ILWU Local 5

How can you tell Powell’s you want them to fight censorship and defend free speech? Email us at community@ilwulocal5.com and we'll relay your message to Powell's leadership. Let Powell’s leadership know that you don’t support censorship of booksellers; that booksellers’ perspectives and opinions are a valuable part of the independent bookstore experience; and that you appreciate seeing bookseller recommendations that highlight diverse voices, racial justice, and human rights. Many customers don’t think to leave feedback unless they’re angry about something — Powell’s leadership could use the positive reinforcement and reminder that our community values the work booksellers are doing. Note: this is not a call for a boycott; it’s a call for solidarity!

📧 community@ilwulocal5.com

What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech? September 2025: On an internal platform where booksellers are encouraged to post book-related questions and updates, a bookseller raised concerns about Charlie Kirk's upcoming book being featured on the main page of Powells.com as a "Highly Anticipated" title. Other employees weighed in on the thread, seconding that it was troubling to see Powell's actively platforming someone known for hate speech and influencing policies targeting marginalized groups (to which many booksellers belong), and voicing concerns about how this might make customers from marginalized groups feel Powell’s was no longer a safe “third place.” Powell’s leadership’s response to employee concerns was to delete the thread entirely and post a company-wide announcement that political debates and opinions are not appropriate at work.

What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech? March 2025: At a town-hall style conversation between employees and upper management, an employee asked owner Emily Powell what actions Powell’s would be taking to stand against censorship. Powell said that when the company has taken action on this issue in the past, it has been in our local community (ignoring the company’s previous involvement with, and donations related to, national Banned Books Week), and that if anything comes up in our community, “we'll look into it.” She confirmed that Powell’s has no plans to be involved in anti-censorship work on a national level.

What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech? October 2024: Gift buyers were told to discontinue buying all items with swear words by Powell’s leadership, and were told to move all remaining items with swear words to less prominent areas of the sales floor. Emily Powell removed the "Ambition Is a Mental Illness" sticker from the sales floor on a rare store visit. The gift buyer who orders stickers was told they were no longer allowed to buy stickers without oversight. Management suggested that purchasing guidelines were to be created, which as of Fall 2025, has yet to happen.

What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech? September 2024: While in the process of curating the gift items to be carried for Native American Heritage Month, Powell’s leadership questioned whether or not a MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) sticker belonged on the display. Powell’s leadership instructed gift buyers to begin "toning down" items they purchase for the stores that contain swear words — without concrete direction as to what specifically should be avoided. Workers were also instructed to de-emphasize these items on displays and fixtures. Some managers took it upon themselves to remove items with swear words from the sales floor entirely.

What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech? August 2024: After initially receiving manager approval, a gift buyer shared a list of gift items intended for Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month displays with workers on an internal platform. Powell’s leadership then reversed course on their decision and told the gift buyer they would not be allowed to purchase "Abolish ICE" stickers for the stores and instructed the worker to remove their post.

What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech? April 2024: Management removed On Antisemitism from a Jewish American Heritage display without notice or explanation. Two Jewish workers curated the display. When a worker reached out, management referenced customer complaints to explain the choice, claiming that the situation in Gaza and a heightened awareness of antisemitism made the title an inappropriate inclusion in a display on Jewish heritage. Powell’s leadership also banned a book buyer from writing original book blurbs in an employee-only internal newsletter. The buyer in question was reprimanded for their "voice being overly present" in their business books newsletter, and was told that they could only continue posting if they used publisher copy and none of their own writing.

What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech? January 2024: A Powell's worker wrote a post for the Powell's blog entitled “Windows and Mirrors into Palestine: Talking about Occupation with Children and Young Adults,” and the blog post was featured in Powell’s Instagram Story. Soon after, the Instagram promotion was removed, and the title and content of the post were heavily edited by marketing management (“Talking About Occupation with Children and Young Adults”), without communicating any information to the social media coordinator, managing editor, or writer of the post. When the worker who wrote the post asked about the changes, they were told the post was edited because it had language that went against a company value that "Everyone belongs in a bookstore."

These reports, submitted by Powell’s workers to the Powell’s Union Anti-Censorship Committee, are just some of the many received over the past two years. For more info, including what you can do to support Powell’s booksellers, visit tinyurl.com/censorship-at-powells

Against a dark background of partially redacted text, large, white text reads, “More Censorship at Powell’s Books”.

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."

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…

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.” 👏👏👏

Cassandra, teacher at Wild Lilac, ILWU Local 5 member

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."

We also want to extend gratitude to the @ilwu.bsky.social International Executive Board members for allowing our President, Benjamin Ficklin, to address the IEB last week, and speak to the importance of this Statement of Policy for our members and our community. An injury to one is an injury to all.

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.

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!

Here's to 25 more 🥳

Please join us in welcoming the workers of Child Care Providers United (@ccpucalifornia.bsky.social‬) to ILWU Local 5, and congratulate them on their voluntary recognition! Read our joint press release here: drive.google.com/file/d/1Pt4m... 2/2

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.

“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

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. ...

📣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 community@ilwulocal5.com earlier today, we won't see it.

Please re-send, and thank you for the solidarity!!

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

What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech?

tinyurl.com/censorship-at-powells

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

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...

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

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...

Photo of nine smiling workers, some standing and some kneeling, wearing black T-shirts that say, “Zenger Farm Workers Union, ILWU Local 5”.

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...

And if you're in the area, stop by SCRAP RVA’s new location at 322 W Brookland Park Blvd in Richmond to congratulate the workers on their unionization!

Join us in welcoming the workers of SCRAP Creative Reuse in Richmond, VA (SCRAP RVA) to ILWU Local 5 and celebrating their voluntary recognition! You can read our joint press release here: drive.google.com/file/d/1UDWP...

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.

"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 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.

"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."