News and Updates
Battle of Seattle Retrospective
The week of November 29 marks the 10-year anniversary of the events in Seattle that shut down the World Trade Organization and marked a major victory for people around the world fighting corporate globalization. During the week of November 29, the WTO will once again be meeting - this time in Geneva. During that same week, there will be actions in Portland and across the world opposing the agenda of the WTO and its powerful corporate sponsors that continue to wreak havoc on the economy and environment. The short video, Imagine the Power, looks back at the resistance in Seattle 10 years ago.
Guerilla Leafletting at Fred Meyer
To support Fred Meyer workers who have been offered a contract that would cost most employees $150 a month, Jobs with Justice activists took over the Hollywood store on a very busy Halloween day and passed out 500 flyers to customers.
Union Organizers Arrested for Talking to Workers
Several union organizers were arrested recently at Fred Meyers in Hillsboro when they tried talking to workers. According to UFCW and Fred Meyer's contract, union reps can
talk to union members on the job as long as their work isn't
interrupted. But a manager at Fred Meyer told the union reps they
couldn't talk to members on the job. When the UFCW representatives
tried to show the manager the contract he wouldn't take it, and called
the cops, saying that the reps were trespassing.
Eleven Arrested In Health Care Sit In
Eleven people, including one nurse, were arrested at the Regence BlueCross/BlueShield headquarters, October 15th in Portland, Oregon in a protest demanding changes to Regence’s insurance practices and political activitities, and in favor of single payer health care reform.
Tell Rite Aid to treat workers fairly
600 workers at Rite Aid's distribution center in Lancaster, CA have been fighting to organize a union to improve their working conditions and Rite Aid has fought back with a harsh anti-union campaign. Join us in calling on Rite Aid CEO Mary Sammons to do the right thing and make sure these workers get the justice they deserve.
Call Mary Sammons at 717-761-2633 and ask her to:
● Dump anti-union consultant Oliver Bell;
● Settle the workers contract fast and fairly;
● Visit the workers and the worker’s negotiation team in Lancaster, CA to learn firsthand why these workers want and need a union.
Update on Laurelhurst Village Campaign
The workers successful forum in May highlighted Laurelhurst Village’s poor record of patient care and illegal action against worker organizing. Community leaders followed up and delivered the message loud and clear that our community cares about those who give and receive care in nursing homes. We can hold Laurelhurst accountable to a higher standard. Although workers still want to form a union, Laurelhurst Village is not respecting their wishes and hasn't agreed to a fair process in moving this forward. Check out fixthecare.org for more information!
Great Single Payer Opinion Piece in Oregonian
Check out the opinion piece, A medical diagnosis from Canada appearing in Sunday's Oregonian.
