newswire article reporting portland metro actions & protests | labor VICTORY FOR LABOR: Janus Workers and the Portland IWW e-mail: author: Jon D.e-mail: portland.iww@gmail.com After four weeks of informational picketing, everyday for 2 hours outside

of Janus Youth Programs' main office at 707 NE Couch St, workers at the

Streetlight/Porchlight shelters and at Harry's Mother finally gained the

right to keep their peer review panel. Janus workers and the IWW would like to thank

the members of the community who have supported them in this effort,

including Portland's Jobs with Justice. A victory for one is a victory for

all. Major Victory for Janus Workers and the Portland IWW



After four weeks of informational picketing, everyday for 2 hours outside

of Janus Youth Programs' main office at 707 NE Couch St, workers at the

Streetlight/Porchlight shelters and at Harry's Mother finally gained the

right to keep their peer review panel. Both Streetlight/Porchlight and

Harry's Mother are non-profit programs serving youth, and both shops are

under contract with the Portland Industrial Workers of the World. Janus

told workers at both work sites that they would not sign their labor

contracts with the peer review panels that they have had for over 10 years

-- instead trying to pressure workers into accepting binding arbitration

at a cost workers and the IWW could not afford.



After four weeks of picketing, workers took a break for week five, a week

that a contract negotiations session with management was scheduled.

Management tried to get workers to accept a ridiculously long contract of

8 years, with wage re-openers every two years, in exchange for the keeping

the peer review panel. Workers instead said they were only willing to go

as long as a 6 year contract, with wage re-openers every 2 years and one

additional, non-wages article which could be bargained during the wage

re-opener.



Janus negotiators were not willing to budge.



At this point, workers suggested that the offer they were making was more

than reasonable, and that there were people willing to get back out on the

picket line if Janus would not compromise.



Janus's negotiators took a caucus, and after a long break, returned to the

table and agreed to the workers' terms.



This is a huge victory for workers who have struggled many weeks for the

right to keep their peers in a place to oversee any disputed firings --

the peer review panel can overrule any firing decisions that Janus makes

against its union workers. Janus workers and the IWW would like to thank

the members of the community who have supported them in this effort,

including Portland's Jobs with Justice. A victory for one is a victory for

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