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City Workers and City Council Stand in Solidarity Against Supreme Court’s Janus Decision

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Representatives of City of Oakland unions  speak at Tuesday’s Council meeting supporting a resolution opposing the Supreme Court’s recent Janus decision

Representatives of the City of Oakland’s labor unions attended this week’s City Council meeting to support Councilmember-at-Large Rebecca Kaplan’s resolution opposing the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision that will undermine the bargaining strength of public sector unions.

“The Supreme Court ruled against the needs of workers to have effective representation,” said Kaplan in a prepared statement.

“This action, by the Supreme Court … will weaken unions’ power to effectively negotiate on behalf of all public-sector workers, including to promote policies that protect workers’ rights, fair wages, and safer working conditions.”

The resolution, co-sponsored by Councilmembers Dan Kalb and Abel Guillén, calls on the city to continue working with public-sector unions to respond to the problems raised by the Janus decision.

“Your support of this resolution sends a strong resolution to everyone…that you stand with workers,” said Liz Ortega-Toro, representing the Alameda Labor Council.

“We appreciate your support and hope that all of your workers will continue to have the freedom to organize a union and for dignity on the job,” she said. “We’ve been working to blunt the impact of this decision, which includes working with elected leaders like yourselves.

“Trump’s Supreme Court majority has reversed 40 years of labor, with their decision in Janus vs. AFSCME. This decision comes as no surprise given Trump’s disdain for workers in general and public workers in particular.”

 

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Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

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Remembering George Floyd

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OP-ED: Oregon Bill Threatens the Future of Black Owned Newspapers and Community Journalism

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Nearly half of Oregon’s media outlets are now owned by national conglomerates with no lasting investment in local communities. According to an OPB analysis, Oregon has lost more than 90 news jobs (and counting) in the past five years. These were reporters, editors and photographers covering school boards, investigating corruption and telling community stories, until their jobs were cut by out-of-state corporations.

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By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association

For decades, The Skanner newspaper in Portland, the Portland Observer, and the Portland Medium have served Portland, Oregon’s Black community and others with a vital purpose: to inform, uplift and empower. But legislation now moving through the Oregon Legislature threatens these community news institutions—and others like them.

As President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), which represents more than 255 Black-owned media outlets across the United States—including historic publications like The Skanner, Portland Observer, and the Portland Medium—l believe that some Oregon lawmakers would do more harm than good for local journalism and community-owned publications they are hoping to protect.

Oregon Senate Bill 686 would require large digital platforms such as Google and Meta to pay for linking to news content. The goal is to bring desperately needed support to local newsrooms. However, the approach, while well-intentioned, puts smaller, community-based publications at a future severe financial risk.

We need to ask – will these payments paid by tech companies benefit the journalists and outlets that need them most? Nearly half of Oregon’s media outlets are now owned by national conglomerates with no lasting investment in local communities. According to an OPB analysis, Oregon has lost more than 90 news jobs (and counting) in the past five years. These were reporters, editors, and photographers covering school boards, investigating corruption, and telling community stories, until their jobs were cut by out-of-state corporations.

Legislation that sends money to these national conglomerate owners—without the right safeguards to protect independent and community-based outlets—rewards the forces that caused this inequitable crisis in the first place. A just and inclusive policy must guarantee that support flows to the front lines of local journalism and not to the boardrooms of large national media corporations.

The Black Press exists to fill in the gaps left by larger newsrooms. Our reporters are trusted messengers. Our outlets serve as forums for civic engagement, accountability and cultural pride. We also increasingly rely on our digital platforms to reach our audiences, especially younger generations—where they are.

We are fervently asking Oregon lawmakers to take a step back and engage in meaningful dialogue with those most affected: community publishers, small and independent outlets and the readers we serve. The Skanner, The Portland Observer, and The Portland Medium do not have national corporate parents or large investors. And they, like many smaller, community-trusted outlets, rely on traffic from search engines and social media to boost advertising revenue, drive subscriptions, and raise awareness.

Let’s work together to build a better future for Black-owned newspapers and community journalism that is fair, local,l and representative of all Oregonians.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., President & CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association

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