Seattle activists are taking action against wage-stealing bosses

[Hannah Bell]

Like most working people, Becky couldn't choose her preferred employer. She hated working there, but needed the money, so she stayed. When asked when D'onofrio would pay her, he told her that he liked to pay everybody at the end of the month.

One month and one week came and went without pay. Becky confronted D'onofrio about her paycheck and was accused of stealing money and a bottle of wine. Robbed of $487, she went to the Seattle Solidarity Network.

Seattle Solidarity Network (known as SeaSol) is an all-volunteer network of working people who defend each other against abuses by bosses and landlords through collective direct action and mutual support.

Formed a little over three years ago, the group has taken on fights small and large around issues such as unpaid wages, stolen tips, unfair rent increases and unreturned deposits. Being neither an official union nor a social service, the only condition for receiving support from SeaSol is that you in turn support others with their own disputes.

It's partly this model, and simple word of mouth, that has increased SeaSol's popularity and allowed its members to win 17 of the past 20 fights they have taken up. SeaSol-inspired solidarity networks are sprouting up across the country in Boston; Portland, Ore.; Pensacola, Fla.; New York; Providence, R.I.; Santa Cruz, Calif.; and Glasgow, Scotland.

http://socialistworker.org/2011/01/17/no-justice-no-pasta

[Odin2005]

1. kr

[pnwmom]

2. Good for them. n/t

[bengalherder]

3. I have seen flyers for their organization locally (Seattle)

I do my best to educate others about the fact that wages are regularly stolen (as well as overtime, etc) from fellow service workers in this area. But for the grace of god, etc, I am damn lucky to now be working at a public institution with a union...

Good to see they are getting around with their message.

[leftstreet]

4. Their flyers are great!

[bengalherder]

7. Right On!

As someone who has lived in the central valley, Modesto needs this!!! Glad they are going after shitty slumlords too, although I video every apt upon move-in and have confounded their machinations so far...

Best of luck, Solidarity, hugs and kisses, Bengalherder....:D

[leftstreet]

5. K&R

[lonestarnot]

6. Do we have a model for a start-up for those interested?

[Hannah Bell]

8. info here, & they travel.

http://seattlesolidarity.net/

[lonestarnot]

14. Thanks HB!

[Swamp Rat]

9. k&r

[NaturalHigh]

10. Kudos to SeaSol.

IMO, employers who steal from their employees belong in prison.

[AlabamaLibrul]

11. This is absolutely fantastic n/t

[Norrin Radd]

12. kr

[Reader Rabbit]

13. Maybe the start of a national movement!

Until the little guys get together, the big guys will always be squashing them.