TODAY 12:45 at Sea-Tac: Workers, 15Now to lead major demonstration at Port meeting for true $15 wage

BREAKING: Airport workers & 15Now supporters will hold a major demonstration TODAY in support of the true $15 wage that SeaTac voters passed & the Port of Seattle is trying to water down. The protest will take place AT SEA-TAC AIRPORT before the Port of Seattle meeting there. 12:45 TODAY Serious demonstration by airport workers & 15Now at Sea-Tac Airport SeaTac Airport, International Arrival Hall Near Baggage Claim 1

At their meeting today at 1 pm on the 2nd floor of Sea-Tac Airport, Port Commissioners are expected to released a watered down wage policy that falls well short of the true $15/hour that airport workers & supporters are calling for and that SeaTac voters passed in November.

Due to the Port's opposition to $15 in SeaTac — including joining a lawsuit with Alaska Airlines and other big corporations to overturn it — 4,700 airport workers have lost more than $15 million in wages over the last 6 months.

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Working Washington unites low-wage workers to fight for a fair economy where everyone can support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy. We launched the fast food strikes that sparked the fight for $15 in Seattle; we helped lead the successful campaign to pass $15 in SeaTac; and we work in coalition with unions, faith groups, and grassroots organizations to hold corporations & politicians accountable to community needs.

Franchise suit has no merit, but they *are* right about one thing...

Working Washington issues the following statement on franchise lawsuit to overturn Seattle’s $15 minimum wage:

Inspired by fast food workers whose strikes & protests challenged a business model that pays poverty wages while corporations bank billions in profits, Seattle's $15 minimum wage law is good for workers, good for our economy, and good for our independent businesses.

But McDonald's and other multi-billion-dollar corporations don't want to see Seattle's overwhelming support for $15 spread across the country. They know they are losing the public debate, so they had their DC-based based lobby group, the International Franchise Association, cook up a last-ditch kitchen-sink lawsuit.

Seattle's minimum wage law correctly treats franchise systems as single entities over the course of the phase-in period because that's how they function. Like other large corporate chains, franchise systems are highly standardized arrangements which share an entire business format, not just a tradename. Unlike independent enterprises, franchisees benefit from globally-recognized brands, national marketing campaigns, well-honed operational systems, and standardized purchasing, design, promotional, employment, training, and scheduling systems.

The IFA's legal challenge has no merit, but their lawyers & lobbyists are right about one thing. By ensuring every worker can support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy, Seattle's $15 minimum wage may in fact make it slightly more difficult for giant franchise systems to take massive profits from their poverty-wage business models.

That may be a problem for corporate executives at McDonald's and Subway — but it’s a historic accomplishment for Seattle workers. We’ve changed the national conversation about the minimum wage and our economy, and it’s not changing back.

More information:

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Working Washington unites low-wage workers to fight for a fair economy where everyone can support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy. We launched the fast food workers’ movement in Seattle with the May 30, 2013 strikes; we helped lead the successful campaign to pass $15 in SeaTac; and we work in coalition with unions, faith groups, and other organizations to hold corporations & politicians accountable to community needs.

Contact: Sage Wilson, Working Washington, sage@workingwa.org

Workers' historic victory has put a stake in the heart of 1% economics. It's not coming back to life.

Working Washington issues this official statement in response to anti-minimum wage efforts by Tim Eyman, a DC-based lobby group for franchisors & franchisees, and other out-of-the-mainstream business groups:

Fast food workers took on the crisis of our poverty-wage economy, stood up to threats of retaliation, and risked their jobs. They galvanized a movement that defeated some of the largest & most profitable corporations in the world, and they made history by passing a $15 minimum wage for Seattle.

It's no surprise that these same corporate interests are now desperate to undo Seattle's momentous achievement: when you strike a blow against income inequality, it only makes sense that the top 1% will try to strike back.

But it's not going to work. Seventy-four percent of Seattle voters support a $15 minimum wage because they know that an added $3 billion in the pockets of 100,000 poverty-wage workers is good for those workers, good for their communities, & good for the whole economy.

A year ago, fast food workers sparked the $15 movement and built an overwhelming citywide consensus that every worker should be able to support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy.

Workers' historic victory has put a stake in the heart of 1% economics, and it's not coming back to life.

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Working Washington unites low-wage workers to fight for a fair economy where everyone can support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy. We launched the fast food workers’ movement in Seattle with the May 30, 2013 strikes; we helped lead the successful campaign to pass $15 in SeaTac; and we work in coalition with unions, faith groups, and other organizations to hold corporations accountable to community needs.

Contact: Sage Wilson, Working Washington, sage@workingwa.org

At 3:40 pm on June 2nd, fast food workers make history

Seattle City Council votes unanimously to support $15 minimum wage for Seattle!

In just a year, fast food workers spark movement and bring home victory for Seattle workers

At 3:40 pm on June 2nd, fast food workers made history when the Seattle City Council passed a $15 minimum wage by a unanimous 9–0 vote. Here’s how we got there.

“Fast food workers have been paving the way for a better future for low wage workers across the city,” said Crystal Thompson, a Domino’s worker who has been a leader with Working Washington in the fast food movement. “Now many workers will have the chance to raise themselves out of poverty because of the $15 minimum wage.”

“When I see $15,” Crystal continued, “I’ll be able to afford my own place in a safe neighborhood where my kids can ride their bikes, and I’ll finally be able to go back to school.”

Seattle workers have done something incredible. In just a year, fast food workers sparked a movement that has made Seattle becomes the first big city in the US to pass a $15 minimum wage — putting the central demand of the fast food movement into law.

Seattle’s $15 minimum wage is an extraordinary accomplishment: it will raise wages for 100,000 workers, providing a $3 billion economic boost for our communities.

Today, at 3:40 pm on June 2nd, fast food workers made history.

More information:

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Contact: Sage Wilson, Working Washington, sage@workingwa.org

Working Washington unites low-wage workers to fight for a fair economy where everyone can support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy. We launched the fast food workers’ movement in Seattle with the May 30, 2013 strikes; we helped lead the successful campaign to pass $15 in SeaTac; and we work in coalition with unions, faith groups, and other organizations to hold corporations accountable to community needs.