Portland Rising Bus Tour Supports Workers’ Rights

Workers and activists got on the bus June 30th to support workers’ rights all over the Portland area.  In a meticulously planned and executed all day bus tour, supporters went to seven actions to support workers’ rights.  June 30th was important because thousands of workers had collective bargaining agreements expiring that day.

150 union members and community supporters boarded three buses at 9:30 am.  We joined other workers at each of the seven stops along the way.  Every action had its own unique flavor and creative twist.  In between stops, participants were briefed on the next struggle and got a chance to practice chants and songs.

The buses’ first stop was a Georgia Pacific facility, represented by the Inland Boatman’s Union/ILWU where contract talks have been stalled.  The owners are the infamous Koch brothers, so a piece of the action was singing “I’d Like to Buy the Kochs a World”, as well as a delegation to the employer.

Stop 2 was the Vancouver, Washington Hilton hotel, across the river, where workers are trying to raise

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US Social Forum Day Two: Money for Jobs, Not Banks!

Yesterday was an exciting day of education and action at the U.S. Social Forum

JwJ coalitions convened and spoke at a variety of workshops, including: Uncovering the Truth on Police & ICE Collaborations (DC JwJ), Social Networking for Social Justice (KY JwJ), Writers’ Circle (Missouri JwJ), The Impact of Financial Restructuring on Michigan Workers and the Union Response (SE Michigan JwJ), Good Jobs for All:  Winning Full and Fair Employment for a New Economy (National JwJ), and The TRADE Act as a Tool for Global Justice (Southern Oregon JwJ). 

Jobs with Justice members participated in the Excluded Workers Congress People’s Movement Assembly which focused on how we can expand workers’ rights to organize.  We heard inspiring testimony from a variety of workers who are fighting for their rights on the job (stay tuned for more on this, including video).

In the evening, JwJ co-sponsored a march and rally with AFSCME Council 65 and the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO to demand, “Money for JOBS, not Banks!”