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