94% of Benton County union members vote to strike, citing unfair wages and safety

BENTON COUNTY, OR. — Benton County workers, represented by AFSCME Oregon, have voted overwhelmingly to strike, effective Thursday, October 24, 2024.

The decision came after months of negotiations aimed at increasing wages and safety measures for county workers. According to AFSCME of Oregon, they have been sitting at the negotiating table with the county for months, since February.

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According to Oregon AFSCME, 94% of the Benton County workers they represent voted to approve the strike; This follows the union filing an unfair labor practice complaint against the district on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in addition to four others that have been filed since negotiations began nine months ago.

“It’s unfair that while non-reputable workers are getting significant increases in wages, union workers are struggling to make ends meet doing the same work,” said Dave Malone, a land surveyor with Benton County Public Works. “Housing costs have skyrocketed and basic necessities are increasingly difficult to afford. The county needs to step up its efforts and show that they value us by paying employees the wages we deserve.”

Back in March, non-union workers received significant pay increases, ranging from 30 to 50 percent.

“The Oregon AFL-CIO and the entire Oregon labor movement stand firmly with the Benton County workers who have been forced to strike due to the county’s failure to offer a fair contract that addresses both wages and safety concerns,” said state AFL-CIO Executive Director Oregon. Graham Trainor: “We call on county leadership to take responsibility, return to the table and negotiate a fair deal that respects these workers and the essential services they provide.”

Oregon AFSCME says union and county bargaining teams will hold their next mediation session on Nov. 1, and workers are prepared to go on strike if they can’t reach an agreement on their top priorities.