Workers united for good jobs and living wages... marching under a "United" sign!
Four years ago this week, fast food workers in New York City walked out on strike against poverty wages. The fight soon spread to Seattle, where fast food strikers with Working Washington joined with airport workers and sparked a movement that led to the nation's first citywide $15 minimum wage law.
On Tuesday — four years to the day after those first strikers walked out and launched a movement that made history — we joined hundreds for a major rally at Sea-Tac Airport, part of a nationwide day of action for workers rights that included strikes, protests, and civil disobedience in dozens of cities across the country.
There’s a lot to fight for.
Working Washington activist Darrion Sjoquist joined the rally because "there is a drought of power in the hands of the average employee. I think the most important issue affecting every worker in America is: are we respected in our relationship with our employers, and is there a balance of power?"
Domino’s worker and fight-for-$15 leader Crystal Thompson was there too. "I believe that everybody deserves to be able to make a living wage to be able to take care of their families & their children,” she explained. "We won it in Seattle and Washington, and now we need to make sure we have a good minimum wage and sick pay for the whole United States.”
And here’s how airport worker Michael Church put it: "I love my job and I love working at the airport, but we need more respect & dignity for all workers. I believe in fighting for what we deserve."
That’s the message Darrion, Crystal, and Michael are sending. What’s your message?