PORTLAND, Ore. — Eleven employees from Portland’s Independent Police Review (IPR) office launched a three-day strike on Wednesday after labor negotiations with the city reached a deadlock. The strike marks a critical point in an ongoing conflict over job security as Portland prepares to transition to a new system for overseeing police misconduct investigations.
Background: Transition to a New Oversight System
The striking employees are represented by Oregon AFSCME Local 189, a union advocating for public sector workers across the state. Their main concern centers on the future of their positions once the city replaces the current IPR office with the new Office of Community-based Police Accountability (OCPA).
The new oversight office was approved by voters in 2020, designed to provide stronger community involvement and increased transparency in police misconduct investigations. However, the shift from IPR to OCPA has been slow due to legal challenges and policy delays, leaving the future employment of existing staff uncertain.
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Workers Demand Job Protection
Union members say the city has failed to guarantee that IPR staff will retain their jobs once the new office begins operations. They want a binding agreement ensuring that experienced investigators and administrative staff will be offered positions within the new structure.
“We’re asking for concrete language ensuring job security,” said IPR employee Gayla Jennings in a statement Tuesday. “Just a binding agreement that the experienced administrative investigators and staff at IPR will have a guaranteed option to continue to do the important work they’ve dedicated their careers to.”
Union representatives argue that Portland City Council made such a commitment in a 2021 budget note, which stated that the existing IPR positions would be preserved as permanent, ongoing roles. They claim that the city has since backed away from that promise during contract negotiations, which have been underway since August.
City’s Position: Bound by the City Charter
City officials maintain that they cannot make binding staffing commitments because of restrictions in the City Charter, which was amended when voters approved the new oversight system.
According to city spokesperson Alison Perkins, only the director of the new OCPA has the authority to make hiring decisions. “Guaranteeing direct placement would violate City Charter by overriding the Director’s authority,” Perkins explained. “Any changes to the City Charter can only occur if Portlanders vote to amend it.”
This legal limitation, city leaders argue, prevents them from offering IPR workers the job security they seek — a stance that union representatives have described as dismissive and avoidable.
Strike Actions and Early Impact
The strike began Wednesday morning with picket lines forming in front of Portland City Hall, where the IPR offices are located. Supporters joined the workers to demand fair treatment and employment guarantees.
The walkout has already caused noticeable disruptions. Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney confirmed that the city council meeting scheduled for Wednesday was canceled due to lack of quorum, as multiple councilors refused to cross the picket line.
During the strike, the three remaining IPR managers are expected to handle police misconduct cases, though union officials warn that investigations may face significant delays. AFSCME Local 189 spokesperson David Kreisman said that while managers can perform basic oversight functions, the loss of experienced investigative staff could slow the review process and impact accountability efforts.
Broader Implications
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between Portland’s labor unions and city management amid broader efforts to reform police oversight and public accountability. The IPR staff’s strike is not only about job security but also about ensuring continuity and experience in one of the city’s most scrutinized departments.
Many community members who supported the creation of the new oversight system in 2020 now express concern that the transition could unintentionally weaken accountability if veteran investigators are dismissed.
As the strike continues through the week, both sides remain firm. The union insists that the city must protect the people who have long handled police misconduct complaints, while city leaders say their ability to act is limited by the charter approved by voters.
Negotiations are expected to resume following the strike, but until then, Portland’s police oversight operations will function with reduced staff — and the future of its experienced workforce remains uncertain.
