The Portland Workers' Assembly (and could we please have one in Marion County?)

For the past couple of months, Tyler and the Portland Rising subcommittee have been working hard on a series of political education talks geared towards workers in the Portland area, and it's ready for public aFnnouncement! I hope that all of you will mark your calendars and help us spread the word.

Each talk focuses on a specific topic with the goal of continuing the labor militancy that we‘ve seen recently. Talks will feature a panel of speakers with experience related to the topic at hand and will be facilitated by Tyler. While panelists’ experiences will be a starting point for discussion, we aim to create a distinctly collaborative space where all participants are able to ask questions and share their experiences. These talks are geared towards all workers, union or not, and union staff and labor activists are also encouraged to attend!

Talks will be on the second Thursday from 7PM-8:30PM in the Augustana Church Fellowship Hall (2710 NE 14th Ave) and masks are required. The first talk is scheduled for 4/11 and will revolve around building campaigns that bring in the community, with E.D. Jill Pham joining the panel to talk about JWJ's own role in uplifting the labor struggle within the community.

 

A very special Black History Month Movie Night & Discussion will be presented by CBTU, Portland Rising, and SEIU AFRAM on Feb. 29

The Oregon Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) is pleased to announce a very special 2024 Black History Month Movie Night presented by CBTU, Portland Rising, and SEIU AFRAM (African American Caucus). We hope you will join us and let others know about the program. Please forward this post to others.

Thursday, Feb. 29 from 7-9 pm
SEIU Local 503 Office
525 NE Oregon Street, Portland 97232

The program will focus on the intersections of black history with labor organizing, women’s work, and health care. It promises to be an excellent night of learning and fun.

We’ll show two short films:

“I Am Somebody” (1970) is a 30-minute documentary about black hospital workers on strike in Charleston, South Carolina, made by Madeline Anderson, a pioneering African American director. As the civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer described it: “This film packs a tremendous punch and is deeply moving at the same time. The fact that 400 black women were able to take on the power structure of the state of South Carolina - and win - is of decisive importance to all of us.”

“The Politics of Race and Medicare for All” offers a brief history on the creation of Medicare in the 1960s

Then there will be a special panel moderated by Vinnie Blanco, Jr.:

Travis Nelson, RN, State Representative, House District 44, will talk on health care inequities and efforts to create a universal health care system, and

Sarina Roher, RN, Secretary-Treasurer, OR AFL-CIO, will discuss bargaining challenges for health care unions and the challenges of being a healthcare worker.

All are welcome. We encourage mask wearing to address the cold and flu season, but masks are not required. CBTU, JWJ and Health Care for All Oregon will have information tables at the event.