Industrial Workers of the World, IU 670
C/o The Red & Black Café, 2138 SE Division, Portland, OR 97202
503-231-3899
Statement to the Community
February 26, 2001
Contact: Jordana Sardo
503-255-5776
503-240-3279
Or
Bill Bradley
(Day) 503-231-3899
(Evening) 503-236-6948
For release: Immediately
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) IU 670 plans a demonstration at
the Stoel Rives law office, 900 SW 5th Ave., Wednesday, February 28 at 4:30
pm. Stoel Rives is the legal advisor to Janus Youth Programs, Inc., which,
during contract negotiations in January, served lay-off notices to three
employees represented by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). This
action violates US labor laws and an Unfair Labor Practice charge was filed
with the National Labor Relations Board by the union. Tera Couchman,
Michele Markowitz and Jordana Sardo are labor activists with IWW IU 670, and
employed at Harry’s Mother, a program for youth operated by Janus. Their
firing at this crucial point was an attempt to break the union, a tactic
widely practiced by union busting companies.
The demonstration is part of an ongoing public campaign to convince
management at Janus to bargain in good faith with the IWW. At a Public
Audit Action held on February 15, about 45 labor, civil rights, feminist,
youth, and community activists gathered at the headquarters of Janus Youth
Programs to stand with IWW members as they presented their demands for
Janus’ financial records, reinstatement and bargaining in good faith. Public
pressure in the form of letters, petition signatures, emails and phone calls
resulted in Janus rescinding Couchman’s and Markowitz’ lay-offs on February
16.
Still to be reinstated, however, is Jordana Sardo, a leader of the IWW IU
670, the union representing workers at Harry’s Mother. Sardo is a nine-year
administrative backbone for Harry’s Mother, which provides emergency shelter
and crisis counseling for runaway youth. She is a member of the negotiating
committee, and a tenacious advocate for social services.
At stake is the right for non-profit social service programs to unionize
without retaliation from employers and the ability of Harry’s Mother to
serve the public. It is unacceptable for Janus to jeopardize a youth program
in order to break the union. Janus claims it doesn’t have “the cash” to pay
for Sardo’s position, yet its tax forms show over two million dollars in
surplus unrestricted assets.
This attack on workers’ rights conflicts with the public image put forth by
Morrow, who supplements his $100,000 annual salary by training other
non-profits in humane management, and from Stoel Rives, a supposedly
reputable law firm. Stoel Rives is representing Janus at the bargaining
table and serves on its board of directors.
The community is encouraged to attend the demonstration and to phone, fax
and email Dennis Morrow, Executive Director of Janus, and Richard Gleason,
Janus board member for Stoel Rives, to demand Sardo’s reinstatement and a
speedy return to the bargaining table for a fair contract. Morrow can be
reached by phone at 503-233-6090, by fax at 503-233-6093, and by email at
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Gleason can be reached at 503-224-3380.
# # #
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
