Marches, rallies, an initiative to raise the minimum wage, and more across Washington State on Thursday, April 14th
Today: baristas, grocery store workers, homecare workers, fast food workers, nursing home workers, janitors, adjunct professors, student workers, and other workers will take part in a national day of action to raise the alarm on workers rights, poverty wages, and efforts to turn back the clock on progress.
It all culminates in a rally for secure scheduling at the 1st & Yesler Starbucks in Seattle featuring Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, and SEIU 775NW President David Rolf. The sign alone is worth seeing in person, no?
Workers will also launch a wave of signature gathering for the initiative to raise the minimum wage to $13.50/hour in Auburn, Federal Way, Mt Vernon, Olympia, Vancouver, and Yakima. Complete list and map of events across the state available online.
Schedule of marches & rallies in Seattle today
11:00 • CAL ANDERSON PARK
E DENNY WAY & NAGLE PL, SEATTLE
Raise the alarm on non-union store New Seasons Market: Property investment firm Gerding Edlen plans to bring New Seasons Market to the Capitol Hill light rail station despite its terrible health and safety record and poor benefits it offers employees. Join us to demand a local, union grocery store at the light rail station.
12:30 • SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
12TH AVE & E COLUMBIA ST, SEATTLE
Raise the alarm on workers' rights at Seattle University: Adjuncts and supporters will hold a one-day fast and lead a major demonstration at the university Thursday. Underpaid adjuncts are fasting to raise the alarm that SU adjunct faculty are denied living wages, job security and the right to form a union.
1:30 PM • WELLS FARGO REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS
999 THIRD AVE, SEATTLE
Raise the alarm on the extreme agenda of the Freedom Foundation and its links to Wells Fargo: A top regional Wells Fargo executive is a key funder of the Freedom Foundation, an extreme right-wing group which opposes the minimum wage, attacks unions, and otherwise tries to block workers rights.
2:00 PM • STARBUCKS
1ST & YESLER, SEATTLE
Raise the alarm about insecure schedules and poverty wages: It all comes together at Starbucks, where baristas have been leading the fight for secure schedules in Seattle. Despite public commitments by the company to improve scheduling practices, baristas continue to struggle with unpredictable, unstable schedules, and executives have failed to meet with workers to discuss their concerns — but the City Council is moving for action.
In Yakima
11:00 AM • MILLENNIUM PLAZA (22 S 3rd St, Yakima)
22 S 3RD ST, YAKIMA
Nursing home workers and child care workers in Central Washington raise the alarm with a rally and press conference on poverty wages & workers rights in their industries.
Signature gathering across the state for a $13.50 minimum wage
Workers will also gather in more than a dozen locations across the state to gather signatures for Initiative 1433, which will raise the state's minimum wage to $13.50 an hour and ensure paid sick days for the 1 million worker in our state who don't have them. There will be a brief on-site training on the initiative and the process before workers head out to gather signatures and get on the ballot. Locations include:
Auburn
4 pm: Auburn Transit Center, 101 15th Ave NE, Auburn
Federal Way
11am - 2pm: McDonalds, 2302 South 320th, Federal Way
Mt Vernon
10 am - 2pm: Skagit Community College (Gary Knutzen Cardinal Center), 2405 East College Way
Olympia
5 pm: Trader Joe’s, 1530 Black Lake Blvd SW
5 pm: Safeway, 3215 Harrison Ave NW
5 pm: Ralph’s Thriftway, 1908 4th Ave. E.
Seattle
1:00 pm: US Bank, 1420 5th Avenue
3:15 pm: 4th & Madison
3:15 pm: 2nd & Seneca
3:15 pm: 1201 Third Ave
Vancouver
12pm - 4pm: Vancouver Main Community Library, 901 C Street
Yakima
10am - 1pm: Yakima Courthouse, 128 N. 2nd St
More information:
April 14th is a nationwide day of action for living wages & workers rights. Events in Seattle and across Washington State have been organized by a coalition including NW Accountability Project; OneAmerica; Raise Up Washington; SEIU Locals 6, 775NW, 925, and 1199NW; Teamsters 117, UAW 4121; UFCW 21; Working Washington; and other groups.
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Contact: Sage Wilson, Working Washington: sage@workingwa.org