KEY POINTS:
- Long-term commitment leads to greater capacity
- Relationship building never ends
Over the past 20 years, the Portland, Ore., chapter of Jobs with Justice (JwJ) has built a coalition of more than 90 unions, faith organizations and community groups to fight for economic justice.
One of its founders is Margaret Butler, former executive vice president of CWA Local 791 and a former telephone operator. Recalling the early years, she says, “We wanted a big tent that could continually analyze what it was going to take to win.”
The relationship between organizations within the coalition is the key to winning campaigns, she says. To join the coalition, an organization must ask to become an affiliate member and pay a portion of the cost of keeping the coalition staffed. (It took five years before Portland JwJ had any staff; now there are 4+). Next, members of the new affiliate organization join committees that plan campaigns. Committees include Immigrant Rights, Economic Crisis and Transformation, Global Justice, and Healthcare Reform.
Committees change their focus and composition as issues change. For instance, the Healthcare committee planned a 500-person conference around single-payer reform options.
Another project, Portland Rising, is a multi-dimensional campaign to win union recognition at several workplaces that are being organized by at least eight different unions. In April 2011, a huge day of action involved nearly all of the campaigns and drew lessons and solidarity from the Wisconsin battle to save collective bargaining.
The coalition has grown since its inception in 1991 and there have been notable victories. However Butler, former Portland JwJ Executive Director, reminds coalition partners that, “Victories are temporary. We need to measure progress not just by our victories— but by the growth of our network of relationships—numbers of pledges, member organizations, and Workers’ Rights Board members.” Portland JwJ now has 3,000 pledge card signers and is a major force for change.
Butler says there are no shortcuts to building strong relationships. They require good listening skills and a commitment to treating others with respect and dignity for the long struggle ahead.
Madelyn Elder, a CWA at-large diversity board member, has been very involved with Jobs with Justice campaigns throughout the Northwest.