Worker leaders with Working Washington from across the state joined over 1,300 fast-food workers from all across the country at the national Fight for $15 convention in Detroit this weekend.
Read MoreA year after Seattle’s minimum wage ordinance is signed into law, the sky remains aloft
In the year between the first Seattle fast food strikes and the passage of Seattle’s landmark $15 minimum wage law, business lobbyists and self-appointed experts insisted that they knew what happen if we raised the minimum wage. It was Economics 101, they’d say: higher wages would surely sink the economy. Businesses would be destroyed. Franchises would cease to exist. Prices would rise 25% or more. Open for business signs would go dark, owners would move to Texas, and Seattle would become a city of Cheesecake Factories. It hasn't quite turned out that way.
Read More"We're not stepping down or backing down because Alaska says 'No.'"
Alaska Airlines had another record-breaking year, but they've forgotten something as they broke through the stratosphere: the workers who got them to such heights in the first place. Alaska Airlines needs to do better: stop blocking the $15 that workers fought for and won, get out of the way of workers forming unions, and recommit to making every airport job a good job.
Read MoreYou gotta see the looks on the faces of these Chamber of Commerce guys
The Thurston County Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the Washington Restaurant Association to oppose the $15 minimum wage in Olympia — and then they invited Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden to be their keynote speaker. So Olympia workers showed up and made sure their voices were heard too.
Read More2 of the 5 restaurant owners featured in KUOW scare story on $15 are actually opening new restaurants this year
It’s remarkable enough that NPR thinks it’s appropriate to do a story about the impact of $15 on restaurants without talking to a single restaurant worker or restaurant customer. But it’s even more amazing that they apparently didn’t bother to google the names of the restaurant owners either.
Read MoreFighting for $15 at Alaska Airlines annual shareholder meeting — Thursday, May 7th
Join hundreds of workers and community supporters from Seattle, Tacoma, and every city in between at the Alaska Airlines annual shareholder meeting. Together, we’ll urge the airline to give back to our communities by supporting good jobs and living wages at our airports: Thursday, May 7, 2015, 1:00 pm, at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.
Read MoreAbout that story on zPizza and Seattle’s minimum wage…
Apparently one California-based international pizza chain has decided they somehow can’t succeed in Seattle’s Capitol Hill — one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in the fastest-growing large city in the United States. Meanwhile, 14 different Seattle pizza places have posted job openings on craiglist in just the past week.
Read More$15 is just the beginning. Inequality ends with us.
On April 15th, from Spokane to Olympia to Seattle, we came out hundreds strong against poverty wages.
Read MoreOlympia workers occupy Capital Mall *and* the State Capitol as workers rise for $15 in Yakima, Pasco, Olympia, Federal Way, Spokane, and more -- arriving in Seattle 2 pm
It's already the biggest mobilization yet in the movement against poverty wages — and we're still an hour away from the main event in downtown Seattle when Uber drivers, Macy's workers, and Seattle University adjuncts join the movement.
"Federal Way is just the beginning" as major day of action is underway: Next stop — Olympia on Strike
Olympia workers strike for $15
TODAY — 10:45 am
Capital Mall Olive Garden and other chains
2400 Capital Mall Way, Olympia
At 8:00 am, Federal Way fast food workers kicked off today's actions in style, with dozens occupying the Federal Way McDonald's & Burger King to share stories about why they need $15/hour & better working conditions. Next stop is the Olympia strikelines!
Photos & brief B-roll available on dropbox:
Support was incredibly strong: passing cars and trucks honked and waved, and even customers spoke out in support. One man who had just eaten at McDonald's wished workers luck, and urged us on: "A mountain moves one rock at a time," he said.
Eric Taylor works at McDonald's in Federal Way: "Today," he said "we're going to fight.
Jackiie works two fast food jobs, clocking 70 hours a week. For her it's simple: "We can't be living like this."
And David from McDonald's broke it down clearly: "We run these places. We deserve to make a living."
Events continue all day long, culminating 2 pm in downtown Seattle. Follow along online:
http://www.workingwa.org/15-is-just-the-beginning
on twitter at @workingwa and #JustTheBeginning
