Fuelers' fight for safety & fairness will continue

*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***Contact Sage Wilson, sage@workingwa.org

Workers considering appeal; vow to continue fight for workplace safety & fairness at Sea-Tac

"Our fight for safety and fairness at Sea-Tac will continue," said Leon Sams, a Sea-Tac fueler, after hearing of the preliminary injunction issued today by Federal District Court Judge James L. Robart which restricts the right of ASIG fuelers to go on strike. "We'll continue to pursue all lawful options not prohibited by the injunction, because this decision doesn't do anything to make our working conditions safer." In an initial step in the legal process, Judge Robart sided with multinational airport contractor ASIG in its lawsuit against its own employees, issuing a preliminary injunction this morning which prevents fuelers from going on strike. Working Washington will completely comply with the injunction.

"Have no doubt," Sams added, "we will completely comply with the injunction, but we’re going to continue to stand up for safety and respect at Sea-Tac."

Fuelers employed by ASIG, who are responsible for fueling 75% of the planes at Sea-Tac, have repeatedly raised serious concerns about workplace safety & fairness at our airport with their managers at ASIG; with Alaska Airlines, the largest carrier that hires ASIG to fuel its planes; and with the Port of Seattle, the public agency that oversees our airport.

But instead of fixing faulty trucks, broken ladders, and leaking fuel nozzles, ASIG chose to retaliate against employees who raised workplace safety issues. Then the company took the unusual step of filing a lawsuit against its own employees.

"It's incredible: we have simply been asking ASIG to fix these safety issues and stop retaliating against fuelers. Instead, they took us — their own employees — to Federal Court to silence us," explained Sams, who was there in Federal Court to witness the hearing on Wednesday. "The company's approach doesn't make sense, and it won’t work. Instead of trying to silence its workers, ASIG ought to listen to us when we raise serious workplace safety & fairness concerns."

Fuelers and the legal team supporting them respect Judge Robart’s decision but believe that it wrongly interprets Federal law in issuing the injunction. Fuelers and their supporters are considering next steps, including appealing the court’s decision.

BACKGROUND:

• Documentation of some of the serious safety & fairness concerns Sea-Tac fuel technicians have raised is available online at this link: http://bit.ly/safetyviolations
• Judge James L. Robart was appointed to the Federal District Court in 2004 by President George W. Bush. Judge Robart’s court is within the jurisdiction of the 9th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals
• ASIG is a division of BBA Aviation plc, headquartered in London and listed on the London Stock Exchange. In 2011, BBA Aviation realized $152.1 million in net profits after taxes on revenues of $2.137 billion. ASIG is hired by Alaska Airlines and most other major carriers at Sea-Tac to fuel their aircraft. BBA CEO Simon Pryce earned $1.976 million last year.
• Sea-Tac fuelers employed by ASIG work in difficult conditions with unsafe & faulty equipment, and earn about $10/hour, a wage which puts a family of 3 beneath the federal poverty line.

Aircraft fuelers are among the thousands of poverty-wage workers at our airport. Together, they are speaking out to make sure every job at our airport is a good job — one that offers a safe & healthy working environment, and a fair shot at a better future.

For the latest information, visit itsOURairport.org

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Decision on lawsuit against Sea-Tac fuelers expected in 24-48 hours

Workers release documentation of serious safety & fairness issues

*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - OCTOBER 17, 2012 *** Contact: Sage Wilson, Working Washington: sage@workingwa.org

SEATTLE - A Federal Court judge today heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by a low-wage airport contractor called ASIG against its own employees, who are responsible for safety fueling 75% of the flights at Sea-Tac. A decision on these workers' right to act together for safety & fairness is expected in 24 - 48 hours.

For months Sea-Tac fuelers have raised concerns about soft brakes, leaking fuel nozzles, and other hazardous working conditions. They have brought these issues to their managers at ASIG, the company that employs the fuelers; to the Port of Seattle, the public agency which oversees our airport; and to Alaska Airlines, the largest carrier which hires ASIG to fuel its planes.

But instead of fixing faulty trucks, broken ladders, and leaking fuel nozzles, this multi-national corporation opted to retaliate against workers and take its own employees to court in an attempt to deny their rights. The legal arguments in court today focused on whether or not the employer will be permitted to continue denying these workers their right to act together for safety & fairness.

Workers also released specific documentation of serious safety & fairness issues, including:

• Exhibit A - Hose on stationary cart continues to leak fuel, 10/9/2012
• Exhibit B - No latch on fuel nozzles; uniforms soiled with fuel, 10/6/2012
• Exhibit C - Non-functioning safety equipment on truck, 10/6/21012
• Exhibit D - Faulty fuel truck brakes, 10/5/2012
• Exhibit E - Broken trucks taken out of service prior to FAA inspection, 10/4/2012
• Exhibit F - Fuel pressure too high; no eye-wash station available, 9/18/2012
• Exhibit G - Small electrical fire started on 5,000-gallon tank truck, early 2012

A packet of documentation is available online at the link below:

http://bit.ly/safetyviolations

Aircraft fuelers are among the thousands of poverty-wage workers at our airport. Together, they are speaking out to make sure every job at our airport is a good job — one that offers a safe & healthy working environment, and a fair shot at a better future. For the latest information, visit itsourairport.org

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Federal Court hearing today on Sea-Tac fuelers' right to strike for safety & fairness

** MEDIA ADVISORY FOR OCTOBER 17, 2012 ***Contact: Sage Wilson, Working Washington: sage@workingwa.org

Workers offer specific documentation of safety issues they have raised

For months Sea-Tac fuelers have raised concerns about soft breaks, leaking fuel nozzles and other hazardous working conditions. They have brought these issues to their managers at ASIG, the company that employs the fuelers; to the Port of Seattle, the public agency which oversees our airport; and to Alaska Airlines, the largest carrier which hires ASIG to fuel its planes.

But instead of fixing faulty trucks, broken ladders, and leaking fuel nozzles, this multi-national corporation has opted to retaliate against workers and take its own employees to court in an attempt to deny their rights. Today, US District Judge Robart will hear arguments on these workers' right to strike over safety & fairness issues. Specific documentation of safety issues raised by workers is available online here.

When: TODAY: Wednesday, October 17th at 9 am. Sea-Tac fuelers will be available outside the courthouse beginning at 8:45 am to offer comment on the serious safety issues they face and offer documentation of their concerns — please call to arrange an interview.

Where: U.S. Courthouse, 700 Stewart St. in downtown Seattle. Judge Robart’s courtroom is on the 14th floor

What: Federal Court hearing on Sea-Tac fuelers right to strike for safety & fairness.

More information:

Documentation of safety issues is available online here, including:

• Exhibit A - Hose on stationary cart continues to leak fuel, 10/9/2012
• Exhibit B - No latch on fuel nozzles; uniforms soiled with fuel, 10/6/2012
• Exhibit C - Non-functioning safety equipment on truck, 10/6/21012
• Exhibit D - Faulty fuel truck brakes, 10/5/2012
• Exhibit E - Broken trucks taken out of service prior to FAA inspection, 10/4/2012
• Exhibit F - Fuel pressure too high; no eye-wash station available, 9/18/2012
• Exhibit G - Small electrical fire started on 5,000-gallon tank truck, early 2012

Aircraft fuelers are among the thousands of poverty-wage workers at our airport. Together, they are speaking out to make sure every job at our airport is a good job — one that offers a safe & healthy working environment, and a fair shot at a better future. For the latest information, visit itsourairport.org

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Airport workers are fed up

(Originally posted on itsourairport.org) Airport workers have been fighting for better work treatment for months now; workers and community members are still taking action to make every airport job a good job.

Workers for Menzies, a low wage contractor hired by Alaska Airlines handles bags for passengers. Workers, for months now have been asking for better wages, fair treatment and a voice in their workplace. The company has ignored them. The workers and community members have had enough and we marched on the Menzies HR office and demanded to be heard.

A security guard tried to force us to leave, but we held our ground. We’ve been ignored for long enough and they would listen to us this time. We were many and we were all in this together. Some of the workers were from different companies and different jobs. They know that when the workers get together in solidarity that is when real change can happen.

The manager on duty finally came out of the office and immediately launched into a “blah blah blah this is a private business, blah blah get outta here” type of speech, but he was interrupted by a Menzies worker.

“I work for Menzies,” said Ulysses. “I have every right to be here and you guys just haven’t listened to us when we go through our managers. So we’re here right now, together.”

The manager stopped using talking points and started to listen.

We handed him a petition signed by hundreds of airport workers that all are standing up for better pay, fair treatment and a voice in the workplace.

To Menzies Aviation, and the airlines that contract with Menzies:

We, the undersigned, are Menzies leads, ramp and other Menzies workers. We request that you take drastic measures regarding our management’s treatment of employees.

We need: • Adequate supplies of proper personal protective equipment, like back supports and knee pads • Higher pay—at least equal to the amount Menzies pays in other airports that have similar costs of living • Employer paid medical benefits

We work hard and we know that we make Sea-Tac Airport run well. We deserve respect!

Later, Menzies workers were joined by other airport workers as they went to Alaska Airlines to demand that the airline hold its contractors accountable for their mistreatment. Alaska has a good reputation with many travellers, but they seem to think that who it hires as contractors is somehow not reflective of their core beliefs.

Here’s the truth. Companies are responsible for the contractors they employ. If Alaska thinks that hiring contract companies absolves them of responsibility for the way that contractor treats its workers, Alaska is sorely mistaken.

Workers get this. They understand that if you want real change to happen you sometimes have to follow the money and make your voices heard. Walking down to an Alaska Airlines corporate office to talk to the Vice President of Sub-Contracting, who is in charge of Alaska’s contractor relations, they linked arms and walked in step.

The Vice President was on vacation and this isn’t the first time, must have a ton of frequent flyer miles, so we talked to a public relations officer instead.

He gave us the usual run around about Alaska cares for this or that, but he wasn’t really a decision maker. We will keep pushing. We won’t just accept someone’s word. We want real changes at our port. We’re asking for fair wages, fair treatment and a fair chance to make our voices heard.

The workers and the community around our port are standing together. We’ve seen what can happen when people fight and support each other and we’re just getting started.

We will have justice at our port.

Workers overlooked in safety inspection of Sea-Tac fuel operations

On Oct. 5, Working Washington issued the following statement in response to news of an FAA inspection of safety issues in Sea-Tac fueling operation. Two days after Sea-Tac aircraft fuelers announced their overwhelming vote to authorize a strike for safety & fairness, the FAA has reportedly been called in to look into the serious safety issues workers have raised.

However, the FAA inspectors failed to speak to the workers who brought these issues to public attention. In fact, Alex Popescu — the fueler who was suspended after speaking out on safety issues and reporting a broken truck to his manager — only heard about the FAA inspection when contacted about it by the media.

Over the past several months, aircraft fuelers at Sea-Tac have repeatedly raised serious safety concerns with ASIG managers and corporate executives. They have brought serious safety issues like faulty fuel nozzles, loose brakes, and fuel-soaked work shirts directly to Alaska and the other airlines whose planes they are responsible for fueling. And they have spoken to Port Commissioners and other elected officials to make them aware of these matters.

The ASIG fuelers who have spoken out about these safety issues would be happy to talk with the FAA, the Port, Alaska Airlines, or ASIG management in order to improve safety on the job at Sea-Tac.

While the FAA has not spoken to us, workers remain ready, willing, and able to show inspectors the specific equipment they are concerned about in order to ensure that these safety problems are remedied and not swept under the rug.

Fired up about safety, Sea-Tac fuelers deliver a strike notice.

(Originally posted on www.itsourairport) By Nathan Jackson

“This here is a broken gear shift,” Alex Popescu, an Aircraft Service International Group,(ASIG) fueler said pointing at a blown up picture of a 5,000 gallon fuel truck gear shift. “ASIG fixed it as you can see, with good ol’ duct tape.”

ASIG is a poverty wage contractor hired by Alaska Airlines. This contractor treats workers poorly requiring them to work with shoddy equipment.

When Sea-Tac fueler Alex Popescu brought up workplace safety issues like soft brakes and taped up gear shifts to ASIG management, they ignored him. When Alex brought his safety concerns to the Port of Seattle in public forums, and then reported a broken truck to his manager, ASIG suspended him.

Workers have had enough.

They have been asking ASIG to address their workplace safety concerns to no avail. These fuelers drive and refuel 75% of the planes at our port and they have to drive 5, 10 or 15 thousand gallon fuel trucks.

So fuelers voted by an overwhelming margin to authorize a strike.

Standing in the shadow of the Sea-Tac Airport control tower, workers stood with community allies such as Faith Action Network,  Puget Sound Sage, One America, and Teamsters 117, held a press conference in front of no less than five television cameras.

“We are here to stand with these workers in solidarity,” said Michael Ramos from the Church Council of Greater Seattle. “Workers like Alex and the rest of these fuelers deserve — no demand — respect, safety and fairness in their work place and we stand with them. It’s time ASIG and Alaska Airlines did right by their workers and give Alex his job back.”

Ramos introduced another fueler to stand in front of the banners held by airport workers, Leon Sams. He approached the Q13 Fox microphone holding the letter that the fuelers have drafted to tell ASIG of their strike vote.

“My name is Leon Sams and I’m a fueler,” he said.

He cleared his throat and read from the letter.

“This past weekend, ASIG workers met and voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if you do not immediately return Alex to work with back pay, stop all management attempts at retaliation and intimidation, and take immediate steps to address the numerous safety issues at ASIG that we’ve repeatedly brought to you, Alaska Airlines, and the Port of Seattle Commissioners.

We have not called the strike yet. But we are ready. If we strike, we know we are protected by federal and state law. It is illegal for the company to threaten or intimidate workers who are exercising their lawful right to strike for safety and against worker retaliation. Threats made by ASIG representatives to workers in recent days are illegal. And they won’t stop us. We know our rights and are prepared to defend them.”

The large crowd cheered as faith leaders approached and introduced themselves. Collared priests, ministers and people of Muslim faith shook hands with workers pledging support.

Carol Harris of God First Ministries summed it up.

“We stand on the side of those who are standing up for their rights,” she said. “They deserve respect, safety and fairness and we got their backs.”

After marching to the ASIG offices, which were locked even though it was well within business hours, the fuelers decided to take their message directly to airline passengers. With TV crews following them, they reached out to people in Sea-Tac airport about safety issues and answered questions from many supportive travelers.

Alex Popescu handing out fliers answered the big question.

“It’s about safety,” he said. “We haul thousands of gallons of highly flammable fuel in trucks with soft, shoddy brakes. . . and duct-tape-maintenance. We’re concerned about . . .  our safety.”

Sea-Tac fuelers and faith leaders deliver strike notice to airport contractor

*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***Contact: Working Washington: Thea Levkovitz, thea@workingwa.org or Sage Wilson, sage@workingwa.org

Workers begin reaching out to passengers over safety & fairness issues

Sea-Tac fueler Alex Popescu saw something, he said something, and he was suspended for it. That's what prompted fuelers to announce today that they have voted to authorize a strike over workplace safety and rights at ASIG, a low-wage airport contractor responsible for safely fueling 75% of flights at Sea-Tac.

In August, Alex testified before the Port of Seattle and showed photos of faulty equipment that affect the safety of ASIG workers. On September 12, he reported broken equipment on a truck he was supposed to drive. He was then suspended indefinitely, and has not been allowed back to work since.

Today, Alex’s co-workers were joined by faith and community leaders to demand that safety issues like soft brakes on fuel trucks, faulty fuel nozzles, and broken ladders be addressed, and that Alex be reinstated to his job. Workers should have the right to speak out on workplace safety and rights without being penalized for it.

After holding a press conference to explain the issues, fuelers and community leaders then marched together to ASIG's offices where they delivered an official notification of the strike authorization vote to ASIG's corporate offices. Fueler and supporters then returned to the airport to begin leafletting passengers about their safety & fairness concerns. (Click here to see copies of the strike authorization notice to management and the passenger alert.)

Fuelers made clear today that they are standing together for safety and fairness at Sea-Tac, and community leaders made clear that they stand with them. Fuelers are unwilling to continue to accept unsafe conditions at the airport, and they will not accept retaliation against a co-worker who spoke up for his rights at work. Now that official notification of the strike authorization vote has been delivered, what happens next is up to ASIG and Alaska and the other airlines who hire them.

For the latest information as events develop, visit itsOURairport.org

Aircraft fuelers are among the thousands of poverty-wage workers at our airport. Together, they are speaking out to make sure every job at our airport is a good job — one that offers good wages & benefits, a safe & healthy working environment, and a fair shot at a better future.

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Sea-Tac aircraft fuelers vote to authorize strike for safety & fairness at work

Contact: Thea Levkovitz, thea@workingwa.org or Sage Wilson, sage@workingwa.org

Possible action by fuelers could cause delays at Sea-Tac

Airport workers who fuel planes for Alaska and most other major airlines at Sea-Tac have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike over retaliation against a co-worker who raised public concerns about safety & fairness issues at our airport. Any job action by these fuelers, who work for a low-wage contractor called ASIG, could cause disruption at Sea-Tac and ripple effects throughout the Alaska Airlines network.

Today at noon, fuelers will hold a press conference to detail the situation that prompted their difficult decision to authorize a strike. They will then deliver official notification of their vote to ASIG management.

When: Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at 12 noon

Where: Cell phone waiting lot, 16601 Air Cargo Road, SeaTac, WA 98158. This lot, under the shadow of Sea-Tac's air traffic control tower, is just yards from ASIG management offices.

What: Aircraft fuelers with banners, signs, and large blown-up photos documenting safety issues will hold a press conference to explain their vote to authorize a strike. Joined by community and faith leaders, they will then deliver official notification of their strike authorization vote to ASIG management.

Sea-Tac fuelers voted to authorize a strike after their employer retaliated against Alex Popescu, a fuel technician who has been actively involved in helping co-workers organize around workplace safety issues and other concerns. In August, Alex testified before the Port of Seattle and showed photos of faulty equipment that affect the safety of ASIG workers. On September 12, Alex reported other broken equipment on a truck he was supposed to drive.

He was then suspended indefinitely, and has not been allowed back to work since.

Alex's co-workers are demanding that he be reinstated to his job, and that the safety issues he has raised be addressed and workers' rights respected. They made the difficult decision to authorize a strike only after exhausting every other option, including phone calls, petitions, and direct appeals to the management of ASIG and the airlines who hire ASIG to safely fuel their planes.

"This is about our right to speak out about safety & fairness," explained Gary Yancey, a 14-year fueler. "It's not safe for us to be driving broken trucks. Trying to get rid of someone who was speaking out for all of us doesn't make the airport any safer, and we can't let them get away with it."

Aircraft fuelers are among the thousands of poverty-wage workers at our airport. Together, they are speaking out to make sure every job at our airport is a good job — one that offers good wages & benefits, a safe & healthy working environment, and a fair shot at a better future.

For the latest information, visit itsOURairport.org

Our political leaders, candidates and policies shouldn't be for rent.

By Nathan Jackson

99% SuperPACs have been meeting from South to North Seattle and across from Tacoma to Bellevue. We are dedicated groups coming together to bring forward the issues that really matter to the 99%: good jobs, affordable healthcare, and political system that isn’t rigged against us. We learn about what causes these problems, like our free screening of the film “Heist: who stole the American Dream,” and then we get to the action.

Last month, 99% SuperPAC activists from across King County joined up to march against cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. We stomped down from the First Hill neighborhood to the International District gaining support from medical workers as we marched. Some of them spoke at the rally raising their concerns about their patients being left behind as politicians continue to slash budgets of essential health services.

Then we got word of a couple of 1% fundraisers for Republican McKenna. He has through his campaign promises and shown that he would not put the needs of the 99% above those of the 1%. So we decided to crash their parties.

McKenna spoke before the Washington Apartment Association, known for trying to make booting us out of our homes easier, and glad handed as they attempted to raise thousands of dollars for him as a fellow traveler.

The Washington Apartment Association asked McKenna what his priorities would be if he was elected governor. McKenna’s answer? Nothing about good jobs. Nothing about closing tax loopholes for the big corporations and richest amongst us. Nothing about lowering healthcare costs or ensuring that the 99% have a fair shot. Mostly just more tax giveaways for businesses.

In the same day the Washington Restaurant Association (WRA), a lobbying group probably best known for depressing restaurant workers’ wages, held a fundraiser for McKenna since he has similar beliefs. In fact, he was the one who gave them the advice that a sub minimum wage, a so called “training wage,” was something the WRA should lobby for.

The location? Bellevue restaurant El Gaucho, where their steaks range from $65 - $125 a pop.

The Washington Restaurant Association had a few drinks with McKenna and tried to raise $10,000 for their chosen candidate. We were outside waving signs, chanting and hearing stories from workers who were struggling to make ends meet from the depressed wages they got from the same folks who were swirling wine in glasses a few feet away.

We also had a crack team of activists inside the restaurant undercover. Right in the middle of another “blah-blah- you-are-just-like-us-wanting-to-cut-minimum-wage” speech, the inside team started to mic-check.

Gina Peterson stood up and shouted, interrupting the dessert course, some type of chocolate mousse, and explained that McKenna had recommended himself for a raise and later in his term as Attorney General had fought against a minimum wage increase for working folks. She tried to tell the gathered 1% that it wasn’t fair that he had suggested a sub minimum wage when people are already struggling to make ends meet, but they had had enough out of us.They booted us out right quick.

We are gaining momentum and one of the ways we can keep this going, besides y’all getting even more involved, is to make sure that we aren’t forgetting that little thing called voting.

As you know this is an election year and in Washington State we have until October 8th to make sure we are registered to vote. If you’re already registered you can check here at this link to make sure your address and all that is up to date: www.myvote.wa.gov. You can also register there if you haven’t already.

If you can forward this information to friends and family as unfortunately there are still folks who aren’t registered. In 2008, 6 million people didn’t cast their votes because they either missed the deadlines or hadn’t updated their information.

We're also launching a major "Get Out The Vote" campaign.

You can sign up to volunteer following the link here: Get Out The Vote.

Imagine what we could accomplish if we all made our voices heard both on election day and afterwards. If we all stood up, sent in our ballots and then held those elected officials accountable to us, the 99%, what a difference we could make.

Let’s keep the momentum rolling here in Washington State. We need to get registered, vote, get organized and keep taking actions to take it to the 1%. The 99% is bigger than them and together we can get justice.

"McKenna for Rent": Protestors to confront big-dollar donors at two McKenna fundraising events

*** MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 ***Contact: Sage Wilson, Working Washington: 206-227-6014, sage@workingwa.org

Members of 99% SuperPAC to "evict" landlord campaign cash and declare "unhappy hour" for low-wage workers

TUESDAY IN TUKWILA & BELLEVUE - Rob McKenna plans to raise tens of thousands of dollars in campaign cash at two separate big-bucks fundraisers on Tuesday — and the 99% will be there to raise their voices in a day of action against the McKenna agenda of tax loopholes, budget cuts, and low wage jobs.

99% SuperPAC Day of Action at McKenna fundraisers:

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

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"McKenna for Rent": protest of landlord fundraiser

When: 12 noon, Tuesday September 25, 2012

Where: Doubletree Southcenter, 16500 Southcenter Parkway, Tukwila

What: Leaders of the 99% SuperPAC (People's Action Committee) from communities across the area will converge at a lunchtime fundraiser organized by the state's biggest landlord lobby group, the Washington Apartment Association, and attempt to "evict" big-dollar campaign cash from our political system. Low-income tenants will speak out about the unfairness of a system where rich property owners can invest their rent money to support a candidate whose agenda would make it even harder for tenants to make ends meet — a system that essentially puts candidates & policies up for rent to the highest bidder.

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"McKenna for McJobs": protest of restaurant association fundraiser

When: 3:30 pm, Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Where: El Gaucho Bellevue, 450 108th Avenue NE, Bellevue

What: Protestors to declare fundraiser by anti-minimum-wage group at wildly expensive restaurant to be an "unhappy hour" for low-wage workers. Members of the 99% will rally and speak out against McJobs and against the attempts to undermine the minimum wage backed by McKenna, the Restaurant Association, and the big corporate chains that fund them both.

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More Information:

The Washington Apartment Association, the biggest landlord lobby group in Washington, has said they hope to raise $10,000 to back the McKenna agenda. Last year, they spent more than $45,000 lobbying at the State Capitol in Olympia — more than many of their renters earn. Now they want to take the rent their tenants pay them and turn it into big bucks for McKenna. Their goal: to further advance their 1% agenda, which includes making it easier to evict tenants from their homes, fighting controls on screening fees, and opposing health & safety inspections of rental housing.

The Washington Restaurant Association is infamous for their long opposition to the minimum wage, and for pushing the interests of the notorious low-wage employers like McDonalds, Wendy's, and Coca-Cola who serve on their board. The Restaurant Association opposed the 1998 initiative which tied minimum wage increases to inflation, and the group has repeatedly tried to push for special sub-minimum wages for some kinds of workers. In 2010, they even sued to try and block a 12¢ minimum wage increase. Rob McKenna has supported them almost every time — maybe that's why they expect to raise tens of thousands of dollars to back the McKenna agenda.

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Chapters of the 99% SuperPAC (People’s Action Committee) are springing up in neighborhoods from Renton to Bellevue to Everett in response to a political system that seems to serve as an investment vehicle for the 1%, Together, members of the 99% SuperPAC are organizing to stand up against the campaign cash of the 1% and support a 99% political agenda of good jobs, tax fairness, and economic justice. The 99% SuperPAC is a project of Working Washington. More info at workingWA.org