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ilwulocal5.bsky.social
ILWU Local 5
@ilwulocal5.bsky.social
370 followers 260 following 49 posts
Infrequent posting on this account. For regular updates: instagram.com/ilwulocal5
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ilwulocal5.bsky.social
On the eve of #BannedBooksWeek, we want to highlight some of the work Powell’s Books leadership has been doing lately to “fight censorship at all levels” and uphold the company’s “[commitment] to the principles protecting free speech” (from the Powell’s employee handbook)...

(a thread ⬇️)
Against a dark background of partially redacted text, large, white text reads, “More Censorship at Powell’s Books”.
October 4, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Reposted by ILWU Local 5
arthursmid.bsky.social
The union for Powell’s workers @ilwulocal5.bsky.social ILWU Local 5:

"A company whose entire business model is dependent on human creativity should be safeguarding against any technology that exploits, devalues, or displaces it."
September 9, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Reposted by ILWU Local 5
jwjpdx.bsky.social
Powell's is the latest organization to get caught out using AI slop - by readers, @ilwulocal5.bsky.social, fellow indies, and community members.
Everything you need to know about the Powell’s AI slop snafu—and what we can all learn from it.
Another day, another duel with AI slop. Unfortunately a recent deep fake has come in the guise of a friend. Last Friday, Powell’s Books of Portland, Oregon—one of the country’s best lov…
lithub.com
September 11, 2025 at 12:49 AM
ilwulocal5.bsky.social
“We are demanding a seat at the table in negotiating how automation and AI impact our membership and that adequate safeguards be put in place so that these new technologies work with our members and all working people.” 👏👏👏
August 22, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Reposted by ILWU Local 5
jwjpdx.bsky.social
Highlights: Cassandra, who works at Wild Lilac, a Preschool for All Pilot site, reads part of a statement she helped draft as part of their teachers union, @ilwulocal5.bsky.social, "if P4A is paused or eliminated, it will have a catastrophic effect on students, families, and teachers."
Cassandra, teacher at Wild Lilac, ILWU Local 5 member
August 21, 2025 at 10:00 PM
ilwulocal5.bsky.social
Having recently adopted a resolution declaring ILWU Local 5 to be a Sanctuary Union, we are so proud to see our International Executive Board taking this position of solidarity with migrants.
ilwu.bsky.social International Longshore & Warehouse Union @ilwu.bsky.social · Aug 19
At their meeting last week, the ILWU International Executive Board unanimously passed the following Statement of Policy Condemning Attacks on Migrants

www.ilwu.org/ilwu-stateme...
Graphic with ILWU Logo and text: ILWU Statement of Policy Condemning Attacks on Migrants
August 21, 2025 at 5:07 PM
ilwulocal5.bsky.social
Here's to 25 more 🥳
Excerpt from the Dispatcher newspaper, dated July-August 2000. The headline reads, “Local 5 celebrates huge contract win.” Beneath the headline, a black-and-white photo shows workers gathered around a table, smiling, clapping, and raising their hands, and a caption reads, “Local 5 Balloting Committee celebrates after finishing the tally of the votes.” Below the newspaper excerpt, text reads, “ILWU Local 5 is 25 years old!” 25 years ago today (August 10, 2000), workers at Powell’s Books ratified their first collective bargaining agreement and ILWU Local 5 was born. During the celebratory rally and press conference that followed, sidewalk chalk outside the entrance to the flagship store read, “Welcome to Powell's. We have a contract. Call us about organizing your workplace.” Powell's booksellers had no way of knowing, then, how many workers would make that call. Today, in addition to Retail/Warehouse workers, ILWU Local 5 represents workers in Early Education, Nonprofit, and Veterinary Medicine. 13 workplaces represented by Local 5 have successfully negotiated one or more collective bargaining agreements; 14 are in the process of negotiating their first contract now; and several more are in the wings, organizing towards a public announcement of their union campaign. On this 25th anniversary, we want to extend gratitude to the founding members of Local 5 who blazed a trail for so many other workers in underrepresented industries; to the ILWU (and in particular, the Organizing Department), for taking a chance on a scrappy group of booksellers and continuing to support worker-led organizing efforts; to every Organizing Committee and Bargaining Team that has put countless hours into organizing their workplaces with Local 5; and finally, to every worker who has been a member of ILWU Local 5 over these past 25 years. We would not be the union we are today without the care and dedication of so many people, and we look forward to continuing the democratic, worker-led traditions of our founding members for the next 25 years and beyond. Solidarity and Local 5 forever!
August 11, 2025 at 2:49 AM
ilwulocal5.bsky.social
“Through our work at CCPU we have witnessed the power of advocacy in the lives of the providers we serve which has highlighted to us the importance of organizing our own labor. In order to best support members, it is important for us to also organize & advocate for ourselves." 1/2
Photo of six smiling people standing in front of the California State Capital building. Most are wearing yellow T-shirts that say Child Care Providers United, and two of them have their fists raised.
July 3, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Reposted by ILWU Local 5
friendsofpfa.bsky.social
📣Please share this far and wide, so we can tell @tinakotek.bsky.social and the legislature HANDS OFF PRESCHOOL FOR ALL! actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
Tell Governor Kotek and the Legislature: Hands off Preschool for All!
There is an existential threat to Preschool for All developing in Salem, and unless we can rally enough community outrage and response, the program could be effectively killed as soon as this week. ...
actionnetwork.org
June 20, 2025 at 9:05 PM
ilwulocal5.bsky.social
IMPORTANT UPDATE:

We discovered that the settings for this email address were preventing messages from coming through.

It's fixed now! But if you sent an email to community@ilwulocal5.com earlier today, we won't see it.

Please re-send, and thank you for the solidarity!!
ilwulocal5.bsky.social ILWU Local 5 @ilwulocal5.bsky.social · Apr 25
What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech?

tinyurl.com/censorship-at-powells
Against a dark background of partially redacted text, large, white text reads, “Censorship at Powell’s Books”. According to the Powell’s Books employee handbook: “Powell’s Books has a commitment to fight censorship at all levels. We have a social responsibility to our many and diverse customers to make all kinds of books and information available. Powell’s bookstores are an important community resource. We are committed to providing books, and we are committed to the principles protecting free speech.” What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech? TinyURL.com/censorship-at-powells
April 25, 2025 at 11:00 PM
ilwulocal5.bsky.social
What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech?

tinyurl.com/censorship-at-powells
Against a dark background of partially redacted text, large, white text reads, “Censorship at Powell’s Books”. According to the Powell’s Books employee handbook: “Powell’s Books has a commitment to fight censorship at all levels. We have a social responsibility to our many and diverse customers to make all kinds of books and information available. Powell’s bookstores are an important community resource. We are committed to providing books, and we are committed to the principles protecting free speech.” What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech? TinyURL.com/censorship-at-powells
April 25, 2025 at 6:03 PM
ilwulocal5.bsky.social
As organizations committed to creating fair access to resources for vulnerable populations and strong workplace standards, we are proud to announce that Urban Gleaners is joining ILWU Local 5 in solidarity by becoming a fully unionized workplace!

Our press release: drive.google.com/file/d/121JU...
Photo of ten smiling Urban Gleaners workers gathered together, some standing, some sitting on plastic crates. Every worker is holding a fruit or vegetable. “As the workers of Urban Gleaners, we are excited to have the support of our board and executive leaders as they voluntarily recognized our union with ILWU Local 5. We see the act of unionizing as advocating not only for ourselves but also for all our organizational food market partners and the work of Urban Gleaners as a collective. The workers of Urban Gleaners are invested in the mission of eliminating food waste and redistributing food resources to community members most impacted by food insecurity. We hope to be an example for other nonprofits of how a social justice-focused workplace can live its values through continuing to support the needs of its employees.” —Workers of Urban Gleaners “At Urban Gleaners, we’re all about making sure good food gets to the people who need it—because everyone deserves nourishment and dignity. That same belief in equity and respect applies to our team, too. We fully support our staff’s right to organize because when they’re empowered, our whole organization is stronger. We’re excited to work together to build a workplace that reflects the values we fight for every day.” —Nico Niebes, Executive Director, Urban Gleaners
March 5, 2025 at 2:47 AM
ilwulocal5.bsky.social
Some news: you can now support the ILWU Local 5 Strike Fund through our Bookshop affiliate page! bookshop.org/shop/ilwulocal5
Powell’s has notified us that they are discontinuing their Partner Program today, February 25. For many years, ILWU Local 5 has relied on this program as a fundraising tool for our Strike Fund. We are deeply saddened by Powell’s decision to discontinue this program and eliminate a mutually beneficial arrangement that so many of our friends, family, union siblings, and community members have used as a way to support not only an independent bookstore and its workers, but the many workers who have joined Local 5 since its inception. While we still think shopping in person and chatting with the many knowledgeable union booksellers at Powell’s is the best way to find your next read, we understand that in-person shopping isn’t an option for everyone, and that many of you — particularly those not in the Portland area — have loyally used the Powell’s partner link to support the union for years. With that in mind, we're excited to be able to offer a Bookshop.org affiliate page! 10% of all purchases made through this page will go directly to the Local 5 Strike Fund. We are so thankful to the many of you who have supported us through that partner link, and hope you will continue to do so in this new format! bookshop.org/shop/ilwulocal5
February 25, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Reposted by ILWU Local 5
A reminder that @powells.bsky.social tried something similar back in the day -- and ultimately lost -- in their early battles with @ilwulocal5.bsky.social. RIP Mighty Marty Kruse, and solidarity with Randy Foster! djcoregon.com/news/1999/10...
Powell’s employees, union protest firing
Labor tensions continue to rise at Powell’s City of Books. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 5, which represents Powell’s
djcoregon.com
January 30, 2025 at 1:39 AM
ilwulocal5.bsky.social
We are sow 🌱 excited to announce: we are growing…again! This time, a new union workplace takes root at Zenger Farm!

Join us in welcoming these workers to ILWU Local 5 and congratulating them on their voluntary recognition! You can read our joint press release here: drive.google.com/file/d/1UgAG...
Photo of nine smiling workers, some standing and some kneeling, wearing black T-shirts that say, “Zenger Farm Workers Union, ILWU Local 5”.
February 1, 2025 at 3:50 AM
ilwulocal5.bsky.social
"The physical distance between SCRAP workers in Portland and in Richmond is irrelevant. Here is a natural expression of community…In this movement, the miles between workers are only a number. SOLIDARITY knows no borders." —Ryan Van Winkle, ILWU Local 5 President 🧵
Photo of three smiling people wearing black T-shirts that say “SCRAP Workers Union, ILWU Local 5” and feature a line drawing of a fist holding a crochet hook and a paintbrush. Two of the people have a hand raised in celebration, and the third is flashing a peace sign. On the wall behind them is the logo for Scrap Creative Reuse in Richmond, Virginia.
January 25, 2025 at 6:49 PM
ilwulocal5.bsky.social
"Negotiations with Portland Street Medicine are underway! We have a long road ahead but are looking forward to arriving at a contract that is fair and supports our work in providing medical care to our patients."
Photo of three people seated at a conference room table, each holding in front of their face a draft of a collective bargaining agreement between Portland Street Medicine and ILWU Local 5.
January 16, 2025 at 9:53 PM
ilwulocal5.bsky.social
“We’re making history! Oregon Jewish Museum & Center for Holocaust Education staff have unionized with the full support of our board and leadership." (1/2)
Photo of seven smiling workers gathered outside the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education. In the windows behind them are large graphics commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
January 9, 2025 at 1:37 AM
ilwulocal5.bsky.social
Workers have been *busy* this year! 🧵
On a brightly-colored background, text reads, "2024 Highlights, ILWU Local 5. 2024 saw more organizing in Local 5 than any year prior. From new union efforts to first and second contracts, month after month, workers are coming together to improve working conditions and fight for what they deserve. As a union, we are incredibly honored so many workers have elected to make ILWU Local 5 their home in the labor movement. We take this moment, as we turn the last page of 2024, to celebrate those efforts. Also an excuse to reshare cute photos of workers."
December 31, 2024 at 9:59 PM
Reposted by ILWU Local 5
moreperfectunion.bsky.social
BREAKING: The biggest strike against Amazon in U.S. history is happening right now.

The Teamsters are picketing facilities across the country.

The union has organized workers at 10 Amazon locations AND they're putting up picket lines at hundreds of other Amazon sites nationwide.
December 19, 2024 at 2:05 PM
Reposted by ILWU Local 5
rwdsu.bsky.social
Unsure which bookstores are unionized? Our friends @ilwulocal5.bsky.social made a map for that: bit.ly/UnionBookstoreMap
Unionized & Unionizing Bookstores - Google My Maps
Created by members of ILWU Local 5. Help us complete this map! Please send additions and corrections to UnionBookstoreMap@gmail.com.
bit.ly
December 12, 2024 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by ILWU Local 5
streetrootsguild.bsky.social
We’re asking Street Roots’ board to promptly recognize our union, and are seeking your support to help them understand why the community supports the organization: for its newspaper, its advocacy efforts, and, most of all, its vendors.

Please sign and share our letter!
UNION, PARTNER, AND ELECTED Sign On - Support Street Roots Workers’ Union Drive
Please join us in asking Street Roots’ board of directors to promptly recognize our union. We are elated that all eligible staff unanimously support this union, which we made public December 2. While ...
forms.gle
December 6, 2024 at 6:15 PM
Reposted by ILWU Local 5
forbesunion.bsky.social
On Forbes’ biggest day of the year - the release of ‘30 Under 30’ - we have walked off the job in a 24-hour work stoppage in protest of @forbes.com continued intransigence at the bargaining table and repeated labor law violations. (1/3)
December 3, 2024 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by ILWU Local 5
banditelli.org
ACT 10 DOWN MOTHERFUCKERS!!! www.jsonline.com/story/news/p...
Act 10 overturned by Dane County judge. Walker-era law decimated public employee unions
The effort to overturn Act 10 began in November 2023 when several unions representing public employees filed the lawsuit, citing a "dire situation" in workplaces with issues including low pay, staffin...
www.jsonline.com
December 2, 2024 at 8:16 PM
ilwulocal5.bsky.social
25 years ago, about 25 Powell’s Books workers — members of then newly formed ILWU Local 5 — travelled from Portland to Seattle to protest the #WTO Ministerial Conference alongside hundreds of their #ILWU siblings, and tens of thousands of other activists and unionists. 🧵
A banner that reads, “Wake up Seattle and smell the gas… No to the WTO!”
December 1, 2024 at 7:36 PM