[news] Portland Women's Crisis Line Announces Intent to Unionize

[Pat S]

Portland Women's Crisis Line Announces Intent to Unionize


Portland Women's Crisis Line is a non-profit agency dedicated to providing 
advocacy and resources to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. 
Established in 1973, PWCL works 24 hours a day to stop violence against 
women, children and anyone affected by interpersonal violence. "We go to the 
hospital when a woman is raped, and provide support whether she reports to 
the police or not. We are often the only voice of support to people who have 
been beaten, berated and isolated." said Stacie W., an employee of PWCL.

With all the time and effort the advocates at Portland Women?s Crisis Line 
dedicate to improving the lives of others in the community, it only makes 
sense that they begin to advocate for themselves. In order to start that 
process, the workers publicly announced last week that they joined the 
Industrial Workers of the World, IU 650. Through unionizing, staff hopes to 
gain simple rights such as an open grievance policy, regular break periods, 
compensation for on-call time, and an agency wide benefit package. "So many 
of us take for granted the vacations with pay, pensions, grievance 
procedures and holidays that never existed on any meaningful scale until 
unions fought and won them for the working people." said JR Wolfe, Vice 
President of United Transportation Union local 1574 in support.

Too often, Women's work in general is undervalued, and little effort is made 
to guarantee that workers receive livable wages. Crisis work is often 
stressful, traumatic and in some cases physically dangerous. "As advocates 
in the anti-oppression movement, we believe that our work should be valued 
as highly as any other field. We should be granted the same rights to living 
wages, health care benefits and time compensation for the hours we spend in 
hospitals, courthouses or educating our communities." said Jodi R., a staff 
member at PWCL.

Currently, staff is continuing a dialogue with PWCL board of directors. The 
staff is asking to be voluntarily recognized by the board in doing so the 
initial contract may be a strong representation of the values board and 
staff currently share. Community support is strong. Supporters of the 
unionizing effort at Portland Women's Crisis Line can show support by 
contacting the board of directors. Send letters of support to PO Box 42610, 
Portland OR 97242. Letters from community members, survivors, and non-profit 
agencies are welcome. Support may also be shown by attending a benefit for 
PWCL on Saturday, October 11th at the Hawthorne Eagles Lodge. The event will 
begin at 9pm.

Portland IWW has been organizing social services in Portland for the last 
four years because of the importance of these agencies to our community. 
"IWW IU 650 organizers are dedicated to helping workers unionize in all 
Portland social service agencies, to ensure quality care for our community 
and healthy workplaces for the workers who dedicate themselves to these 
services." said Anne E. of the IWW IU 650.

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