***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 10***Contact: Thea Levkovitz, Thea@workingwa.org
Sea-Tac airport workers, many of whom make under $10 per hour, are standing up for humane working conditions. They join a growing chorus of workers that are fighting back against poverty-wage jobs, including thousands of workers at LAX, Walmart workers around the country, and fast food workers in New York City.
Today on International Human Rights Day, workers will be joined by faith and community leaders in an LED Candle light vigil to educate holiday crowds and send a message to the Port of Seattle and Alaska Airlines and its contractors that airport worker rights are human rights.
WHAT: Low Wage Airport Workers March at Sea-Tac Airport for Basic human rights
WHEN: December 10, 2012, 1:45PM
WHERE: Sea-Tac Light Rail Station
WHO: Airport workers, area clergy members, and community supporters
VISUAL: Creative signs on luggage, colorful human rights posters, clergy from different faiths in liturgical dress carrying LED candles
Background:
Nearly 4,000 airport workers at Sea-Tac fuel planes, clean airplane cabins, transport disabled passengers in wheel chairs, load baggage and drive passengers to and from the airport. Many must work multiple jobs just to put food on the table as their wages are too low to support a family. And all too often they are treated with disrespect by their employers – Alaska Airlines, the other airlines, and companies contracted to do business at Sea-Tac.
On December 10, 1948, 64 years ago today, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In Article 23, they declared that everyone has the right to just pay, decent working conditions, the freedom of association to form unions, and the opportunity to live in dignity.
For additional information: www.itsOURairport.org
Working Washington, a Washington based non-profit coalition of individuals, neighborhood associations, immigrant groups, civil rights organizations, people of faith, and labor united for good jobs and a fair economy.
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