The public forum “Federal Workers’ Fight Against Privatization and Union Busting”
Held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 6:30–8:30 PM at Tabor Space in Portland, Oregon.
Event Summary & Core:
Book Launch & Focus: The forum served to highlight a new book by prominent labor activists and journalists Suzanne Gordon and Steve Early, titled “Courage or Complicity? How Veterans are Responding to the Assault on Democracy.”
The Assault on Federal Infrastructure: The authors and guest speakers detailed ongoing threats to public systems, focusing heavily on the weaponization of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the reintroduction of Schedule F policies to downsize agencies.
Impact on the VA: Specific attention was given to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and how the loss of union protections directly degrades veteran healthcare systems, removes employee safety valves for reporting backlogs, and curtails basic workplace rights.
Media Coverage by Daniel Shea, a freelance videographer and president of Veterans for Peace PDX Chapter 72, documented the forum.
Shea frequently provides independent video documentation for labor and veteran movements in the Pacific Northwest—such as the recent AFGE PDX VA Nurses Vigil.
