Thousands of Sea-Tac workers can measure Bill Bryant's track record in their poverty-wage paychecks

While Port Commissioner Bill Bryant may be trying to introduce himself to Washington State voters as a plausible candidate for Governor, thousands of people who work at our seaport and airport can measure his track record in their poverty-wage paychecks. 

Since he was first elected as a Port Commissioner, Bryant has repeatedly been on the wrong side of history, consistently opposing efforts to raise wages and improve working conditions at our port:

• When poverty-wage airport workers and port truck drivers began pressing for the Port to improve labor standards in 2011 and 2012, Bryant repeatedly opposed workers’ demands for living wage jobs. His vote was the margin of defeat for improved job protections and environmental standards backed by workers and green groups.
• When workers and community members brought the landmark SeaTac Good Jobs Initiative to the ballot in 2013, Bryant failed to speak out in support of higher pay for workers in the travel & tourism industry. After the law passed, Bryant & colleagues let Port lawyers argue in court that Sea-Tac Airport should be exempt from decisions by SeaTac voters.
• When Alaska Airlines managed to use a legal loophole to block $15 from taking full effect, Bryant opposed the solution offered by 27 state & local elected officials who asked the Port to respect the will of voters and sign an interlocal agreement to implement the terms of Proposition 1 at Sea-Tac.
• When the Port adopted its own wage policy without any real input from airport workers, Bryant helped ensure the minimal improvements did not even apply to the people who work low-wage food service and retail jobs in the terminal.

Bryant has served as a Port Commissioner at a time when Sea-Tac Airport workers have led a living wage campaign that is widely recognized for helping spark the nationwide $15 movement — and yet he has opposed essentially every proposal which has come before him to lift up poverty-wage airport workers and boost our local economy.

This is the Bill Bryant who airport workers are familiar with.

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

BREAKING: 21 arrested in Seattle for civil disobedience at 12th & Madison: "Inequality ends with us"

Declaring "$15 is just the beginning — Inequality ends with us," 21 workers, students, and community leaders were arrested for blocking the street at 12th & Madison near Seattle University. The arrests came at the culmination of a massive statewide day of action that includes major marches, rallies, strikes, and occupations in Spokane, Yakima, Pasco, Olympia, Federal Way, SeaTac; a presence in a dozen more cities from Bellingham to Vancouver; and the expansion of the movement against poverty wages from fast food to include Uber drivers, retail workers, and adjunct professors.

Workers, students, and community supporters arrested for civil disobedience include:

• Julie Harms Cannon, Seattle University adjunct professor: "I want to practice what I am asked to teach."
• Denese Wallace, Home care worker: "Communities need to come together for social and economic change. I want to be part of that change."
• Michael Church, Airport worker: "I'm doing this in memory of Erick Frank, a former co-worker who recently passed away. Erick was my mentor in the fight to win $15 an hour and to finally have a union at Menzies, the Alaska Airlines contractor I work for."
• Candice Hemphill, Macy's worker: "I have to take medication that lowers my immune system, so one flu could risk my life. But Macy’s won’t let us stay home when we're sick without getting disciplined. They're also cutting our hours, and they pay a third of us near minimum wage. Retail workers are struggling — this is about getting Macy’s to give us the pay, hours and sick leave we deserve.”
• Manuel Carillo, Seattle University student: "All those who participated in the actions today know that collectively we are helping to create a more just and humane world, we invite Seattle University to stop obstructing and join us on the right side of justice." 
• Kathy Yasi, Family Childcare Provider: "I am here today to stand with and support all low wage workers; early learning teachers, fast food workers, adjunct professors and airport workers. Our state's early learning teachers are amongst the lowest paid in the nation. That's not right!"
• Robby Stern, Senior Advocate: "I believe it is essential for senior citizens and retirees to stand up for the future of our kids and grandkids. The income inequality that plagues our country is undermining our future and our democracy."

Others arrested for civil disobedience because "$15 is just the beginning — Inequality ends with us"

• SU faculty: Theresa Earenfight; Louisa Edgerly; Michael Ervick; Emily Lieb; Michael Ng; Ben Stork 
• SU Students: Clint Abodaca; Olivia Engle
• Community leaders & supporters: Shane Anderson; Karen Hart, President, SEIU Local 925; Jeff Johnson, Washington State Labor Council; James Munger, SU Alum; Sasha Somer; Lauren Tozzi, preschool teacher 

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