Call to Action!

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Space Needle Intensifies Anti-Union Campaign, as Workers and Community Stand up Against Rising Tide of Low Wage Jobs

How can you help?

  • Click here to sign a petition to demand the Space Needle end its anti-worker campaign and return to the bargaining table to settle a fair contract.
  • JOIN US at our next rally at the Space Needle – Tuesday, February 26th at 3:30pm!

Space Needle workers have been standing up for a fair contract for almost two years, demanding living wages, continued benefits, and job security – protection from being replaced by a low wage subcontractor.

In the last year, as workers and community supporters continued to stand up for a fair contract, the Space Needle has fired and suspended union activists, denied overtime pay to its workers, created dangerous workloads for its kitchen staff, and racked up several Unfair Labor Practice charges pending with the federal government. In the meantime, workers continue to turn up the heat in their campaign for respect and a fair contract.

Faced with a determined union committee and workforce, the Space Needle elevated its anti-worker campaign to a new level this week, actively campaigning to urge workers to resign from the Union, going so far as to provide a prepared form for workers to sign.  They continued their scare campaign by stating that one of the only actions left for workers to take is to go on strike, and that the company is prepared to replace striking workers.

Instead of intimidating workers, the Space Needle should use ther energy and resources to return to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair contract.

YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT THESE BRAVE WORKERS!

·         Click here to sign a petition to demand the Space Needle end its anti-worker campaign and return to the bargaining table to settle a fair contract.

·         Watch and share our special Valentine’s Day Flash Mob, telling the company “You’re Not the Space Needle I Used to Know!”

·         JOIN US at our next rally at the Space Needle – Tuesday, February 26th at 3:30pm!

Thank you for your support!

Space Needle Workers – We Are Family

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My name is Mohamed and I have been a banquet cook at the space needle for almost four years. I originally come from Morocco, which is a beautiful place full of life and culture with fresh foods and busy open air markets.

In my free time don’t be surprised to see me walking my dog through the city, enjoying the sun, when we have it, or cooking authentic Moroccan food. I like working for the Space Needle and having a union because having a stable job means that I can keep my freedom to continue to do these types of things.

I have always been the type of person who will stand up for the little guy. I like to protect and defend my family and now my co-workers are my family and they have stood up for me so I will have their backs too. The union has given me a voice and has shown me how to use it.

Mohamed, 4 years, Banquet Cook

Airport workers rally for good food, good jobs at SeaTac

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SeaTac Airport will completely rearrange its food and retail concessions in the coming years and UNITE HERE Local 8 food service workers have been active and involved in making sure their voices are heard in the planning process. Workers are calling on the Port Commission to take the lead in the fight against poverty at the Port.

To educate the public and a new Port Commissioner who will be appointed next month, more than one hundred people came together on January 28th to stand for a truly sustainable concessions program including good food, good jobs, and job security for airport workers.

Workers led a march through the airport and were joined by faith leaders, community groups, and unions representing other airport workers. The Port of Seattle heard our message: We need good food at the airport, but we also need respect and good jobs for our families.

Airport workers are excited about the opportunities this re-design of airport food service creates for improving the service and the quality of food we provide to the traveling public. Because we serve passengers every day, we have many ideas of how to make things better.

What’s next? A new Port Commissioner will be appointed in the next six weeks. Candidates will participate in a series of town hall meetings at the end of February. Stay tuned for details.

Victories in 2012

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All across the region, hospitality workers are standing up for a better life!

You helped build power for better wages and continued benefits in all our agreements negotiated in 2012, including the Edgewater Hotel, Hilton SeaTac and Doubletree SeaTac, the Washington Athletic Club, the Hilton Seattle, the Red Lion Olympia, Best Wester Executive Inn, the Best Western Loyal Inn, the Hilton Portland, and HMS HOST at SeaTac Airport and Spokane Airport.

Housekeepers in all our hotels with new contracts also gained safer workloads, dropping one or more rooms per shift, depending on the number of checkouts.

Workers at the Seattle Hilton were able to breathe easier knowing their jobs were protected even after the sale of their hotel. Other properties that won successorship in 2012 include: Red Lion Olympia, Best Western Executive Inn, Best Western Loyal Inn, Hilton SeaTac, Doubletree Seatac, and Hilton Portland.

This year saw great victories for stadium workers as well. For the first time ever, the food service workers at Safeco Field will have access to health insurance. Workers at Safeco stood up to management, rallied, and encouraged community leaders to sign an email petition for their health insurance. The future also looks bright for stadium workers who will work at the proposed basketball arena in Seattle, with an agreement to organize by card check.

Workers at the non-union Hyatt at Olive 8 publicly demanded a fair process to organize, without interference from management. A few months after the campaign began, Hyatt gave raises of between $1 and $3 per hour to non-tipped workers.

Despite continuing resistance to providing a fair process for the workers at the Hyatt at Olive 8, the Hyatt Corporation agreed to this process (card check neutrality) for a proposed hotel at the Portland Convention Center.

Making Waves at The Edgewater!

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Dozens of workers from the Edgewater Hotel, community allies, and Local 8 members from around the city marched in support of better wages, continued healthcare, job security and respect on the job.

Plus, for the first time ever, we took our message to the water! Worker justice ON A BOAT!

Together, we will continue to stand for the new union standard – living wages, continued benefits, respect, and job security.  The Westin has it, the Hilton has it, even the Best Westerns in Seattle have it. The Edgewater workers deserve the same standard!

Stay tuned for upcoming actions at the Edgewater!

Unite Here Local 8 Election Endorsements 2012

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Portland Mayor – Charlie Hales

WA Governor – Jay Inslee

WA Attorney General – Bob Ferguson

WA Secretary of State – Kathleen Drew

WA State Representative, 33rd District – Dave Upthegrove

WA State Representative, 34th – District Joe Fitzgibbon

WA State Senator, 11th District – Bob Hasegawa

WA Marriage Equality – Approve Referendum 74

For more information regarding races that Local 8 has not taken a position on, please check out endorsements by the Oregon Afl-Cio, the Washington State Labor Council, and the Martin Luther King County Labor Council.