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 ⬇️)

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."

Powell's is the latest organization to get caught out using AI slop - by readers, @ilwulocal5.bsky.social, fellow indies, and community members.

“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.” 👏👏👏

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."

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.

Here's to 25 more 🥳

“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

📣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...

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 [email protected] earlier today, we won't see it. Please re-send, and thank you for the solidarity!!

What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech? tinyurl.com/censorship-at-powells

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...

Some news: you can now support the ILWU Local 5 Strike Fund through our Bookshop affiliate page! bookshop.org/shop/ilwulocal5

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...

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...

"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 🧵

"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."

“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)

Workers have been *busy* this year! 🧵

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.

Unsure which bookstores are unionized? Our friends @ilwulocal5.bsky.social made a map for that: bit.ly/UnionBookstoreMap

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!

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)

ACT 10 DOWN MOTHERFUCKERS!!! www.jsonline.com/story/news/p...

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. 🧵

if you’re buying stuff today and want to know more about the massive impact that marginalized workers have had on the evolution of workers’ rights, labor unions, and how we got to this moment, might I suggest my book? It’s on sale at this union shop! www.powells.com/book/fight-l...

Willamette Week's 2024 Give!Guide features *4* ILWU Local 5 nonprofits: Community Cycling Center, Free Geek, Neighborhood Partnerships, & Portland Street Medicine. We’re SO proud of the work these orgs are doing in our community & hope you’ll consider donating to support them! giveguide.org