Corvallis city employees represented by Oregon AFSCME Local 2975 planned to begin a strike Wednesday, Oct. 14, after a final mediation session failed to produce a contract agreement Tuesday. Picketing was scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. outside Corvallis City Hall and the Benton County Corvallis Public Library. The city said it would post updates on expected service disruptions on its website. The union says the city rejected its mediation proposal without making a counteroffer. Workers’ concerns include limited wage growth, health insurance costs and retroactive pay. The union also says management rejected proposals for hazard pay and clearer communication when employees are denied reclassification. The city’s current offer is a three-year contract with a 6% cost-of-living increase in the first year and 3% increases in each of the following two years. The city says the package would cost up to $7.8 million. A city spokesperson also cited a $20 million budget gap, with service impacts expected to begin in 2027. The contract expired in June, and negotiations have been underway since January. Local 2975 President Evan Newton said the union is frustrated that the city would add three salary steps for management but not one for employees who serve the community directly. The outcome of the labor dispute could affect city services as Corvallis weighs employee compensation against projected budget constraints. Residents were directed to the city’s strike-contingency updates for information about service availability.