MONDAY, SEPT. 4: Support the Workers at Powell’s Books – No Labor Day Strike

On Monday, September 4, workers at Powell’s Books — represented by ILWU Local 5 since 2000 — will be going on a one-day Unfair Labor Practice Strike. This will be the first strike for Powell’s workers in 20 years! Come join the picket line starting at 9:30am – and remind your friends not to shop at Powell’s on this day. Rally at the downtown Powell’s at 1:00pm! 

Sign the petition to support the workers here. Donate to the strike fund here.

ILWU Local 5 is currently negotiating for its 8th contract with Powell’s and now asks for your solidarity to push Powell’s to bargain fairly with the workers who have made its longevity and success possible!

Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St, Rally at 1:00pm
Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton

Support Portland Teachers & Parents Bargaining for Safe, Sustainable & Equitable Schools!

The pandemic turned our lives—and our schools—upside down. Our students, and our communities, are grappling with more urgent, unmet needs than ever before.

As classroom educators, we see these problems every day. And the past three years have made it abundantly clear that if we want safe, stable, and equitable communities, public schools are the linchpin. But we can’t simply go back to the way schools were before COVID. Our students need—and deserve—so much more.

Over the past few months, thousands of teachers, parents, and Portland residents have shared their vision for great public schools with our union. Together with our community partners, we will be fighting for this vision in our upcoming contract negotiations.

Click here to learn more and sign your name in support of Portland teachers and students.

Governor Kotek Signs Bill Establishing Universal Health Plan Governance Board

The board is tasked with creating a Universal Health Plan for Oregon with the core value that “Health care, as a fundamental element of a just society, must be secured for all individuals on an equitable basis by public means, similar to public education, public safety and public infrastructure.” The board will present their plan by September 2026. You can read the rest of SB1089 here.

Save the Portland Street Response

Sign the Petition to Save the Portland Street Response!

As community members who support effective community safety interventions that prioritize healing and accountability, highly skilled unarmed first responders like Portland Street Response (PSR) are exactly what we need more of. In spite of PSR’s success, recent Council action has demonstrated a lack of support for the popular program that makes Portland safer for all.

We are asking the Portland City Council to stick to their promise that they would champion and expand Portland Street Response by taking the following action:

1. End the hiring freeze imposed on Portland Street Response and adequately fund PSR to meet citywide demand 24/7, as promised by City Council.
2. Remove restrictions on the purchase of life-saving supplies used to provide services, build community trust and de-escalate 911 calls.
3. Allow Portland Street Response to respond to more 911 call types, such as appropriate calls inside residences or involving a potential suicide attempt.
4. Keep Portland Street Response out of enforcement activities.
5. Establish Portland Street Response as a co-equal branch of our first responder network located within a supportive environment in Portland city government.

Sign and share the petition today!

Providence Nurses & Clinicians on Strike – Join the Picket Line!

Nurses & clinicians have been engaged in contract negotiations for eight months and they are clear that Providence management has not responded to their concerns with serious proposals.

Providence has rejected common-sense proposals to improve patient care and safety by raising staffing standards. Providence has refused to commit to safe staffing and other critical patient safety issues in our contracts. When healthcare workers are asked to do more with less, patient lives are at stake. Visit https://www.oregonrn.org/ to learn more. 

WHERE & WHEN:

Providence Portland (4805 NE Glisan St.) – 24 hour picket lines starting 5am on 6/19 through 7pm on 6/23; Kick-off Rally 6/19, 5-8pm

Providence Home Health & Hospice (6410 NE Halsey St.) – 7am-6pm picket lines, 6/19-6/23

Providence St. Vincent’s (9205 SW Barnes Rd)Solidarity picket on 6/21, 4-8pm

Providence Seaside Hospital (725 S Wahanna Rd, Seaside) – 6:30am-9pm picket lines, 6/19-6/23, and a Rally on 6/20 at 2pm

BerniePDX Endorses Ana del Rocío for Multomah County Commission

Ana del Rocío’s experience and values will be a boon to the Multnomah County Commission. Ana is a pro-union mom and community leader who is accountable to the people she serves, not corporations or their lobbyists. Her goal is to help East Portland thrive. Housing and houselessness are top priorities for Ana, which is why she supports rent control, the Eviction Representation for All ballot measure, and supportive housing programs.

Ana’s other priorities include expanding treatment for mental health and addiction, and improving community safety. Ana understands that climate justice and public health are inextricably linked, and she will use her position on the Commission to make progress in these areas. BerniePDX is proud to join the broad coalition of organizations that endorse Ana del Rocío for Multnomah County Commission in District 3.