Real stories from the real lives of Seattle's poverty-wage workforce
***MEDIA ADVISORY *** Contact: Sage Wilson, Working Washington: sage@workingwa.org
"On the Edge" will showcase real stories from the real lives of poverty-wage workers who are rising up from the edge of our economy to demand good jobs and new opportunities for a better future.
Who: Workers from Sea-Tac Airport, Walmart, McDonald's, home care, and other poverty-wage industries, hosted by noted independent journalist Sarah Jaffe, a leading writer and commentator on social movements and low-wage work.
What: Real workers tell real stories from their real experience of living "on the edge" as part of our fast-growing poverty-wage workforce.
When: Thursday, May 2nd, the First Thursday immediately following May Day. Doors open at 5:45 pm. Story slam begins at 6:00 pm.
Where: Doc Maynard's in Pioneer Square. 610 First Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.
Background:
While the top tier of Seattle's economy may be booming, seven of the ten fastest-growing jobs pay poverty wages. These are the jobs of the future in retail, fast food, home health care, and restaurants. Many of them pay so little that workers qualify for food stamps — even when they're working full-time jobs serving the customers of profitable corporations like McDonald's and Alaska Airlines.
From airport workers here at Sea-Tac to fast food workers in New York to Walmart workers across the country — in the past 6 months, unrest among poverty-wage workers on the edge of our economy has reached an intensity that hasn't been seen in decades.
These are their stories.
Note: Please contact Sage Wilson of Working Washington to arrange an interview with a storyslam participant in advance of the event.
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