To all,
This REVISED Statement to the Media is to replace the Statement sent out on
March 17. Our apologies for any inconvenience. Thank you.
Industrial Workers of the World, IU 670
c/o The Red & Black Café, 2138 SE Division, Portland, OR 97202
503-231-3899
REVISED
Statement to the Media
March 18, 2001
Contact: Jordana Sardo
(Day) 503-240-3279 (pager)
(Evening) 503-255-5776
Or
Bill Bradley
(Day) 503-231-3899
(Evening) 503-236-6948
For release: Immediately
IWW ORGANIZERS CHEER FOR REINSTATEMENT OF UNION LEADER AT JANUS YOUTH
PROGRAMS
"Thank you to my co-workers, my union, and everyone who stood together with
us," said Jordana Sardo, after winning back the job she had held for nine
years at Harry's Mother, a division of Janus Youth Programs. The Industrial
Workers of the World (IWW) International Union (IU) 670, the bargaining
agent for workers at Harry’s Mother, a private social service agency for
youth, announced the victory March 16.
One month earlier, Sardo, an IU 670 leader and member of the contract
bargaining team, had been illegally laid off from her position as
administrative assistant at Harry’s Mother. In response, the IWW filed an
Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaint with the National Labor Relations
Board, charging that retaliatory dismissal of a member of the contract
negotiating team interferes with the Union’s legally recognized right to
collective bargaining. Upon Sardo’s reinstatement the Union withdrew the ULP
charges.
In January, after eight months of grueling contract negotiations, Janus
announced that, due to budget cuts, they would lay-off bargaining unit
members Tera Couchman, Michele Markowitz and Jordana Sardo on February 2,
and eliminate the Student Alliance of Garden Entrepreneurs (S.A.G.E.)
program. The union immediately organized to build community and labor
support and won a two-week postponement of the lay-offs.
The public campaign of phone calls, petitions, letters and demonstrations,
during which it was revealed that Janus possesses over 2 million dollars in
unrestricted assets, received national and international attention and
participation. On February 16, Couchman and Markowitz' layoffs were
rescinded and the S.A.G.E. program was continued; however, Sardo was told to
clean out her desk.
But after another month of community protest, Janus agreed to return Sardo
to her job. Bill Bradley, IU 670 delegate and chief negotiator, exclaimed
that "Public support made all the difference in winning this great victory."
Among the organizations providing solidarity with IU 670 were other
Industrial Unions of the IWW, the Urban Workers Union, Radical Women, Jobs
with Justice, Freedom Socialist Party, Franklin High Student Union, and
union members from Teamsters locals, Carpenters, and Municipal Employees.
Now that all bargaining unit members have been reinstated, the Union’s focus
will be to complete bargaining with Janus for a living wage contract.
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