The central dispute is compensation for 2026-2027. Under the union's 2025 agreement, the contract was set to reopen in early January 2026 to renegotiate specific provisions, and CPPW members received some increases in 2025. The union says the two sides' offers are not far apart; the city contends the workers' demands are too costly.

"Our union takes this strike very seriously," said CPPW President Kari Koch. "This is not a joke to us. This is extremely serious. We take our role as public sector employees, as public servants, as a calling, as a career, and we work for the city because we want to work for the city. The fact that we are not able to do our job of providing services to Portlanders is extremely difficult for us."

Koch called striking over a standard wage increase "unusual," saying such raises typically fall within the realm of agreement. "It feels like this contract is about Mayor Wilson trying to do union busting at the city of Portland," she said.

Pickets formed Monday outside City Hall in intermittent rain. Earlier that morning, about 100 people rallied at the city's wastewater treatment plant at 5:30 a.m., the normal start of their shift. Teamsters members working there declined to cross the picket line, according to Koch.

State mediators offered the parties a check-in meeting this Friday, but Koch said that is not soon enough and the union wants to settle quickly so members can return to work. The city has indicated it is open to meeting sooner.

CPPW represents employees across city government, including revenue collection and the payroll department for the city's roughly 8,000 employees. It also represents all Bureau of Emergency Management employees, who maintain public safety and public works operations, including 911 and emergency response systems.

City spokesperson Alison Perkins said management and supervisory staff are covering for striking workers and that services are holding up so far. "We haven't seen any issues so far," Perkins said. "It's only been one day, and we will be updating our website with any impacts that might affect Portlanders."

Still, the loss of about 10 percent of the city's unionized workforce is already being felt. Two public records requests filed in September and October related to litigation will be delayed "due to a labor-related work stoppage," according to a notice received Monday.

The strike puts pressure on city services and on Mayor Wilson's administration as both sides weigh whether to return to the table before Friday.