“Three bills in the state legislature, all sponsored by Republican Rep. Cary Condotta (R-12) would collectively result in a lower state minimum wage. [...] House Bill 2497 would allow employers to pay workers who receive tips wages as low as $7.25 an hour, the current federal minimum.” (Source: Publicola) This could mean a pay cut of almost two dollars for many hospitality workers in our state. Help us defeat this proposal to cut wages at the worst possible time, in the midst of an economic crisis for working families. Here’s what you can do:

Public Hearing on Tuesday, January 31st in Olympia

Come to the Public Hearing in Olympia to testify against House Bill 2497 on Tuesday, January 31st at 10am

Call your State Representative on the Labor Committee

Call your State Representative on the House Labor Committee. For a list of phone numbers and email addresses, click here: http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/LWD/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx

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January 24, 2011

50 UNITE HERE Local 8 members working at SeaTac Airport were joined today by retail workers, janitors, passenger service workers and supporters from the labor and faith community to send a strong message to the Port of Seattle that they will not sit by while the Port puts their jobs at risk.

To develop a concessions program at the airport that benefits workers, businesses and the Port of Seattle alike, a balanced approach is needed. Airport workers are proposing a sustainable concessions model that creates quality jobs allowing families to thrive while businesses are successful and the Port of Seattle’s financial interests are protected.

Unfortunately, the Port of Seattle has been unwilling to make any meaningful movement on the issue of workforce stability and job security for airport workers in the past year. Instead, hospitality, retail and janitorial workers were shocked to find out that the Port Commission had hired anti-union attorney Mark Hutcheson as outside legal counsel to advise them on the future of workers at SeaTac Airport.

We are proud to have UFCW Local 21, SEIU Local 6, Faith Action Network, Teamsters Locals 117 & 174, the Martin Luther King County Labor Council, the King County Building Trades Council, Puget Sound Sage and Working Washington and many others stand with us in solidarity fighting for the future of our community at SeaTac Airport.

UNITE HERE Local 8 members have been in negotiations with the Edgewater, the Space Needle and the Seattle Hilton for many months. At all three places, the workers are fighting for their job security, and their union.  In this economic climate, workers need to know they can’t be thrown under the bus at any moment. Our struggle is more than a series of contract negotiations, it is a vision for Seattle tourism that includes a middle class life for local workers. It is a city-wide fight, with many battles.

You can help. Here’s how:

Solidarity with Edgewater workers: Thursday 4pm to 5pm!

Join Edgewater workers as they rally in front of their own hotel to demand a fair contract that includes job security.

Edgewater Hotel (Alaskan Way and Wall Street)

4pm to 5pm

*

Seattle Hilton Boycott Support!

Join us for daily pickets highlighting the ongoing boycott of the Seattle Hilton.

6th Avenue and University Street

Fridays: 4:00pm to 5:0pm

Most Other Days: 7am to 8am

*Dates and times may vary. Contact Anita Nath anita@unitehere8.org for more details!

Plus: Check out our community delegation video to the Hilton Seattle owner, the R.C. Hedreen Company!

And Stay Tuned for more actions!