Grassroots outreach accelerates in advance of Thursday’s “Boycott McPoverty” event

25-foot-long banner over I-5 during rush hour, leafletting outside stores, and more

With 25-foot-long banners over I-5, thousands of flyers, person-to-person outreach at fast food restaurants and more, the call to Boycott McPoverty continues to sweep through Seattle today.

Today’s grassroots effort comes a day after fast food workers and supporters handed out brown “Boycott McPoverty” lunch bags at Westlake Park, reaching huge numbers of downtown workers & shoppers with the call to join Thursday’s citywide big burger boycott & support the $15 movement by not eating at McDonald’s, Burger King, or Wendy’s that day.

Who: Fast food workers and other supporters of $15 for Seattle

What: Banner, leaflet, poster, and reach out to fast food customers to support Thursday’s citywide Boycott McPovertyeffort

When & Where: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at multiple locations. - 7:30am - 8:30am: Giant 25-foot-long banner on Madison St overpass over northbound I–5 traffic, and Olive Way overpass over southbound I–5 traffic. - ongoing throughout the day: leafleting & postering in multiple neighborhoods outside various fast food restaurants. - 5:00pm - 6:00 pm: Banners displayed in various locations across the city. Specific locations to be announced during the day. (Contact sage@workingwa.org, follow #mcpoverty on twitter or check our map for updates on specific leafleting, postering, and bannering events as the day goes on.)

Fast food workers have called for a one-day boycott of all 25 McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s locations within Seattle city limits as a show of support for raising pay to $15 an hour.

The three big burger chains make billions of dollars by serving billions of burgers to billions of customers – but they still pay their workers poverty wages. Higher wages would mean workers could afford to support themselves and pay for basics like food, rent, and transportation. Our economy would benefit too — because more people making more money means more customers for every business out there.

Leafletting, bannering, and other outreach will continue throughout the week, leading up to Thursday’s boycott at all 25 big burger chain locations in the city.

More information:

• Higher-income people actually eat fast food more often that poor people — 51% of people with incomes above $75,000 report they eat fast food weekly, compared to only 39% of people with incomes below $20,000. (A full-time worker paid the Washington State minimum wage would have an income of $19,385/year.)
• Organizations endorsing the call to Boycott McPoverty include Working Washington, Fifteen Now, Good Jobs Seattle, Martin Luther King County Labor Council, OneAmerica, People’s Institute NW, SEIU 775NW, SEIU 1199NW, Teamsters 117, Tyree Scott Freedom School, and Washington CAN.

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Contact: Sage Wilson, sage@workingwa.org

Fast food workers to hand out thousands of “Boycott McPoverty” lunch bags at Westlake

Spreading the word about citywide big burger boycott as $15 movement continues to build momentum

Seattle fast food workers will be at Westlake Park at lunch break Monday, handing out thousands of brown “Boycott McPoverty” lunch bags and asking downtown workers & shoppers to join a citywide big burger boycott on Thursday by not eating at McDonald’s, Burger King, or Wendy’s.

The one-day citywide boycott is the next step in the campaign to win $15 for Seattle — an effort which has the support of 68% of likely voters in the city, according to a recent poll by EMC Research.

Who: Fast food workers and other supporters of $15 for Seattle

What: Hand out thousands of brown “Boycott McPoverty” lunch bags, asking downtown workers & shoppers to join the call for a one-day boycott of all 25 McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s in the city.

When: Monday, February 17, 2014, 11 am - 1 pm: lunchtime

Where: Westlake Park: Corner of 4th & Pine in downtown Seattle

Fast food workers have called for a one-day boycott of all 25 McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s locations within Seattle city limits as a show of support for raising pay to $15 an hour. More information about the big burger boycott set for Thursday at McPoverty.com

The three big burger chains make billions of dollars by serving billions of burgers to billions of customers – but they still pay their workers poverty wages. Higher wages would mean workers could afford to support themselves and pay for basics like food, rent, and transportation. Our economy would benefit too — because more people making more money means more customers for every business out there.

Leafletting, bannering, and other outreach will continue throughout the week, leading up to Thursday’s boycott at all 25 big burger chain locations in the city.

More information:

• Higher-income people actually eat fast food more often that poor people — 51% of people with incomes above $75,000 report they eat fast food weekly, compared to only 39% of people with incomes below $20,000. (A full-time worker paid the Washington State minimum wage would have an income of $19,385/year.)
• Organizations endorsing the call to Boycott McPoverty include Working Washington, Fifteen Now, Good Jobs Seattle, Martin Luther King County Labor Council, OneAmerica, People’s Institute NW, SEIU 775NW, SEIU 1199NW, Teamsters 117, Tyree Scott Freedom School, and Washington CAN.

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Contact: Sage Wilson: sage@workingwa.org, 206-227-6014

$15 minimum wage for Seattle wins backing of 68% of likely voters, new poll shows

Overwhelming support for $15 across every city council district

A new poll conducted by EMC Research finds a remarkable 68% citywide level of support for a $15 minimum wage among likely Seattle voters. Support is incredibly robust across every City Council district — and in several areas, fully 3 in 4 likely voters support for $15 for Seattle. (Specific highlights available online; EMC Research has also made their full polling memo publicly available.)

These remarkable results come little more than a week before "Boycott McPoverty," the February 20th one-day citywide boycott of the big burger chains (McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's) called by Seattle fast food workers. Boycott McPoverty will mark another step forward as momentum continues to build to lift workers out of poverty and boost the economy with $15 for Seattle.

Who: Seattle fast-food workers and other supporters of $15 for Seattle What: Call on the city to "Boycott McPoverty" in a one-day citywide boycott of the big burger chains (McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's) that will build on the overwhelming support for $15 across the city. When: Thursday, February 20, 2014, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Where: Boycott lines outside multiple stores will be scheduled throughout the day at multiple locations across the city. Details available next week.

In less than 9 months, the Seattle fast food strikes have given birth to a wildly popular movement to boost the economy by ensuring workers are paid enough to support themselves. Back on May 30th, the day of the first strikes, the call for $15 was treated as a quixotic aspiration destined for failure. But after months of action by low-wage workers, voters in SeaTac and Seattle moved the issue dramatically forward on Election Day. Now, as Mayor Murray's task force discusses the best way to implement a $15 minimum wage, an overwhelming consensus has coalesced in support of the call for $15 initially raised in the fast food strikes.

Highlights of the EMC Research Poll:

• 68% of likely Seattle voters support a $15 minimum wage vs. just 25% who oppose
• Support is strong in every council district:
  • District 1 (West Seattle): 58% - 37%
  • District 2 (South Seattle): 74% - 17%
  • District 3 (Capitol Hill): 71% - 20%
  • District 4 (U District/Wallingford/Ravenna): 76% - 14%
  • District 5 (Northgate/North Seattle): 75% - 23%
  • District 6 (Ballard/Greenwood): 68% - 25%
  • District 7 (Queen Anne/Downtown): 60% - 32%
• Strong enforcement rules (including fines) win 86% support
• Three in four voters agree that "If workers in Seattle earn higher wages, our entire community benefits."
• 71% agree that "A higher minimum wage helps local businesses because more workers making more money means they will have more money to spend."

About the poll:

• The poll was conducted by EMC Research, a leading public opinion & market research firm, through a January 14 - 22 telephone survey of 805 likely November 2014 voters in Seattle, with a margin of error of 3.5%.
• Polling was funded by a coalition of organizations & individuals supporting $15 for Seattle, including Working Washington, UFCW 21, Nick Hanauer, SEIU 1199NW, the Teamsters, and the MLK County Labor Council.

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Contact: Sage Wilson, Working Washington, sage@workingwa.org

Fast food workers call on Seattle to "Boycott McPoverty" on February 20th

Citywide big burger boycott will be next step forward for $15 movement

Calling on the public to "Boycott McPoverty" to support $15 for Seattle, fast food workers today announced plans for a citywide boycott of the big burger chains on February 20th. The big three chains (McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King) have a combined 25 locations within Seattle city limits.

The big corporate fast food chains bank billions of dollars a year while paying workers less than it takes to survive. Their McPoverty business model shifts costs to the public, puts downward pressure on wages, and suppresses consumer demand: you can't contribute much to the economy on a minimum wage paycheck.

"Because I make minimum wage I cannot afford daycare, healthcare, or my own place for me & my daughter," explained Brittany Phelps, who works at McDonald's in Seattle, where she's paid $9.32/hour. "Instead I live with 7 other people in a 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment. I'm fighting for a $15 minimum wage so I can afford the basic necessities of life."

There's no question that McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's can afford to lead by example with a $15 minimum wage -- McDonald's alone banked $5.6 billion in profit last year. While the corporate brands make much of the profit and effectively control many store operations, the franchised stores in these chains are also typically owned by large corporations, each of which control dozens or even hundreds of locations.

By joining fast food workers to Boycott McPoverty on February 20th, the people of Seattle will show strong support for a $15 minimum wage that builds broad-based prosperity from the middle out.

Early supporters of the call to Boycott McPoverty February 20th include Working Washington, Fifteen Now, SEIU 775NW & 1199 NW, Teamsters 117, and Washington CAN.

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Contact: Sage Wilson: sage@workingwa.org

THURSDAY: Fast food workers head to City Hall, urge councilmembers to support $15 & fight McPoverty

Councilmembers will hear directly from workers about how a $15 minimum wage would change their lives

SEATTLE, 2/6/2014 - Fast food workers will bring their real-life stories about trying to survive on McPoverty wages straight to the city councilmembers who are considering a $15 minimum wage for Seattle. Workers will then make two direct requests of councilmembers, asking:

1) Will they support a $15 minimum wage for Seattle that boosts the economy and lifts workers out of poverty?

2) Will they join a citywide day of action against McPoverty on February 20th? (Workers will announce more information about the action on Thursday morning.)

Who: Seattle fast food worker-leaders at the forefront of the fight for a $15 minimum wage

What: Head to City Hall to share their stories with City Councilmembers and ask for their support in the fight for a $15 minimum wage.

When & Where: Thursday, February 6, 2014. - 9:30 am: Brief program — including announcement of upcoming citywide event — held in Working Washington offices, 719 3rd Ave (between Columbia & Cherry). Media availability may be arranged beginning at 9:00 am — contact for details. - 10:15 am: Walk over to City Hall for meetings with Councilmembers. Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104

In recent weeks, the movement for a higher minimum wage has continued to build momentum. Last week, President Obama took executive action to raise wages for more than 200,000 workers. Just yesterday at the State Capitol, McDonald’s worker Brittany Phelps offered testimony about what it’s like to raise a daughter on minimum wage, while living in a 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom house with 7 other people. And Thursday, the call for $15 will once again be heard in Seattle City Hall.

More information:

• Education is not the answer when the fastest-growing jobs pay poverty wages: Updated Federal data shows that 8 of the 10 the fastest-growing jobs pay poverty wages — average wages of less than $15/hour. A ninth job pays just barely more than $31,200 a year, the full-time equivalent of $15/hour. Most require little if any education beyond high school.
• Lower wages hurt the economy: New retail sales data shows the negative impact of inequality on the economy as a whole. And Google CEO Eric Schmidt recently told the World Economic Forum in Davos that wage stagnation is holding back growth.
• What if the odds are never in your favor?: A survey of job data shows that less than 10% of people who work for certain low-wage employers ever land a living-wage job.

Sparked by the 2013 fast food strikes and the landmark victory of SeaTac Proposition 1, Good Jobs Seattle seeks to build a sustainable future for Seattle’s economy from the middle out — by turning poverty-wage jobs in fast food and other industries into good jobs that pay enough for workers to support themselves and contribute to the local economy. Good Jobs Seattle is supported by Working Washington, SEIU Healthcare 775NW, OneAmerica, Teamsters 117, Washington CAN! and hundreds of workers and community members across the city.

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Contact: Sage Wilson, Working Washington, sage@workingwa.org

Lawmakers to hear directly from minimum wage workers on Tuesday & Thursday this week

Fast food workers take minimum wage campaign to State Capitol on Tuesday, then City Hall on Thursday

Legislators and city councilmembers will hear directly from workers trying to survive on poverty wages

Fast food workers are taking the fight for good jobs & a stronger economy to state legislators and city councilmembers this week, as momentum behind the campaign to raise the minimum wage spreads from Seattle to Olympia to Washington, DC.

On Tuesday, fast food workers will testify before elected officials in Olympia who are considering a statewide proposal for a $12 minimum wage. Then on Thursday, they will bring the stories of their lives, their work, their families, and their struggles in one-on-one meetings with city councilmembers who are considering a $15 minimum wage for Seattle. (Fast food workers leading the Good Jobs Seattle campaign believe progress towards a $12 statewide standard is an extremely positive development, but remain committed to winning $15 for Seattle.)

Who: Poverty-wage fast food workers

What: Testify before the House Labor & Workforce Development Committee in support of HB 2672, the $12 minimum wage bill on Tuesday, then meet with city councilmembers Thursday in support of a $15 minimum wage for Seattle.

When & Where: - Olympia: Tuesday, February 4, 2014, 1:30pm, House Labor & Workforce Development Committee, House Hearing Room D, John L. O’Brien Building, Capitol Campus - Seattle: Thursday, February 6, 2014. Media availability beginning at 9:00 am — more details available tomorrow.

Fast food workers are taking their stories to lawmakers just a week after McDonald’s had its own lobby day in Olympia in support of the corporate interests of the multi-billion-dollar corporation and its major franchisees.

More information:

• New Federal data shows that 8 of the 10 the fastest-growing jobs pay poverty wages — average wages of less than $15/hour. A ninth job pays just barely more.
• Wage stagnation is having a major negative impact on the whole economy, Google CEO Eric Schmidt recently told the World Economic Forum in Davos.
• A survey of job data shows that less than 10% of people who work for certain low-wage employers ever land a living-wage job.

Sparked by the 2013 fast food strikes and the landmark victory of SeaTac Proposition 1, Good Jobs Seattle seeks to build a sustainable future for Seattle’s economy from the middle out — by turning poverty-wage jobs in fast food and other industries into good jobs that pay enough for workers to support themselves and contribute to the local economy. Good Jobs Seattle is supported by Working Washington, SEIU Healthcare 775NW, OneAmerica, Teamsters 117, Washington CAN! and hundreds of workers and community members across the city.

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Contact: Sage Wilson, Working Washington: sage@workingwa.org

THURSDAY: Fast food workers lead day-long march from SeaTac to Seattle City Hall

Final route and timing info for epic fast-food-worker-led march for $15 from SeaTac to Seattle City Hall

Carrying on the momentum of the landmark victory for the $15 minimum wage in SeaTac, fast food workers will lead a day-long, 8-hour march on Thursday, December 5th that traces the $15 movement’s path from our first big victory in SeaTac to our next destination — Seattle City Hall.

March route: International Blvd to Boeing Access Road to MLK to Rainier to Jackson to 4th. (Map available online with route and timing information.)

March timing:

• 9:00 - brief program at SeaTac Hilton Conference Center, 17620 International Blvd, SeaTac
• 9:30 - march departs, heading north on International Blvd
• 10:30 - marchers pass Abu Bakr Mosque, 14101 International Blvd, Tukwila
• 11:40 - marchers enter Seattle city limits (Boeing Access Rd & MLK)
• 12:00 - marchers reach MLK Way S & S Henderson St
• 1:00 - lunch en route - northwest corner of Brighton Playfield (6000 39th Ave S)
• 1:20 - march continues
• 2:30 - Marchers reach Rainier & MLK
• 4:00 - Supporters gathered at Hing Hay Park (423 Maynard Ave S) join march at Jackson & Maynard
• 4:30 - Rally at City Hall (600 4th Ave)

Please note: times are estimates for planning purposes. For minute-by-minute updates throughout the day as we make our way from SeaTac to Seattle, we will be livestreaming our location during the march on goodjobsseattle.org and on twitter at #onthemarch.

Sparked by this summer’s fast food strikes, Good Jobs Seattle is a growing movement which seeks to build a sustainable future for Seattle’s economy from the middle out — by turning poverty-wage jobs in fast food and other industries into good jobs that offer opportunities for a better future and pay enough for workers to afford basic necessities like food, clothing and rent. Good Jobs Seattle is supported by organizations including Washington Community Action Network, Working Washington, OneAmerica, SEIU Healthcare 775NW and hundreds of workers and grassroots supporters.

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Contact: Sage Wilson, Good Jobs Seattle: sage@workingwa.org

Day-long march to take $15 movement from SeaTac to Seattle City Hall on Thursday

Marchers to leave SeaTac at 9:00am Thursday December 5th, arrive at Seattle City Hall 4:30pm Seizing on the momentum of the landmark victory for the $15 minimum wage in SeaTac, fast food workers and community supporters will mount a day-long, 8-hour march on Thursday, December 5th that traces the $15 movement's path from our first big victory in SeaTac to our next destination — Seattle City Hall.

Who: Poverty-wage workers who work in fast food, at the airport, and other industries, joined by faith leaders and other community supporters

What: Launch an all-day march for $15 and a better future, leaving from the site of our first big victory in SeaTac to our next destination: Seattle City Hall.

When & Where: Thursday, December 5th. (March route: International Blvd to Boeing Access Rd to Martin Luther King, Jr. Way to Rainier Ave to Jackson to 4th.)

- 9:00 am: $15 march kicks off at SeaTac Hilton (which is covered by the SeaTac Good Jobs Initiative), 17620 International Blvd, SeaTac

- 1:00 pm: $15 march pauses for lunch en route at Brighton Playfield, 6000 39th Ave S, Seattle

- 4:00 pm: All-day $15 marchers joined by additional supporters at Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave S, Seattle for final stretch to City Hall

- 4:30 pm: Rally for $15 from SeaTac to Seattle at City Hall, 600 4th Ave, Seattle

Before the first Seattle fast food strike in late May, the $15 minimum wage sounded like an impossible dream. Just 6 months later, it's more than possible: it's set to become a reality for more than 6000 poverty-wage workers in the travel & tourism industry in SeaTac, including the people who work at the McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's in our airport.

The victory for $15 in SeaTac shows that workers and community members can stand up to giant multinational corporations, turn the tide of income inequality, and kickstart the economy by ensuring thousands of workers are paid enough to afford basics like food, rent, and transportation.

Adding to the momentum from SeaTac, candidates who expressed support for fast food workers and the $15 movement won several key Seattle elections:

• Mayor-elect Ed Murray vowed to push for a $15-an-hour minimum wage, writing in his Economic Opportunity Agenda that "Seattle should not wait for state or federal action" to "move forward on achieving the goal of a $15/hour wage for large-scale industries like national big box and fast food brands."
• Councilmember-elect Kshama Sawant said her victorious grassroots campaign was "as close as you can get to a referendum on a $15-an-hour minimum wage in Seattle."
• Councilmember Mike O'Brien co-hosted a council briefing on issues affecting low-wage workers, called on city government to take wage theft seriously, and helped striking fast food workers return to work without retaliation.
• Councilmember Nick Licata went so far as to use a campaign ad to encourage fast food workers to report wage theft.

Sparked by this summer's fast food strikes, Good Jobs Seattle is a growing movement which seeks to build a sustainable future for Seattle's economy from the middle out — by turning poverty-wage jobs in fast food and other industries into good jobs that offer opportunities for a better future and pay enough for workers to afford basic necessities like food, clothing and rent. Good Jobs Seattle is supported by organizations including Washington Community Action Network, Working Washington, OneAmerica, SEIU Healthcare 775NW and hundreds of workers and grassroots supporters.

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Contact: Sage Wilson, Good Jobs Seattle: sage@workingwa.org

From SeaTac to Seattle and beyond, low wage workers celebrate landmark victory for $15 movement

Election results in bring new momentum to fast food workers struggle Seattle fast food workers are celebrating tonight's election results, citing the strong vote for the SeaTac Good Jobs Initiative as an example that is sure to inspire further advances for the $15 movement in Seattle and across the country.

“The victory in SeaTac means that workers at the Wendy's, McDonald’s, Burger King,  and Starbucks at our airport will see their pay rise to $15/hour along with thousands of others,” said Ryan Parker, a fast food striker who works at Wendy's in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. “If they can do it in SeaTac, we can do it in Seattle too.”

At the same time as SeaTac voters cast their votes decisively for the Good Jobs Initiative, which will ensure a $15 minimum wage for more than 6000 workers in an around the airport, Seattle voters elected Ed Murray as mayor after a campaign where the candidates aggressively competed over who would do more to support low-wage workers. The mayor-elect has vowed to push for a $15-an-hour minimum wage, writing in his Economic Opportunity Agenda that "Seattle should not wait for state or federal action" to "move forward on achieving the goal of a $15/hour wage for large-scale industries like national big box and fast food brands."

Now that a small city of 30,000 has defeated the scare tactics of the Koch Brothers and cast their ballots for prosperity, workers and community supporters will be looking to Seattle to take the next step as our region leads the way forward in the $15 movement.

Inspired by the victory in SeaTac, Seattle fast food workers are determined to work with the new mayor & city council to ensure that their campaign commitments become realities. The voters have spoken: it's time to address the crisis of income inequality and build a sustainable economy from the middle-out, by putting more money in the paychecks of the people who need it most.

SeaTac Proposition 1 will will ensure a $15 minimum wage for more than 6000 workers in an around the airport, including workers at the airport McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, and Starbucks.

Sparked by this summer's fast food & coffee strikes, Good Jobs Seattle is a growing movement which seeks to build a sustainable future for Seattle's economy from the middle out — by turning poverty-wage jobs in fast food and other industries into good jobs that offer opportunities for a better future and pay enough for workers to afford basic necessities like food, clothing and rent. Good Jobs Seattle is supported by organizations including Washington Community Action Network, Working Washington, OneAmerica, SEIU Healthcare 775NW and hundreds of workers and grassroots supporters.

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Contact: Sage Wilson, Good Jobs Seattle. sage@workingwa.org