TODAY 12:45 at Sea-Tac: Workers, 15Now to lead major demonstration at Port meeting for true $15 wage

BREAKING: Airport workers & 15Now supporters will hold a major demonstration TODAY in support of the true $15 wage that SeaTac voters passed & the Port of Seattle is trying to water down. The protest will take place AT SEA-TAC AIRPORT before the Port of Seattle meeting there. 12:45 TODAY Serious demonstration by airport workers & 15Now at Sea-Tac Airport SeaTac Airport, International Arrival Hall Near Baggage Claim 1

At their meeting today at 1 pm on the 2nd floor of Sea-Tac Airport, Port Commissioners are expected to released a watered down wage policy that falls well short of the true $15/hour that airport workers & supporters are calling for and that SeaTac voters passed in November.

Due to the Port's opposition to $15 in SeaTac — including joining a lawsuit with Alaska Airlines and other big corporations to overturn it — 4,700 airport workers have lost more than $15 million in wages over the last 6 months.

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Working Washington unites low-wage workers to fight for a fair economy where everyone can support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy. We launched the fast food strikes that sparked the fight for $15 in Seattle; we helped lead the successful campaign to pass $15 in SeaTac; and we work in coalition with unions, faith groups, and grassroots organizations to hold corporations & politicians accountable to community needs.

Franchise suit has no merit, but they *are* right about one thing...

Working Washington issues the following statement on franchise lawsuit to overturn Seattle’s $15 minimum wage:

Inspired by fast food workers whose strikes & protests challenged a business model that pays poverty wages while corporations bank billions in profits, Seattle's $15 minimum wage law is good for workers, good for our economy, and good for our independent businesses.

But McDonald's and other multi-billion-dollar corporations don't want to see Seattle's overwhelming support for $15 spread across the country. They know they are losing the public debate, so they had their DC-based based lobby group, the International Franchise Association, cook up a last-ditch kitchen-sink lawsuit.

Seattle's minimum wage law correctly treats franchise systems as single entities over the course of the phase-in period because that's how they function. Like other large corporate chains, franchise systems are highly standardized arrangements which share an entire business format, not just a tradename. Unlike independent enterprises, franchisees benefit from globally-recognized brands, national marketing campaigns, well-honed operational systems, and standardized purchasing, design, promotional, employment, training, and scheduling systems.

The IFA's legal challenge has no merit, but their lawyers & lobbyists are right about one thing. By ensuring every worker can support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy, Seattle's $15 minimum wage may in fact make it slightly more difficult for giant franchise systems to take massive profits from their poverty-wage business models.

That may be a problem for corporate executives at McDonald's and Subway — but it’s a historic accomplishment for Seattle workers. We’ve changed the national conversation about the minimum wage and our economy, and it’s not changing back.

More information:

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Working Washington unites low-wage workers to fight for a fair economy where everyone can support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy. We launched the fast food workers’ movement in Seattle with the May 30, 2013 strikes; we helped lead the successful campaign to pass $15 in SeaTac; and we work in coalition with unions, faith groups, and other organizations to hold corporations & politicians accountable to community needs.

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

Workers' historic victory has put a stake in the heart of 1% economics. It's not coming back to life.

Working Washington issues this official statement in response to anti-minimum wage efforts by Tim Eyman, a DC-based lobby group for franchisors & franchisees, and other out-of-the-mainstream business groups:

Fast food workers took on the crisis of our poverty-wage economy, stood up to threats of retaliation, and risked their jobs. They galvanized a movement that defeated some of the largest & most profitable corporations in the world, and they made history by passing a $15 minimum wage for Seattle.

It's no surprise that these same corporate interests are now desperate to undo Seattle's momentous achievement: when you strike a blow against income inequality, it only makes sense that the top 1% will try to strike back.

But it's not going to work. Seventy-four percent of Seattle voters support a $15 minimum wage because they know that an added $3 billion in the pockets of 100,000 poverty-wage workers is good for those workers, good for their communities, & good for the whole economy.

A year ago, fast food workers sparked the $15 movement and built an overwhelming citywide consensus that every worker should be able to support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy.

Workers' historic victory has put a stake in the heart of 1% economics, and it's not coming back to life.

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Working Washington unites low-wage workers to fight for a fair economy where everyone can support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy. We launched the fast food workers’ movement in Seattle with the May 30, 2013 strikes; we helped lead the successful campaign to pass $15 in SeaTac; and we work in coalition with unions, faith groups, and other organizations to hold corporations accountable to community needs.

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

At 3:40 pm on June 2nd, fast food workers make history

Seattle City Council votes unanimously to support $15 minimum wage for Seattle!

In just a year, fast food workers spark movement and bring home victory for Seattle workers

At 3:40 pm on June 2nd, fast food workers made history when the Seattle City Council passed a $15 minimum wage by a unanimous 9–0 vote. Here’s how we got there.

“Fast food workers have been paving the way for a better future for low wage workers across the city,” said Crystal Thompson, a Domino’s worker who has been a leader with Working Washington in the fast food movement. “Now many workers will have the chance to raise themselves out of poverty because of the $15 minimum wage.”

“When I see $15,” Crystal continued, “I’ll be able to afford my own place in a safe neighborhood where my kids can ride their bikes, and I’ll finally be able to go back to school.”

Seattle workers have done something incredible. In just a year, fast food workers sparked a movement that has made Seattle becomes the first big city in the US to pass a $15 minimum wage — putting the central demand of the fast food movement into law.

Seattle’s $15 minimum wage is an extraordinary accomplishment: it will raise wages for 100,000 workers, providing a $3 billion economic boost for our communities.

Today, at 3:40 pm on June 2nd, fast food workers made history.

More information:

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

Working Washington unites low-wage workers to fight for a fair economy where everyone can support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy. We launched the fast food workers’ movement in Seattle with the May 30, 2013 strikes; we helped lead the successful campaign to pass $15 in SeaTac; and we work in coalition with unions, faith groups, and other organizations to hold corporations accountable to community needs.

We did it!

Working Washington issues the following statement in advance of this afternoon’s scheduled 2:00 pm vote by City Council to pass a $15 minimum wage for Seattle:

We did it!

A year ago, hundreds of fast food workers in Seattle went on strike for $15 and the right to organize, sparking a new movement to remake our poverty-wage economy.

Six months ago, SeaTac workers won the vote on Proposition 1, which sets a $15 minimum wage for transportation & hospitality workers in and around our airport.

And today, Seattle City Council is set to ratify the central demand of the fast food workers movement by passing a $15 minimum wage — becoming the first big city to commit to the principle that everyone should be able to support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy.

When Seattle fast food workers with Working Washington first called for $15, many thought it was well out of reach — an impossible dream, not a realistic demand. But the bold leadership of fast food workers, airport workers, grocery workers, and others transformed the public debate and changed what was possible.

A year ago, $15 was just a number on fast food strikers’ picket signs. Today it’s set to become reality for 100,000 Seattle workers.

"A year ago, $15 was just a number on fast food strikers' picket signs."

Working Washington issues the following statement in advance of this afternoon’s scheduled 2:00 pm vote by City Council to pass a $15 minimum wage for Seattle:

We did it!

A year ago, hundreds of fast food workers in Seattle went on strike for $15 and the right to organize, sparking a new movement to remake our poverty-wage economy.

Six months ago, SeaTac workers won the vote on Proposition 1, which sets a $15 minimum wage for transportation & hospitality workers in and around our airport.

And today, Seattle City Council is set to ratify the central demand of the fast food workers movement by passing a $15 minimum wage — becoming the first big city to commit to the principle that everyone should be able to support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy.

When Seattle fast food workers with Working Washington first called for $15, many thought it was well out of reach — an impossible dream, not a realistic demand. But the bold leadership of fast food workers, airport workers, grocery workers, and others transformed the public debate and changed what was possible.

A year ago, $15 was just a number on fast food strikers' picket signs. Today it’s set to become reality for 100,000 Seattle workers.

Low-wage workers available for interview before and after vote

Some of the fast food workers who helped spark the movement for $15 will be available this morning — as well as before the 2pm City Council vote and immediately afterwards — to share their stories about what it took to achieve this landmark victory, and how $15 will change their lives,

To arrange an interview, contact Sage Wilson, Working Washington: sage@workingwa.org

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Working Washington unites low-wage workers to fight for a fair economy where everyone can support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy. We launched the fast food workers’ movement in Seattle with the May 30, 2013 strikes; helped lead the successful campaign to pass $15 in SeaTac; and work in coalition with unions, faith groups, and other organizations to hold corporations accountable to community needs.

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