PORTLAND, OR - Workers at JOIN, a social service organization that supports people experiencing homelessness in their transition to permanent housing, and JOIN leadership announced in a unified statement, the voluntary recognition of the JOIN Workers Union with Oregon AFSCME.

“This is one of many recent transitions at JOIN that we believe will strengthen us as an
organization and put us in a position to support the needs of staff and our community” the joint statement said.

Like so many nonprofit social service organizations, JOIN workers have struggled with a lack of input in agency decision-making as well as wages and benefits that don’t reflect the difficult nature of the work.

JOIN is a leading organization founded on principles of community care and intersectionality to assist folks who are working toward housing stability. JOIN strives to take an antiracist, antipoverty, strengths-based approach to this work.

"We wanted to form our union to ensure workers are appropriately compensated with thriving wages, benefits, and a prominent voice in policy discussions in recognition of our contributions as highly skilled workers,” said Gillian Herrera, an Outreach Worker at JOIN.

“We are excited to collaborate with leadership to continue our history of breaking barriers in housing advocacy and reimagining standards of living within our organization and beyond” continued Herrera.

“Every JOIN employee, from direct service to administration, plays a vital role in upholding this mission and deserves to feel valued. We appreciate JOIN’s commitment to its core values, and applaud the fierce dedication JOIN workers have shown for the people and communities they serve. We look forward to working together to bargain a contract that guarantees the benefits and voice in decisions that affect JOIN workers, and the people they serve” said Oregon AFSCME Executive Director Stacy Chamberlain.

Oregon AFSCME believes in economic and social justice for all Oregon workers and their families. Our mission is to empower and unite workers to create change in their workplaces and communities. Oregon AFSCME represents over 35,000 workers in the public sector. Our members work for the State of Oregon in addition to counties, municipalities and behavioral health nonprofits across Oregon as well as self-employed child care providers. For more information visit: www.OregonAFSCME.org.

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