Media Contact: Anne Heavey for Working Washington, anne@teamsoapbox.
SEATTLE FAST FOOD WORKERS STRIKE
One-day action part of global day of protest against low wages; Strikes planned all day; Rallies planned at Cal Anderson Park at 6:30 a.m. and Westlake Park for 4 p.m.
SEATTLE (May 15, 2014) – The same fast food workers who paved the way for Mayor Ed Murray’s historic minimum wage proposal today (May 15) are going on strike as part of a global movement of workers calling on giant corporations to pay employees $15/hour.
"I'm going on strike because I deserve to make a decent living to support myself and my children without having to depend on public assistance,” said Crystal Thompson, a Domino’s Pizza employee from Seattle. “I've been working for Domino's for five years and am still making minimum wage; this has to change."
Workers at stores across Seattle will walk off their jobs or not report for duty throughout the day Thursday.
Striking workers are demanding that the billion dollar corporations where they work pay higher wages. The workers also are taking credit for pressuring the Seattle City Council to consider a plan to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour.
Fast-food workers in Seattle have staged previous strikes on May 30 and Aug. 29, 2013. They’ve also participated in boycotts and protests, building a movement that’s resulted in the most progressive minimum wage proposal ever considered in a major U.S. city.
Thursday’s activities kick off with a rally scheduled for 6:30 a.m. at Cal Anderson Park and 4 p.m. at Westlake Park. Exact strike locations to be announced.