union is scheduled.
November 9, 2026: The union plans to strike.
Big Picture
The dispute involves one of 17 bargaining units covering more than 80% of Portland's roughly 7,500 municipal employees, so a strike would test the city's contract framework across its workforce. Negotiations over reopened compensation terms through 2027 will shape how the city handles similar bargaining in the months ahead.
Residents should expect potential disruptions if members walk out on November 9, and the city says it will notify the public if there are impacts from a strike. The city says it will maintain essential services for residents during any walkout.
The takeaway
Portland residents should watch for city notices about service impacts as the November 8 mediation session approaches.
What happens next
Mediation between the city and the City of Portland Professional Workers Union is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, 2026, ahead of the planned November 9 strike.
Further reading
Follow the latest developments in Unions coverage for Portland.
Live Poll
Should Portland give city workers bigger raises despite tight budgets?
