Sean opens up the event.
A chorus of “ohhh yeah”s followed when Restaurant Worker United Vice President and Line Cook Sean asked, “Who here has had their boss deny them their breaks?”
Even more responded affirmatively when he asked, “Who here has been pressured to come in to work while sick?”
Sydney and Zane successfully organized their workplace and came to tell the tale!
Special thanks to Vermillion for allowing use of their space for the event.
Last week at the Service Industry Worker Social, over 50 workers showed up to talk about how when workers have each other’s backs, we can change our workplaces.
Together with Restaurant Workers United, we were able to reach Seattle area industry workers who often face some of the toughest and most unfair working conditions in our cities.
“We spend hours, often upwards of eight hours on our feet, putting strain on our backs, knees or hands…We endure unbearably hot workplaces, we breathe in toxic air from stoves, ovens, broilers, grills and the chemicals we use to clean them. In many workplaces, we do this all without a break and for very little pay.”
Workers were encouraged to talk to each other about the issues they face in their workplaces, and to write a few on Post-It notes on the wall. Workers who have successfully organized and changed their workplaces for the better gave short speeches outlining what that process was like in both English and Spanish. We wrapped up the program with another highly effective organizing tool in this industry - karaoke time! 😎
By the end of the night, workers walked away having connected with the only people who can really understand - each other.
Service industry workers are tired of being exploited, and we know it’s time to change things, workplace by workplace. If you work in the service industry and would like to join the momentum, reach out to Lexy and join in on the next event!
