“Portland can be better. Portland can, you know, improve the way it connects with community, the services it provides, and as a union, we can sit at those tables and really have a stronger voice.”
– Kari Koch president of the City of Portland Professional Workers Union
In episode 63, we talk to Kari Koch, president of the City of Portland Professional Workers Union, activist and all around great person.
Kari discusses the challenges of having a muddy and unclear job title system, the lack of representation amongst over 800 workers at the city until the CPPW was created, how the city whilst moving away from an inefficient commissioner system has replaced many of the inefficiencies with new ones through management layers, and why city workers deserve a living wages, increases, and clarity in their roles.
With a CPPW strike vote approved, the lack of city engagement in negotiating in good faith will affect all of Portland if this isn’t resolved soonest.
Follow their updates in Instagram @cppwunion
Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram at @ProgressPortland
