There are many ways to become an organizer with Portland Tenants United. The most common ways are to become a Direct Tenant Organizer or to join the Organizing Committee.

Direct Tenant Organizers work with tenants to help them start unions or associations in their complexes. If you became a direct tenant organizer we would give you a quick training and then pair you up with experienced organizers to support unionization efforts, until you felt ready to lead them on your own. If you are interested in becoming a direct tenant organizer, please email [email protected]

The Organizing Committee is the main structure keeping PTU running. Currently all organizing efforts aside form direct tenant organizing are run through the Organizing Committee. You can read more about that below. If you would like to join the Organizing Committee please email [email protected] to learn more.

More Information

The Organizing Committee is responsible for managing day to day operations for Portland Tenants United, including leading organizing efforts, choosing where to focus our energy, endorsing efforts from other organizations, managing the budget, administrative tasks, and more! OC members are expected to be directly involved in some other aspect of PTU's organizational work; whether administrative, financial, or organizing. Involvement typically includes weekly participation. Please read through the Organizing Committee Charter and the and Organizing Committee Member Responsibilities to learn more about serving on the Organizing Committee

Eligibility:  Must register as a PTU tenant member.

Strong qualities for Organizing Committee Candidates include

• Knowledge or explicit willingness to learn landlord–tenant law
• Commitment to racial justice, equity, and experience addressing systems of oppression that harm many communities including People of Color, people with lower income, people with disabilities, people who are queer, trans, or otherwise identify as LGBTQIA+, among others.
• General leadership and communication skills
• A desire to engage with, learn from and execute the will of PTU General Membership.
• Able to participate and engage consistently over time, and follow through on tasks.