Entries Tagged 'Actions' ↓
February 24th, 2008 — Actions, Fair Trade
STOP TOXIC IMPORTS Rally 10:30 a.m., Feb. 27, Medford, Oregon at Senator Gordon Smith’s Medford Office, Security Plaza 1175 East Main
The issue of lead in toys has gotten quite a bit of coverage in the media. But the problem of Toxic Trade goes far beyond toxics in toys.
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice is joining with the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign, the United Steelworkers and with labor and consumer protection advocates: Congress is on notice that our trade laws must champion safety and environmental standards as well as workers’ rights.
We urge Senator Gordon Smith to Stop Toxic Imports and Support the Food and Product Responsibility Act (S. 2081)
Southern Oregon JwJ
Support the U.S. Food and Product Responsibility Act, introduced in the Senate by Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and in the House by Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind. This legislation would safeguard Americans against toxic food and products by shifting the responsibility on to the backs of the companies producing the goods and the importers importing them.
Steelworker Gaylan Prescott talks about the U.S. Food and Product Responsibility Act on the 2/12/08 edition of the Brain Labor Report radio show
“Toxic Trade”
http://www.kskq.org/brainlabor/?p=231
Citizens throughout Southern Oregonians are invited to participate in the Feb. 27 rally. For more information contact Wes Brain with Southern Oregon Jobs with
Justice at 
brain@mind.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Learn more about the Food and Product Responsibility Act (S.2081}
http://www.usw.org/usw/program/content/4459.php
Stop Toxics Imports
http://www.stoptoxicimports.org/
Oregon Fair Trade Campaign
http://www.citizenstrade.org/orftc.php
Jobs with Justice-national
http://www.jwj.org
United Steelworkers
http://www.usw.org
February 24th, 2008 — Actions, Fair Trade
68,000 Oregonians have lost jobs due to NAFTA-style free trade agreements since 1994. Oregon’s Members of Congress are faced with new trade deals that receive little public attention — trade agreements with Peru, Panama, Colombia and Korea to name a few. But the impacts of those trade agreements are far reaching at home and abroad. Working together in Oregon, we ask our elected officials to take leadership in shaping trade agreements that promote healthy communities, keep quality jobs in Oregon, and raise the standard of living in neighboring countries.
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice and the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign will present a Fair Trade Forum on March 29, 2008 from 2pm to 4pm at the Medford County Library. The townhall event is an opportunity for the community to come together and examine the trade policies that eliminate and outsource Oregon jobs. To encourage working together for new models of fair trade policies that reflect the values of our state.
Speaking up is the first step to challenging NAFTA-style free trade policies
Give voice to laid-off workers, small business owners, grower, ranchers, and elected leaders Stories Project. HAVE A STORY YOU WANT TO SHARE? Contact us at orftc@citizenstrade.org or call 503-736-9777
August 1st, 2007 — Actions
Our fellow nurses at Mercy Hospital in Roseburg (Oregon) finally got a first contract! As of early Friday morning (4 am) July 20th ONA has reached a tentative agreement with Mercy Medical Center. Hallelujah!! Congratulations to the Mercy nurses and all of us for our unified efforts in securing this historic first contract! We were certified as the bargaining representative in January 2006 and met for 43 full-day negotiation sessions and innumerable hours to achieve this agreement–(information for this post came from an ONA email)
Oregon Nurses Association
http://www.oregonrn.org/
Photos are from the twelve-hour-long picket outside of Mercy Medical Center on Monday July 16, 2007.
CLICK ANY PHOTO FOR LARGER IMAGE
Subject: Mercy Nurses get first contract!
1/3 of our nurses picketed last Monday (7-16-07)—with the support from many nurses and other workers from around Oregon and the Roseburg community.
The new contract adopts competitive pay with Eugene and Medford hospitals, including for the first time the implementation of a pay step scale. We won many nursing industry standard pay practices such as 1 ½ pay for consecutive weekends worked and 1 ½ pay for work from a low census standby, which the nurses had never previously enjoyed.
The contract includes job security provisions in the form of seniority bumping rights, a grievance/arbitration dispute resolution process, nursing practice provisions (including a dedicated voluntary workshop nurse education f und)…and a union security provision.
All of us can be pleased that the lives of many nurses, and their families, patients, and practice have been permanently enhanced by our collective efforts. The Mercy negotiating team and Mercy nurses deserve the real credit for this success. Super rep Diane Hedrick deserves special recognition for being the chief spokesperson during this arduous process.
July 13th, 2007 — Actions, Events
Monday July 16, 2007
Mercy Medical Center, Roseburg, Oregon
THE TIME TO SUPPORT MERCY NURSES IS NOW !
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice calls upon Our Member Organizations, Our Individual Pledge Card Signers and ALL Southern Oregonians who support social and economic justice. The nurses at Mercy Hospital in Roseburg, Oregon need our support on Monday, July 16th for a Day Long Informational Picket. We joined them for a big
rally on May 4, 2007* (*see below), yet they still need our help as their struggle drags on and on and on . . . . The Mercy Nurses prolonged attempts to bargain a first contract has proved to be a gross violation of the intent of labor law, yet the denial of member representation is a slap in the face to the dedicated nursing workforce at Mercy. Fundamental protections for people to associate and to “be union” have been violated by an employer that bargains in
bad faith. The “bad faith bargaining sessions” have now lasted a year and 1/2 with no end in sight. The Mercy Nurses Need Our Support Now!
COME JOIN US FOR THIS SOLIDARITY ROAD TRIP
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice is planning a solidarity road trip to Roseburg to support our ONA Nurses at Mercy Medical Center. This is important. Please Join this Fundamental Call For Workforce Justice. Monday, July 16 is during the week so it is really tough for our workforce to attend. If you are able to join in this “road
trip” for health care justice know that we plan to fund some gas money for the car-pools. (upon approval of our bod who is hpo (hundred percent onboard). Our SOJwJ BOD met last night and we are in total support of the ONA Nurses at Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg, Oregon. Here is the plan for car pools north. Please
share this and help us build a “Road Trip of Solidarity” from here in the Rogue Valley. Sign up, Get involved, Give me a call, lets do this now!
CAR-POOLS TO MERCY NURSE RALLY IN ROSEBURG, MONDAY JULY 16, 2007
Leave Ashland 1:30 p.m. (Evos Coffee House, near our closed library)
Leave Medford 2:00 p.m. (Sherms Food-4-Less, North Medford Exit - Meet Near Chevron Gas Station)
Mercy Medical Center is at 2700 Stewart ParkwayFrom Interstate 5 southbound: Take Exit #127 (Stewart Parkway), right on Edenbower Boulevard to Stewart Parkway, right on Stewart Parkway to MMC (1/4 mile).
Rally with Mercy Nurses at the Mercy Medical Center 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Car-Pool back to Rogue Valley - Leave 6:00 p.m.
Arrive in Medford 8:00 p.m. (Sherms)
Arrive in Ashland 8:30 p.m. or sooner! (Evos)
Thank you,
Wes Brain, Chair
Southern Oregon Jobs With Justice
298 Garfield Street
Ashland, OR 97520
541-482-6988
brain@mind.net
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
*MAY 4, 2007 RALLY IN ROSEBURG, OREGON*
150 folks gathered in Roseburg, Oregon on May 4, 2007 to support the nurses who work at Mercy Hospital. Over a year ago the Mercy Nurses voted overwhelmingly to form a union and join the Oregon Nurses
Association, yet the Mercy Administration has failed to bargain in good faith and the nurses do not have a contract yet. Following can be found two stories about the Mercy Nurses.
Rogue IMC story about the Mercy Nurses’ struggle http://rogueimc.org/en/2007/05/8416.shtml
Mercy Nurse Roberta Silva interviewed on the Brain Labor Report (mp3 audio file) http://www.kskq.org/blr/2007/05/03/oregon-nursing-solidarity
*********************************************************************
HERE IS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERCY PICKET ON MONDAY, JULY 16 IN ROSEBURG, OREGON
RNS WANT NO MORE DELAYS FOR OUR COMMMUNITY!
The Nurses of Mercy Medical Center are committed to building a workplace where our highest priorities are:
· Providing safe and quality patient care;
· Ensuring staffing levels are sufficient to provide that care;
and
· Guaranteeing fairness for all staff
Over two years ago we began to express our concerns, share our ideas and participate on committees to better the workplace, all to no avail. We concluded that in order for Mercy Medical Center to observe these priorities and provide our community with the hospital it deserves, Mercy medical Center administration needed to listen to the voice of the Nurses.
Last year, we identified these vital priorities to management. Despite intimidation, threats, and fear of retaliation, we spoke with our collective voices and on January 11, 2006, we voted to be represented by ONA. Under our own RN strong leadership, we are ONA.
Since then, over one year has passed. During that time, we have been negotiating with Mercy Medical Center administration. While we appreciate the change in leadership and the resulting positive impact, we believe that the negotiation process has been held up long enough. There are nine outstanding articles left to negotiate,
relating to issues that are crucial to a fair contract for RNs.
Nurses united together can create the highest standards of healthcare at Mercy Medical Center for our community. This has always been our goal and remains the reason why we organized. Please support us in
this struggle. E-mail MMC’s CEO, Kelly Morgan at kellymorgan@chiwest.com. Send the message that a fair contract for RNs, without further delay, is critical to a safe hospital for our
community.
Mercy Nurses Have Been Negotiating Their First Contract for a Year and a Half!!! Help Them to Achieve their Reasonable Goals of:
· Ensuring Staffing Levels are Sufficient to Provide Quality
Patient Care
· Guaranteeing Fairness for ALL Staff
Support Us On the Picket Line July 16th!
Join us in front of the hospital for an Informational Picket anytime
8am-8pm
July 1st, 2007 — Actions
Parade morning we line up by 9:30 a.m. on Liberty St. just above Iowa St.. Come join us! There will be banners to carry and Jobs with Justice placards people can hold… Our float is for anyone who can not walk, come aboard. And the float will house the sound system so we can crank out labor tunes for the parade theme “American Music”
FREE SPEECH has been Bought ‘n Paid for! We PAID an additional $70. so to satisfy Ashland’s Chamber of Commerce who runs the parade. This was in response to being told we could NOT be political or carry any political banners. Bush bashing is now legal and we can target Walden and Smith, too! We paid - so now we can say what we want!
We will be preparing “the float” this evening (after 4:30 p.m.) where it sits at my house, 298 Garfield Street in Ashland. We will need to add some Jobs with Justice placards, a patio table/chairs/umbrella, perhaps test the sound system and otherwise prep for parade day… The float will have plenty of ice cold water which is good since the weather is predicted to get close to 100 degrees on July 4th!
The float will leave my house between 9 and 9:10 a.m. on the morning of July 4 and be taken to the line up position on Liberty St… Again, please join us no later than 9:30 a.m. on Liberty St…
Any questions? Please call me at 541-482-6988.
In solidarity,
Wes Brain, Chair
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice
June 30th, 2007 — Actions
Medford To Host New Exhibit on Human and Economic Cost of the Iraq War to Oregon
“Eyes Wide Open” exhibit features boots for Oregon soldiers killed in Iraq; memorial to Iraqi casualties and interactive display on economic cost of the war to Oregon
Monday, July 2, 2007, 10 AM to 6 PM
Vogel Plaza @ Main and Central next to Ginger Roger’s Craterian Theater in downtown Medford
EYES WIDE OPEN - click for flyer -
The Cost of War to Oregon
“EYES WIDE OPEN” EXHIBIT IN MEDFORD, OREGON
WHAT: A new exhibit on the human and economic cost of the Iraq war to Oregon will be on display in Medford on July 2nd at Vogel Plaza, corner of Main Street and Central Avenue. The exhibit consists of a memorial to those who have lost their lives in the Iraq war, including a pair of boots to honor each of the fallen soldiers from Oregon or who have a strong Oregon connection. The exhibit also recognizes the more than 100,000 Iraqis that have died in the war. It also features an interactive display on the cost of the war to Oregon. The public will have the opportunity to view the exhibit, make prayer flags participate in reading of the names of the fallen and a silent vigil and closing ceremony to honor each of the dead soldiers.
WHEN: From 10 am to about 6 pm on Monday, July 2, 2007. A silent vigil will be held from 5 to 5:30 pm followed by a ceremony to honor each of the U.S. Iraq War dead until about 6 pm.
WHERE: Vogel Plaza in the heart of downtown Medford by the Craterian-Ginger Rogers Theater at the intersection of East Main Street and North Central Avenue (Highway 99). From Interstate-5 take either the north or south Medford exit and follow the signs to downtown Medford. (Take Court Street to Central Avenue from the North I-5 interchange and Barnett Road right on Riverside Avenue left on Main Street from the South I-5 interchange.)
PHOTO OP: Volunteers will be setting up the display from about 9 am to 10 am on July 2nd. The exhibit includes a display of boots and shoes, a wall of 2,000+ colorful prayer flags and other exhibits that demonstrate the cost of the war in Iraq to Oregonian taxpayers. There will be a silent vigil from 5 to 5:30 pm and a ceremony recognizing each U.S. soldier with Oregon ties who has died in Iraq from 5:30 to 6 pm.
HOSTED BY: Citizens for Peace & Justice of Medford is the primary local sponsor. The statewide tour is sponsored and organized by the American Friends Service Committee, Military Families Speak Out—Oregon, and Rural Organizing Project. Other local co-sponsoring groups include Applegate Citizens for Political Change, Veterans for Peace of Josephine County, the Ashland chapter of Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom, the South Mountain Friends Meeting and others.
For more information, see the Citizens for Peace & Justice website
http://www.medfordcpj.org
or contact: Allen Hallmark 541-482-8515 or Mary Madsen 541-770-5274
