Tulsa City Workers Secure Wage Gains from Prior Contract

AFSCME Local 1180 members celebrate pay increases after negotiating historic workplace benefits in 2025.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:46am

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a stack of paychecks, a pen, and a calculator arranged on a clean, monochromatic background, symbolizing the financial impact of the union's successful contract negotiations.A visual representation of the tangible gains secured by Tulsa city workers through their union's strategic contract negotiations.Today in Tulsa

AFSCME Local 1180 members working for the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma are receiving pay raises after securing a contract last year that included improved scheduling, a fairer pay scale, union time at worksites, and new parental leave benefits. The raises were contingent on the city's finances improving, which has now happened, allowing the mayor to follow through on the agreement.

Why it matters

This story highlights the power of collective bargaining and strategic union negotiations to not only secure immediate wins for workers, but also build in provisions for future gains as a city's financial situation improves. It demonstrates how AFSCME members in Tulsa organized politically to elect labor-friendly leadership and then leveraged that relationship to achieve meaningful workplace changes.

The details

Last year, AFSCME Local 1180 negotiated a contract with the city of Tulsa that included several historic wins for workers, such as better scheduling, a fairer pay scale, union time at worksites, and new parental leave benefits. However, the contract did not include an immediate wage increase due to a major budget deficit facing the city at the time. The union and the city agreed that if the budget improved, workers would receive a 2%-2.5% raise. Now that the city's finances have shifted into the black, the mayor has followed through on that agreement, providing the pay increase to AFSCME members.

  • In 2025, AFSCME Local 1180 negotiated a new contract with the city of Tulsa.
  • The 2025 contract included improved benefits and workplace standards, but no immediate wage increase due to the city's budget deficit.
  • The 2025 contract stipulated that if the city's finances improved, workers would receive a 2%-2.5% raise.
  • In 2026, the city's budget shifted into the black, allowing the mayor to announce the promised wage increase for AFSCME Local 1180 members.

The players

AFSCME Local 1180

The local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union representing city workers in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Mayor Monroe Nichols

The mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who was elected with the support of AFSCME members and has worked closely with the union to implement the terms of the 2025 contract.

Lainee Carner

An AFSCME member and park employee in Tulsa who is excited about the upcoming pay increase and the union's continued negotiations.

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What they’re saying

“I'm excited to see my next paycheck! And I'm excited to get back to the negotiations table this year with even more gusto.”

— Lainee Carner, AFSCME member and park employee

“I didn't get paternal leave with my first child. I had to use every bit of vacation time I had. We won leave in our last contract and it made all the difference when having my second child. We won that, our efforts changed my family's life.”

— Lainee Carner, AFSCME member and park employee

“I am proud to represent my workplace and my union. We defined worker power, and we defined the difference we can make in each other's lives on and off the job.”

— Lainee Carner, AFSCME member and park employee

What’s next

Contract negotiations for this year have already begun, and AFSCME members are holding conversations about worker priorities and building their negotiations strategy.

The takeaway

This story demonstrates the long-term impact that strategic union negotiations can have, even when immediate wage increases are not possible. By securing historic workplace benefits and building in provisions for future raises, AFSCME Local 1180 has empowered its members and improved their lives both on and off the job.