Current Projects
Since first opening its doors in October of 2003 through the end of 2006, NWJP has already recovered $579,425 on behalf of its clients. As of April 2007 our current clients totaled 109.
NWJP is:
- Pursuing approximately thirty-six wage cases on behalf of low-wage workers. In addition, NWJP represents an unknown number of workers in a class action case against Labor Ready, one of the country's biggest temporary employment agencies, for wage law violations.
- Representing clients in cases for discrimination based on national origin, race, sex, anti-union retaliation, and protected activity (e.g. "whistleblower") discrimination.
- Developing a package of bills to protect workers in precarious work. Proposed laws include a safety inspection requirement for vehicles used to transport agricultural workers, a day laborers' "bill of rights," increased regulation of temporary employment agencies, and increased protections for part-time and sub-contracted workers. View a summary of the bills and links to the bills themselves here.
- Using precedent in farm labor law to establish better protection for day laborers and construction workers, who face many of the same systemic problems regarding wages and working conditions as farm workers have faced in the past.
- Reaching out to workers through KPCN, the new radio station established in fall of 2006 by PCUN, Oregon's farmworkers' union. Thanks to the funding from Spirit Mountain Community Fund, NWJP paralegal Ivonne Rivero makes regular appearances on KPCN, providing information about workers' rights to workers throughout the northern Willamette Valley.
- Advocating for legal aid representation for all guest workers. Taking an innovative approach, NWJP filed a petition under NAFTA's labor side agreement to challenge certain Mexican guest workers' ineligibility for legal aid representation. Meaningful enforcement of labor laws for all workers in the United States must be an element of any immigration reform. See the petition, fact sheet, workers' stories, and press release.
- Working to ensure employees who have been displaced by increased competition from international trade are getting all the benefits to which they are entitled under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act.
- Providing legal support to Oregon's farmworkers in their fight for fair collective bargaining rights. NWJP represents workers involved in an organizing campaign by the UFW against a large Central Oregon temporary labor provider who are fighting back against punitive workers' compensation practices.
- Representing the communities that otherwise would not be represented. Currently, 99.1 percent of NWJP's clients are people of color. The large majority is Latina/o and speaks Spanish or an indigenous language. 37.8 % of our clients are women. NWJP has already won over $579,425 in wages and damages for our clients.
- Training advocates about the workplace issues of low-wage, contingent, and immigrant workers. To broaden low-wage workers' legal access and to raise awareness about the problems they face, NWJP participates in trainings for legal service providers, community organizers, and labor organizers. We have taught both regionally and nationally about strategies for challenging contingent labor schemes, enforcing immigrants' organizing rights, proposed labor and immigration legislation, and immigrant tax matters, among other topics.
NWJP is home to exciting programs that provide crucial assistance to the most vulnerable of the Northwest's workers. NWJP will build on its accomplishments, continuing and expanding our push for workers to have dignity and power on the job and in society. Your donation will help ensure NWJP flourishes and is available for low-wage workers who are ready to make a stand!
