When you shop for books, go with the union alternative.
That’s not Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
That’s Powell’s.
As an added bonus of shopping union, when you shop through our link, 7.5% of every purchase (except gift cards) will go towards the ILWU Local 5 strike fund.
Just click on the Powell’s icon below and shop union!
Want to help more? Solidarity in numbers!
Here is our February Bridges newsletter. It’s primary topic is what you might expect – layoffs.
For those not in the know, Bridges is ILWU Local 5′s (usually) bimonthly newsletter, written and edited by members of the local, with occasional guest pieces as well.
The media reports are accurate, 31 of our brothers & sisters, mostly retail, but a few behind the scenes workers as well, were given a check for two weeks and a form letter informing them they were laid off yesterday.
This wasn’t really a surprise, but it certainly was a damn shame. Layoffs are never a happy event, especially when they are as lopsided as the ones we at Powells just went through.
We asked & answered a great many questions at our membership meeting last night, and I’m sure there are a great many more. I urge all Local 5 workers with questions to contact their chief steward, or the office.
If you’re not a member and have questions, head over to our contact page and choose the communication style that best suits your needs.
Thanks to every one that helped out & came to see Rock Out To Walk Out. A great time was had by all, and the bonds of union sister & brotherhood were strengthened among our local.
We’ve got plenty of copies of the CD left, so feel free to click through and buy one, or send us a message and we’ll tell you how to get one locally.
Our merchandise page will be expanding to include posters & t-shirts in the next couple of weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for that.
Come to our Rock Out to Walk Out strike fund raising event. Beer, Food, Local Bands, and good time. Read up more about it!
Come on down, and have a good time for a good cause.
update: The show is TONIGHT. But on your dancing shoes and your beer drinking pants. It’s going to be a blast!
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| From union downloads |
Don’t forget that our next General Membership Meeting is Tuesday May 18th at 6:30pm in the Local 5 office (917 SW Oak St #206). Come on down and participate in our Union’s democratic process!
Re posting for a last minute reminder. Submissions due tomorrow!
Special Issue: Stories by and about the working class:
Calling all proud working-class writers! The Ne’er-Do-Well literary magazine is seeking short stories, essays, and comics that represent the experience, culture, struggle, and rebellion – on and off the job – of working-class people. Put on some Billy Bragg, brush up on your Communist Manifesto, and get those creative fires burning. Submissions due by May 15, 2010.
Note: Though all interested writers are encouraged to submit, and we expect this issue will appeal to a general readership, please note that it’s being published to celebrate the 10th anniversary of ILWU Local 5 -the branch of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union whose membership is comprised of workers at Powell’s Books and Aramark food services in Portland, Oregon. Profits from the sale of this issue will be donated to the ILWU strike fund.
More submission details at www.theneerdowell.com/submissions.
It’s Tonight folks! Warm up your pipes!
Local 5 will be sponsoring free entry to a karaoke night on Thursday, April 29th at Tiger Bar. Show starts at 9:30 PM. Members can show their Powell’s ID at the door and avoid the $2.00 cover charge.
Karaoke from Hell is a live band that plays while you sing! Learn more here: http://www.karaokefromhell.com/
Hey, Powell’s workers, in particular the gamers and other assorted miniatures enthusiasts!
Local 5 will be hosting a fantasy/sci-fi minis painting event on the evening of Saturday April 24th, from 5:30 to 9:30! Whether you’ve been painting for years, or are just curious and want to give mini painting a try, this is your chance
to commiserate, see some new techniques, and see who else around here is into minis.
All Local 5 workers are welcome, as are friends & family! Space is limited, so please email me at mscott@local5.com if you plan to attend.
There will not be any place for safe spraying, so please primer your minis before hand.
Don’t have any paints or minis? No problem, let me know by the 20th, and a mini will be made available for you to paint & take home.
Some snacks will be provided, but feel free to bring more!
The header is improved, but still needs a little tweeking. The final result should be up in a few days.
A few other maintenance things were shored up, and an overhaul of the link pages will happen by the end of April.
-Matt
Special Issue: Stories by and about the working class:
Calling all proud working-class writers! The Ne’er-Do-Well literary magazine is seeking short stories, essays, and comics that represent the experience, culture, struggle, and rebellion – on and off the job – of working-class people. Put on some Billy Bragg, brush up on your Communist Manifesto, and get those creative fires burning. Submissions due by May 15, 2010.
Note: Though all interested writers are encouraged to submit, and we expect this issue will appeal to a general readership, please note that it’s being published to celebrate the 10th anniversary of ILWU Local 5 -the branch of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union whose membership is comprised of workers at Powell’s Books and Aramark food services in Portland, Oregon. Profits from the sale of this issue will be donated to the ILWU strike fund.
More submission details at www.theneerdowell.com/submissions.
Dear friends,
National Poetry Month is upon us!
Join us once again at the Local 5 hall on Friday, April 23, for an evening
of sharing the poetry we love. The evening lasts from 7:30-10pm, and the
rules are simple:
–bring books from which to share poems with your assembled friends,
co-workers, and their friends;
–you can read as much or as little as you’d like. Listeners are more than
welcome;
–if you’d like to read your own stuff, please limit your sharing to two
poems. This is so that the evening will heighten not only our own
sensitivity to the poetic arts, but will help to expand our horizons as
regards the stuff that’s being published today.
This is a bring your own beverage/snacks event. Wine, beer, pop are all
welcome. Juniper will make cookies, and I’m sure someone will bring chips
The title says it all folks. Come to the Hall @ 6:30 to take part in our grand democracy.
Subscribe & send links to your union related videos (and cute cats, but try to make them union cute cats) so we can start getting some content!
Not done yet, and still toying with ideas. More to come.
The Events Calendar is being a bit buggy, so don’t trust it if it says no events in March.
Hey members, into paper crafts? If so come to the Scrap Booking event at the Local 5 Hall on March 20th!
More Details to follow soon…
In the next few days I will be experimenting with a few different looks for the site. Our current theme, while attractive, has little in the way of options for calendars & the like, so it’s time will be coming to an end.
When a new look has been locked in, it will be announced.
-Matt
Local 5 is now on Facebook, in both Member/Alumni & Supporter formats.
Coming Soon: Youtube channel!
Some new changes today, mostly behind the scenes, but there is a new events calender you can access by clicking on “Events” in the categories list. It’s not pretty yet, but it works (see March for General Membership meeting entry).
More changes coming soon.
-Matt
