Category: News

Solidarity Statement against the raids and grand jury

The Portland IWW has signed onto the following statement:

On Wednesday July 25th, the FBI conducted a series of coordinated raids against activists in Portland, Olympia, and Seattle. They subpoenaed several people to a special federal grand jury, and seized computers, black clothing and anarchist literature. This comes after similar raids in Seattle in July and earlier raids of squats in Portland.

Though the FBI has said that the raids are part of a violent crime investigation, the truth is that the federal authorities are conducting a political witch-hunt against anarchists and others working toward a more just, free, and equal society. The warrants served specifically listed anarchist literature as evidence to be seized, pointing to the fact that the FBI and police are targeting this group of people because of their political ideas. Pure and simple, these raids and the grand jury hearings are being used to intimidate people whose politics oppose the state’s agenda. During a time of growing economic and ecological crises that are broadly affecting people across the world, it is an attempt to push back any movement towards creating a world that is humane, one that meets every person’s needs rather than serving only the interests of the rich.

This attack does not occur in a vacuum. Around the country and around the world, people have been rising up and resisting an economic system that puts the endless pursuit of profit ahead of the basic needs of humanity and the Earth. From the Arab Spring to the Occupy movement to now Anaheim, people are taking to the streets. In each of these cases, the state has responded with brutal political repression. This is not a coincidence. It is a long-term strategy by state agencies to stop legitimate political challenges to a status quo that exploits most of the world’s people.

We, the undersigned, condemn this and all other political repression. While we may have differences in ideology or chose to use different tactics, we understand that we are in a shared struggle to create a just, free, and liberated world, and that we can only do this if we stand together. We will not let scare tactics or smear campaigns divide us, intimidate us, or stop us from organizing and working for a better world.

No more witch-hunts! An injury to one is an injury to all.

http://nopoliticalrepression.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/hello-world/

Junior Wobblies May Day Float!

Do you have a kid that might want to make a float for the May Day march?
All ages welcome! All kids welcome!
Parents do not have to be in the IWW for kids to participate.

Junior Wobblies is going to decorate a bike cart for the march, using our imagination and materials from SCRAP.

Please send an email with your snail mail address to:
pdxjuniorwobblies@gmail.com
so we may send an invitation to your child.

 

Solidarity with Oakland’s General Strike! Say NO to Police Violence!

  • Wednesday, November 2nd

  • 4:30 — Rally at Terry Schrunk Plaza

  • 5:30 — March


Come join Veterans and community members from across Portland for a national day of action in solidarity with Oakland’s General strike and against police violence. This day is being called to support Marine Corp. Veteran Scott Olsen. Olsen, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), was struck by a police tear gas canister and suffered a cracked skull during an Occupy demonstration Wednesday, October 26 in Oakland. A call has gone out from Oakland for cities across the country to say no to violence against the Occupy Movement and no to police violence and to stand in solidarity with the general strike being called for Wednesday November 2nd.

Major Victory for Janus Workers and the Portland IWW!

After four weeks of informational picketing, everyday for 2 hours outside of Janus Youth Programs’ main office at 707 NE Couch St, workers at the Streetlight/Porchlight shelters and at Harry’s Mother finally gained the right to keep their peer review panel. Both Streetlight/Porchlight and Harry’s Mother are non-profit programs serving youth, and both shops are under contract with the Portland Industrial Workers of the World. Janus told workers at both work sites that they would not sign their labor contracts with the peer review panels that they have had for over 10 years — instead trying to pressure workers into accepting binding arbitration at a cost workers and the IWW could not afford.

After four weeks of picketing, workers took a break for week five, a week that a contract negotiations session with management was scheduled. Management tried to get workers to accept a ridiculously long contract of 8 years, with wage re-openers every two years, in exchange for the keeping the peer review panel. Workers instead said they were only willing to go as long as a 6 year contract, with wage re-openers every 2 years and one additional, non-wages article which could be bargained during the wage re-opener.

Janus negotiators were not willing to budge.

At this point, workers suggested that the offer they were making was more than reasonable, and that there were people willing to get back out on the picket line if Janus would not compromise.

Janus’s negotiators took a caucus, and after a long break, returned to the table and agreed to the workers’ terms.

This is a huge victory for workers who have struggled many weeks for the right to keep their peers in a place to oversee any disputed firings — the peer review panel can overrule any firing decisions that Janus makes against its union workers. Janus workers and the IWW would like to thank the members of the community who have supported them in this effort, including Portland’s Jobs with Justice. A victory for one is a victory for all.

Janus Picket Week 4: Everyday Til We Get Our Way!

This week’s picket: Monday thru Friday, from 3 to 5pm, at 707 NE Couch.

We’ll be out there again, in front of Janus Youth Programs, to protest Janus’s union busting tactics. They are taking away a time-honored peer review panel which allows for democratic oversight of fired workers. This panel has never cost Janus any money, and has been in place for 10 years, and now they are telling workers at two IWW-represented shops that they won’t sign their labor contracts with these panels in place.

What you can do:

  • Come to the picket and show your solidarity with these frontline workers, whose minimal wage increase is being held hostage until they agree to have this panel taken away from them and replaced with arbitration that could cost up to $1500 per day.
  • Let Dennis Morrow know you support the workers and don’t think they should lose this peer review panel, and be forced to have mandatory arbitration, an unaffordable expensive alternative. Call his assistant and leave a message at: 503-542-4608.

Week 3: Workers at Janus Youth Services Still Need Your Solidarity!

We’ll be changing our schedule a bit this coming week:

  • 11am-1pm on Tuesday the 22nd & Friday the 25
  • 3pm-5pm on Wednesday the 23rd & Thursday the 24th

If you’re new to the picket, try to show up half an hour early at Grendel’s Coffee, on the corner of 8th & E Burnside. The picket itself takes place around the corner at NE 7th & NE Couch St.

So, what’s happening at Janus?
The IWW has represented workers at Janus for 10 years, and the workers are currently fighting for a new contract. These negotiations have been going on for a year and a half now, with very little progress until recently. The workers are asking for a modest raise and very little else. However, Executive Director Dennis Morrow refuses to give any raise unless the workers agree to get rid of the Peer Review Panel which they’ve had since their first contract a decade ago. The Panel is the last step in a lengthy review process that workers have at their disposal if they are wrongfully fired. Janus wants to replace that Panel — a democratic body made up of 3 workers and 2 administrators — with mandatory arbitration, which will cost up to $1500/day, essentially in an effort to break the Union financially. And that arbitration isn’t binding, so even if the mediator finds that the worker was wrongfully fired, Janus won’t have to rehire them.

Two weeks ago, the Janus workers organized a picket outside the administrative offices, and we’ve been going strong there every day since. After all the stagnation in negotiations, Janus has finally started to budge since we’ve been outside making noise, and is moving closer to meeting our basic demands. We feel like this battle is close to being won, and so we’ve decided to keep up the pressure on Janus this week, February 22nd – 25th.

If you know you can make it any particular day or days, send us an email so we can keep track of our expected numbers. If you can’t schedule ahead of time, no big deal. Just come out and shout. We’ve got songs. We’ve got signs. We’ve got solidarity forever!

Update on the Janus Youth Direct Action!

Hey Janus!

  • Use your money to help youth, not fight workers!
  • Allow workers to keep democratic oversight!
  • Don’t make workers choose between a fair wage and a fair contract!

Over 15 Janus workers and IWW members lined the sidewalks in front of Janus Youth Programs today with these demands. Morale was high and there was plenty of chanting and even some singing today as workers participated in direct action to pressure Janus into respecting their workers and giving them what they deserve.

What can you do to help?
Come join us on the picket line! We will be there every business day from 9am to 11am until demands are met. Or make a phone call to (503) 233-6090 and ask for the executive director, Dennis Morrow. When you call, let them know you calling in support of the union workers at Janus Youth. The workers deserve both the peer review panel and a decent wage. Janus must not deny the democratic oversight provided by the peer review panel and replace it with a process that could cost workers and the program thousands of dollars. As a non-profit, Janus should use your money to help youth, not fight workers. If you’d like to get in touch with the workers, write to them at:
shelterwobblies[at]gmail[dot]com
harrysmotherwobs[at]gmail[dot]com

KBOO Community Radio recently covered the picket on their news broadcast: LISTEN HERE.

Employees at Janus Youth Programs Hold Informational Picket to Protect Their Rights

Employees at Harry’s Mother & Streetlight/Porchlight, nonprofit youth shelters run by Janus Youth Programs, are holding a demonstration to protect their rights. Employees, along with members of the Portland branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), the union representing these two programs will be holding an informational picket outside of Janus Youth Programs’ administrative offices, at 707 NE Couch, starting Monday, February 7th, from 9 to 11am. The picket will continue each business day until demands are met.

“We’re requesting that Janus focus their budget on improving services for youth rather than using those resources to fight their workers,” states Ciara Doyle, a member of the bargaining team. For the past 10 years, employees have had a contract with Janus Youth Programs providing them a peer review panel. This panel consists of 2 supervisors and 3 employees who democratically review contested employee firings. Janus is attempting to replace the peer review panel with mandatory arbitration. This outside arbitration process could easily cost Janus and its employees $1500 per session while the current panel costs virtually nothing. Without the financial resources, employees cannot participate as equals in an arbitration process.

Janus is withholding a wage raise until its workers agree to mandatory arbitration. “Janus is forcing its workers to choose between a fair contract and a living wage — we deserve both,” says Laura Taylor, an employee at Harry’s Mother.

Harry’s Mother and Streetlight/Porchlight offer many services to youth and families in crisis. Harry’s Mother provides shelter to runaway and at-risk youth. It also hosts the Reception Center, an alternative to juvenile detention. Streetlight/Porchlight provides short-term and emergency housing for youth experiencing homelessness.

The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is a volunteer-run union open to all workers. The Portland branch of the IWW represents workers at three local non-profit programs.

Great news from our Fellow Workers in the Jimmy John’s Workers Union

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jimmy John’s Workers Union- Industrial Workers of the World

In Big Union Victory, Jimmy John’s Union Election Nullified Due to Employer Labor Rights Violations

Sandwich Workers Begin New Push for “10 Point Program” to Reform Fast Food Industry

MINNEAPOLIS– The National Labor Relations Board approved a settlement today nullifying the results of the historic October 22 union election at Jimmy John’s, putting victory back on the table for the nation’s first-ever union in franchised fast food. The settlement validates workers’ claims that franchise owners Mike and Rob Mulligan were able to squeak out an 87-85 victory in the election only by resorting to unlawful tactics including threatening a wage freeze, intentionally fabricating rumors that the union engaged in sabotage, retaliating against union supporters, and numerous other labor rights violations.
With the tainted election results nullified, the union is asking the franchise owners to negotiate over its “10 Point Program for Justice at Jimmy John’s,” a comprehensive package of reforms that will bring respect, dignity, and democracy to the fast food workplace.
“There can now be no doubt that our rights were severely violated, but we’re willing to put the past behind us. We are calling on Mike and Rob Mulligan to make a fresh start and work with us, rather than against us, to improve the lives of Jimmy John’s workers and their families by negotiating over our 10 Point Program for modest but urgently needed changes,” said Micah Buckley-Farlee, a delivery driver at Jimmy John’s and active member of the union campaign.
Based around benefits that workers in many other industries take for granted, the program is the response of Jimmy John’s workers to their most pressing problems on the job. Core demands include sick days, improved job security, guaranteed work hours, a reasonable pay increase and regular raises, improved harassment policies, other basic job benefits, and the establishment of a system of shop committees giving workers a democratic voice within the company.
If franchise owners Mike and Rob Mulligan refuse to cooperate, the union has indicated a willingness to return to the trenches and continue the fight for union recognition, this time on terms that are much more favorable to the union due to the settlement agreement.
Under the NLRB settlement, Jimmy John’s must cease engaging in a wide range of unlawful anti-union activities, post notices informing employees of the company’s new commitment to obeying the law, and host a series of mandatory employee meetings in which a representative of the NLRB will read the notices in the presence of the company owner.
In 60 days, the Union will also be eligible to file for a fresh
election at any point in the next 18 months, with an abbreviated
“campaigning period” of 30 days, 12 days shorter than what is
customary for NLRB elections.
Union member Ayo Collins said, “Mike and Rob Mulligan can either continue their losing battle against their employees, or they can work with us and distinguish themselves as leaders in bringing much-needed change to the nation’s fast food industry. For our part, we’re hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. We are more confident than ever that in the end, we will win, setting an example for 3.5 million fast food workers to follow.”
The Jimmy Johns Workers Union, open to employees at the company nationwide, is affiliated with the Industrial Workers of the World labor union. Gaining prominence in recent years for organizing Starbucks workers, the IWW is a global union founded over a century ago for all working people.

Congratulations to all the members of the Jimmy John’s Workers Union! Please go HERE to find out more about the JJWU and how you can support or donate to the cause.

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