THE DALLES — Between an absent Mayor Rich Mays and another lengthy executive session to cap the evening, The Dalles City Council Meeting on June 22 largely centered on public comment, including demands for higher wages from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
SEIU is a labor union comprising millions of employees across the healthcare, public service, and property services sectors in North America, aiming to improve wages, benefits, and working conditions; those in the Columbia River Gorge are primarily represented by Oregon’s statewide affiliate SEIU Local 503, an organization of more than 72,000 people.
A mechanic in The Dalles’ Public Works Department, SEIU Spokesperson Jordon Pesce presented a petition signed by every union employee, arguing their earned wages should “reflect the value they bring to [the] community every single day,” he said. “These are employees who maintain the city’s infrastructure. They make sure the streets are safe …these are not jobs that can be easily replaced.”
According to Pesce, union members’ salaries are “within the average” compared to similar-sized cities, which has led to persistent recruitment and retention problems. “We are asking for above-average wages because we perform above-average work and carry out above-average responsibilities,” Pesce said. “Investing in your public works employees is investing in the future of your city.” Pesce closed by pointing out a notable disparity between wage increases for upper management and those for union employees, namely, City Manager Matthew Klebes’ recent 8.2% raise.
Kristen Dyer, an employee at The Dalles Library, read a prepared statement from her colleague, Abby Phelps, which emphasized employees’ deep ties to The Dalles and pride in serving the community. The statement laid out specific cost-of-living increases (groceries, gas, rent, etc.), arguing that proposed wage increases (2.8%) effectively work as “pay cuts” due to a reduction in purchasing power.
“We’ve been told that retaining employees is a priority,” Dyer said. “This is an opportunity to show it.”
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