On this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we were joined by Jackie Tate, President, and Imogen Fox, Bargaining Team Member, Steward, with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 88, representing Multnomah County employees in Portland, Ore. They discussed the union’s current contract negotiations, key workplace challenges such as staffing, wages and trauma support, as well as the growing role and concerns surrounding artificial intelligence in the public sector.
Safe staffing levels and the broader impact of chronic understaffing across county services is a focal point for Local 88. Fox described how ongoing staff shortages leave workers overstretched, unable to meet public needs efficiently and sometimes forced into unsafe situations. This problem not only puts immense pressure on employees’ mental health but also has ripple effects on essential programs, from processing benefit applications to providing critical public health services. Tate echoed these sentiments, highlighting alarming incidents of workplace violence and the emotional toll on frontline staff working with vulnerable community members.
Fighting for a living wage and improved financial security for their members has become a struggle in current negotiations, Tate and Fox explained. Despite Portland’s high cost of living, some county employees remain stuck at wages well below local living wage calculations. Fox highlighted the line cook wages and the challenges they, along with other Local 88 members, face in making ends meet. Tate emphasized the deep sense of public service that motivates these workers, as well as the pressing need for more equitable pay that allows county employees to live with dignity in the communities they serve.
Finally, both Tate and Fox voiced concern over the introduction of artificial intelligence into public sector workflows. While there is hope that AI could be a helpful tool, both Tate and Fox stressed the risks of worker surveillance, job loss and the perpetuation of bias if safeguards are not put in place early. According to Fox and Tate, Local 88 is working to get ahead of these developments, advocating for clear frameworks that ensure AI is introduced ethically and with employee input, rather than as an unchecked cost-cutting measure.
To hear more on Portland’s public sector workers, check out the full conversation with Local 88’s Jackie Tate and Imogen Fox by listening to the episode above.