Portland Jobs with Justice

On the current moment, the Portland Jobs with Justice Executive Board issues the following statement:

After President Donald Trump publicly ordered National Guard troops to suppress political activity in Portland, Portland Jobs With Justice joined activists from across the city in rallying against state violence at the local ICE facility on the South Waterfront. Although protesters remained nonviolent, federal officers and police in military fatigues physically attacked the crowd, spraying chemical agents directly into the eyes of Portland Jobs With Justice Executive Director Tyler Fellini.

“Our sister organizations, D.C. JwJ and Chicago JwJ were the first to bear the brunt of the federal crackdown and now Portland finds itself in the crosshairs,” says Fellini, who notes that when he saw a member of the Portland Association of Teachers being assaulted he stepped in to support him before being sprayed with pepper spray himself.

Fellini was joined by members and leaders from across Portland Jobs With Justice’s coalition, including major education, healthcare, and public employee unions. This act of violence underscores why Portland Jobs With Justice remains steadfast in rejecting calls to deploy National Guard troops in our city, why we support the City initiating a land use process to reconsider the permit authorizing ICE’s facilities, and why we ultimately demand the abolition of ICE and the violent deportations, detentions, and disappearances it carries out. The use of chemical agents is one more reason why residents—especially those living near the ICE facility—are calling on the city to revoke the permit, given the grave public health risks created by ICE’s presence.

We will continue to stand with unions and community organizations across Portland to build a movement of direct opposition to any federal incursion into our city. We demand that officials hold federal institutions and local police units accountable for their use of force and brutality. Portland Jobs With Justice commits to sponsoring coalition actions aimed at ending ICE arrests and preventing the use of federal military troops in our streets. We believe this is one of the most urgent labor issues of our time, as workers and organizers throughout our community face spurious arrests and violent repression while the Trump administration seeks to use these threats to suppress collective action to build a just and equitable society where workers and communities thrive.

Portland Jobs with Justice’s 33rd Annual Dinner
Thursday, September 25, 2025 from 6:30 – 8:30pm
World Forestry Center Miller Hall
4033 SW Canyon Rd., Portland OR 97221
TICKETS: bit.ly/2025-dinner
Or click banner below!

We are pleased to announce that we’ll be joined by Ms. Marcia Howard, president of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, who will be giving the keynote address. Marcia played a key leadership role in MFT’s historic 2022 strike, which led to substantial wage increases for MPS’s classified staff and the largest teacher pay raise this century. Her activism also extends beyond the classroom and picket line. For five years, Marcia Howard and a group of neighbors have been the chief stewards of George Floyd Square. Her experiences as a Black woman from the south, as an educator, and as a community organizer make her voice a powerful one in the labor movement. You won’t want to miss this!

We appreciate our member organizations and other sponsors already pledging support:

Join us for an evening of celebration, reflection, and recommitment as we honor victories from across our movement and build momentum for the fights ahead!

JWJ’s art exhibition & auction will run September 6 – 12th
One Grand Gallery (1000 E Burnside St)
Opening Night Party with DJ Yoitsvo:
Saturday, September 6th at 8pm

Want to help us with the art installation? Looking for a couple folks who can commit to help hang art from 10am – 2pm on Saturday, September 6th!  Email sarah@jwjpdx.org if this can be you. 

Thursday, September 25, 2025 • from 6:30 – 8:30PM
Location: World Forestry Center | Miller Hall • 4033 SW Canyon Rd., Portland, OR 97221 US
TICKETS HERE: bit.ly/2025-dinner

In a year marked by growing attacks on workers, immigrants, trans and queer communities, and the very idea of multiracial democracy, Portland Jobs with Justice remains committed to fighting back—and winning. From local labor victories to bold coalition campaigns, we’ve spent the last year showing that collective power still makes change possible.

Join us for an evening of celebration, reflection, and recommitment as we honor victories from across our movement and build momentum for the fights ahead.

This year’s theme, Bread, Roses, and Resistance, honors the legacy of the labor movement: the fight for fair wages, dignity, joy in our lives, and the power of organized resistance. We gather not just to look back, but to prepare ourselves for what’s next.

Let’s gather in community, raise a glass, and fuel the movement for the year to come!

Masks strongly encouraged when not eating or drinking. Thank you for protecting our communities.
Childcare available upon request—email tyler@jwjpdx.org to arrange.
All other questions/inquiries can also be sent to tyler@jwjpdx.org.  

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT!
Campaign Organizer
Location: Portland Metro Area (Remote with optional office use)
Compensation: $55,000/year + benefits (see below)
Reports to: Executive Director
Application deadline: Priority given to applications received by August 5, 2025

Portland Jobs with Justice (JwJ) is hiring a full-time Campaign Organizer to lead and support organizing campaigns that bring together unions, faith leaders, community organizations, and grassroots activists. The Organizer will help coordinate strategic campaigns, foster coalition growth, and strengthen partnerships across diverse sectors advocating for workers’ rights and broader economic and social justice.

This is a dynamic role that involves working closely with unions, community partners, and grassroots activists in a fast-changing environment. The ideal candidate is a collaborative organizer who thrives in teams that are evolving and growing over time. They will be comfortable navigating shifting priorities, building relationships in new spaces, and helping shape campaigns in their early stages. Strong skills in relationship-building and experience organizing across lines of race, class, age, gender, and ability are essential. A background in faith and labor organizing, climate justice, or immigrant rights is a strong plus.

Portland Jobs with Justice is currently working on two strategic campaigns in our region:

CHIPS Communities United:
A coalition of labor, environmental, and community organizations working to ensure CHIPS Act funds create family-wage jobs and uphold strong environmental standards. As the regional anchor, JwJ is building a local coalition to drive advocacy, community engagement, and worker power.

Portland Rising/Oregon Rising:
A growing alliance of community and labor groups building a shared agenda for transformative change. JwJ sits on the coordinating committee and is helping build alignment statewide around shared demands.

About Portland Jobs with Justice

For over 35 years, Portland Jobs with Justice has united over 100 labor, community, and faith organizations, plus thousands of individual activists, to build power for all working people across the Portland area. We do this by expanding our coalition, identifying activists and leaders from our member organizations who pledge to “be there” for each other’s actions, and bringing together members of the coalition from multiple sectors. Our coalition organizes strategic campaigns that cross sectors — labor, community, faith, students, youth, and others to advance a shared vision of justice and dignity for all.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Campaign coordination:
  • Lead coalition campaigns focused on economic justice in the Portland metro area.
  • Develop and implement campaign strategy with the Executive Director.
  • Convene and coordinate coalitions, committees, and working groups.
  • Engage and mobilize coalition members, allies, and activists.
  • Recruit new member organizations and activists to strengthen the coalition.

• Communications & Outreach: 

• • Keep coalition members, partners, and the public informed about JwJ’s work.
  • Create campaign materials and content for newsletters, social media, and our website.
  • Assist in maintaining media relationships and press lists.

• Support other coalition activities as needed:

• • Represent JwJ at partner events, meetings, and community gatherings.
  • Identify and support emerging leaders from within the coalition and broader community.
  • Give presentations, lead trainings, and table at events.
  • Maintain databases using tools like Action Network and Salesforce.
  • Liaise with endorsed campaigns and support partner-led initiatives.
  • Supervise interns working on campaign projects.
  • Participate in mobilizations and direct actions as needed.

Qualifications

Required:

• • Deep commitment to racial, economic, gender, and social justice, including LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights.
  • At least 2 years of experience in grassroots, labor, or social justice organizing (paid or volunteer).
  • Understanding of labor unions, faith-based organizing, and social movements.
  • Experience working on strategic campaigns.
  • Familiarity with direct action organizing and coordination and/or arts and cultural organizing.
  • Self-starter with strong time management and follow-through.
  • A strong ability to motivate people, coordinate volunteer activity, and delegate responsibility.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
  • Ability to work with diverse communities and across lines of difference.
  • Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed.
  • Proficiency in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, etc.).
  • Access to a reliable personal vehicle (mileage reimbursed).

Preferred (not required):

• Experience with labor organizing or contract/bargaining campaigns.
• Familiarity with local and/or statewide policy campaigns.
• Familiarity with organizing in Washington County.
• Experience working in immigrant communities.
• Bilingual or multilingual (additional $2,000 annual pay differential).
• Familiarity with Jobs with Justice!

Compensation and Benefits:

• Starting salary: $55,000 annually

• Health and dental insurance (100% employer-paid, no deductible)

• Paid time off: 10 holidays + winter break + vacation accrual

• Parental leave: 12 weeks paid leave after one year of employment
• Professional development leave

• Retirement: 401(k) plan with employer contributions
• Civil disobedience leave: Paid leave for court dates, legal meetings, and related events if cited or arrested during an employer-supported action.

• Represented staff position (CWA Local 7901)

To Apply:

Email your resume and cover letter to jobs@jwjpdx.org with the subject line: “Campaign Organizer – [Your Name]”.

Priority will be given to applications received by August 5, 2025. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. Position open until filled.

Portland Jobs with Justice is an affirmative action employer.
We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and people with disabilities.

Call for Art Submissions: 250 Years of Resistance
Portland Jobs with Justice’s 2nd Annual Art Exhibition & Auction

In light of Trump’s simultaneous attack on the arts and gross obsession with a mythological American past, the theme of our 2nd annual art show is 250 Years of Resistance. Ever since European settlers arrived, there has been resistance to those in power.

The list of rebels is long, which is why we wanted to celebrate them through our weeklong gallery show at One Grand Gallery in September. We’re looking for artists who resonate with the theme and artwork in any form that tells the story of resistance.

Submissions can be made via our online form at bit/ly/artwork2025. Submissions are due by August 15, 2025.

Exhibited works will be auctioned off with the proceeds split 50/50 between the artist and Portland Jobs with Justice.