Portland Jobs with Justice

The Portland Workers’ Assembly will be meeting again on April 12, 10 am to 12 noon, at the Portland Association of Teachers Hall (345 NE 8^th Street).

We will be building on the work of the March meeting, which focused on the Minneapolis labor-community organizing experience.  But don’t worry if you didn’t make that meeting—we will start the April meeting with a review of key takeaways from that experience before turning our focus to Portland and how we can move our own labor-community organizing efforts forward.  

We encourage you to RSVP; it makes planning easier: bit.ly/portland-rising

And if you do want to learn more about the Minneapolis experience before the April meeting, check out the following:

·       Joseph A. McCartin, “Bargaining for the Common Good,” Dissent Magazine, Spring 2016.

·       Harold Meyerson, “Turning the Tables in Minnesota: An enduring union-community alliance in the Twin Cities may be a model for progressive victories,” The American Prospect, March 13, 2024.

·       Stephanie Luce, “Plan 2028: Bringing Labor and Social Movements Together,” Convergence, March 14, 2025. 

For over 2 years, workers at a mushroom facility in Sunnyside, WA, now owned by Windmill Mushroom Farm, have been fighting for union recognition. Under Washington State Law, agricultural workers are excluded from the right to organize and there is no legal mechanism to force companies to recognize labor unions regardless of the wishes of a majority of the workforce. Many pro-union workers at Windmill Mushrooms have faced adverse actions, including terminations and conditions that have pressured them to leave their jobs. As such, after repeated demonstrations, petitions, and other demands for union recognition, the United Farm Workers is announcing its first official boycott of the decade against Windmill Mushrooms, until the company agrees to recognize the union.

ACTION: Support Sunnyside Farm Workers Call for a Fair Contract Now!
NOON on Monday, March 31st at Safeway, Tacoma (2411 N Proctor St)

More actions for individuals and organizations:

1. Publicize the boycott (flier)
2. Endorse the boycott (FWM-NW sample)
3. Send letter to Windmill CEO (sample letter)
4. 2-3 people go to your local Safeway store and ask store manager not to buy the mushrooms (sample letter)
5. Sign up for the FWM-NW e-news at www.fwm-nw.org to stay current on campaign actions.
6. Let FWM-NW know what you did so we can share it with the workers, email fwm-nw@nfwm.org. It boosts worker morale when they know they are not alone in their struggle.

Portland Rising presents a new season of Portland Workers’ Assembly Programs. This free, in-person event is the first in a series of gatherings exploring how workers and community members can organize bold, strategic actions to fight for better wages, working conditions, and local policy changes. We’ll discuss key actions from the Minneapolis Week of Action and how they can inform labor and community organizing here in Portland. Join us for an important conversation and help shape the future of class struggle in our city! Masks required and provided.

Saturday, March 8th from 2 – 4pm
Portland Association of Teachers Hall (345 NE 8th Ave)
RSVP Here: bit.ly/wecanwintogether

“The Revolution Continues”‘Overcoming 21st Century Political Regression via the Voices of Our Ancestors’

Please Join us For a special Black History Month panel discussion sponsored by the Oregon Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, JwJ Portland Rising, and SEIU Local 503, AFRAM Caucus.

Moderated by: Mr. Vincent Blanco Jr.

Featuring:

• James Manning, Oregon Senator
• Vince Jones Dixon, Multnomah County Commissioner
• Reyna Lopez, PCUN Executive Director
• Kent Ford, Civil Rights Activist

February 27, 2025 from 7 – 9pm
SEIU Local 503 (525 NE Oregon Street, Portland, OR)
Share the Facebook event page here!

Tuesday, February 18th from 7 – 9am
Doors open at 7:00 AM. Programming begins at 7:30 AM
St. Andrew Parish Hall (806 NE Alberta St)
This event is accessible

Join JWJ for our annual Faith Labor Breakfast, happening on Tuesday, February 18th, at St. Andrew Church. This cherished event celebrates the deep solidarity between organized labor and faith-based communities, bringing together allies committed to justice and equity.

This year’s theme, “Rest, Resist, Rebuild” refects the urgent need to defend the gains of the labor movement and stand with community members most impacted by the challenges ahead under a Trump presidency. We’ll be highlighting challenges faced by immigrant and refugee community members, with Keynote Speaker: Organizer, Activist, and Pastor, Keren Rodriguez, from IMIrJ.

Breakfast will be catered by Elephants Deli, with meat and vegetarian/vegan options available. Coffee is being graciously donated by Equal Exchange. There will also be non-caffeinated beverages available. Masks required when you’re not eating or drinking.

Thousands of nurses, physicians, physician associates, certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, clinical staff, and other healthcare professionals are still on strike across 8 hospitals and 6 clinics of Providence Health Services in Oregon (STRIKE MAP HERE.) Brave members of Oregon Nurses Association walked out to end unfair labor practices, understaffing, and unsafe conditions. Stand in solidarity with healthcare workers in their fight for better care! Picket, donate time and resources to the fight! The longer the picket line, the shorter the strike! https://www.oregonrn.org/page/patientsbeforeprofits