Mayor Wilson backtracks on city workers' office return
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has been in office about a week and he is already getting pushback on one of his stated initiatives -- and he's starting to backtrack.
Wilson wants city employees who work remotely to spend more time at the office, at least four days a week. But unions representing those workers are saying not so fast.
The new mayor said 60% of city employees -- about 4000 people -- have been reporting to job sites over the past four years, he wants to see all staff return. Since the pandemic, former Mayor Ted Wheeler allowed employees to work partly remote. In January 2024, Wheeler called for them to work in the office 20 hours a week, about 2.5 days.
Wilson's request was met with immediate pushback as some union members said remote work in some cases is actually more efficient.
Rob Martineau, president of AFSCME Local 189 which represents a number of city workers, said its members will "continue to do the work wherever it needs to be done."
In the statement, Martineau continued, "We are committed to delivering services the most efficient and effective way possible. The Mayor has been open, available and engaging with our union and we look forward to his continued partnership in his priorities for Portland."
In a statement to KOIN 6 News on Monday, Wilson said that "given the current budget constraints and our ongoing efforts to address unsheltered homelessness, the full return of staff to the office will not be feasible in 2025."
Wilson said he is currently "evaluating options" and will announce his "revised strategy in the coming weeks."
The change Wilson pushed would require contract changes with more than a dozen unions in the city. Three of those unions, including AFSCME, are in contract negotiations at this time.
So while Mayor Wilson would like to see city employees back in the office to boost downtown vitality and the economy, it's proving to be easier said than done.
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story misattributed a quote to David Kreisman with Oregon AFSCME. This version has the correct attribution.