Fast Food Workers Striking in Seattle

[eridani]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/174577/fast-food-workers-striking-seattle?rel=emailNation#

Beginning at 10:30 pm Pacific Time Wednesday, workers at dozens of Seattle fast food locations began striking, launching the nation’s seventh work stoppage by fast food employees in eight weeks. Organizers expect workers from chains including McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Subway, Arby’s, Chipotle, Qdoba and Jack in the Box to participate in the walkout, which will last roughly twenty-four hours.

“I’m sick of seeing my co-workers and me essentially get pushed and pushed and barely be able to eat,” Taco Bell employee Caroline Durocher told The Nation Wednesday. “And I think it’s time that we pushed them back.” Durocher said she’s hopeful that both co-workers on her late night shift will walk off the job with her.

Like recent fast food strikers in New York, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Detroit, the Seattle strikers are holding a one-day walkout to demand a raise to $15 per hour and the right to form a union without intimidation. Like those cities’ strikes, Seattle’s is supported by a coalition of labor and community groups; in each case, the Service Employees International Union has been involved in supporting the organizing efforts. The Seattle campaign, Good Jobs Seattle, is backed by groups including Working Washington, the Washington Community Action Network and OneAmerica.

Thursday update

According to the Good Jobs Seattle campaign, workers are now on strike at dozens of locations, and have forced shutdowns at three stores: A Taco Bell and a Burger King on 15th Avenue, and a Subway on Broadway (photo above).

Following a string of morning strike rallies, strikers plan to converge at 4:30 pm Pacific Time for a march from Seattle’s Denny Park to a series of fast food st

[eridani]

1. Supersize My Salary Now!

Has great write-ups on individual strikers.

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/30/supersize-my-salary-now

But, after several minutes of conversation, a few Spanish-speaking activists succeeded in convincing a young woman at the Subway to leave the shop and lock the doors. The crowd went wild as she smilingly made her way into their midst. She spoke briefly into a microphone in Spanish, saying, "I'm very happy that you're doing this. Si se puede!"