‘Raise the Alarm’ for workers Thursday in Seattle, statewide

On Thursday, April 14, baristas, grocery store workers, homecare workers, fast food workers, nursing home workers, janitors, adjunct professors, student workers, and other workers will come together across Washington state to raise the alarm on workers rights, poverty wages, and efforts to turn back the clock on progress. And many of them will collect signatures for Initiative 1433 to Raise Up Washington by increasing the state minimum wage to $13.50 and allow all workers to earn paid sick leave.

TAKE A STAND! — All union members and community supporters are encouraged to participate in the marches and rallies Thursday in Seattle, or help gather I-1433 signatures Thursday at the locations listed below — OR just contact the Raise Up Washington office at 206-709-1313 or sarah@raiseupwa.com and ask for the best location near you to collect signatures on Thursday.

Schedule of April 14 marches & rallies in Seattle

11 a.m. • 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. Grocery store workers and others are coming together to demand a local, union grocery store at the light rail station.

12:30 p.m. • SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
12TH AVE & E MARION 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.

“I’m fasting because I’m already hungry for the democratic right to form our union,” said Ben Stork, a film studies instructor at Seattle University. “We voted nearly two years ago and the SU administration continues to deny us. We cannot eat well unless we have a seat at the table. I’m also fasting for all low-wage workers who are forced to work starvation wages to enrich those whose obscene financial obesity is an incalculable moral and physical health hazard to us all.”

1:30 p.m. • 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 p.m. • 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.

Signature gathering across the state for a $13.50 minimum wage

AUBURN
4 p.m.: Auburn Transit Center, 101 15th Ave NE, Auburn

FEDERAL WAY
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.: McDonalds, 2302 South 320th, Federal Way

MOUNT VERNON
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Skagit Community College (Gary Knutzen Cardinal Center), 2405 East College Way

OLYMPIA
5 p.m.: Trader Joe’s, 1530 Black Lake Blvd SW
5 p.m.: Safeway, 3215 Harrison Ave NW
5 p.m.: Ralph’s Thriftway, 1908 4th Ave. E.

SEATTLE
1 p.m.: US Bank, 1420 5th Avenue
3:15 p.m.: 4th & Madison
3:15 p.m.: 2nd & Seneca
3:15 p.m.: 1201 Third Ave

VANCOUVER
Noon – 4 p.m.: Vancouver Main Community Library, 901 C Street

YAKIMA
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Yakima Courthouse, 128 N. 2nd St

WHEREVER YOU WANT
Contact the Raise Up Washington office at 206-709-1313 or sarah@raiseupwa.com and ask for the best location near you to collect signatures on Thursday.

April 14 is a nationwide day of action for living wages and 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; the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO; and other organizations.