Reports from the national day of Action March 15th are pouring in from across the country, while in Seattle 750 protesters took to the street and made clear their strong support for a real $15/hr minimum wage.
Monthly Archives: March 2014
March 15 National Day of Action Huge Success!
Twenty-one cities across the country fought for a $15/hour minimum wage this week, culminating in an enormous day of action on March 15. A march and rally brought out 750 supporters in Seattle, and supporters also gathered in Boston, Brooklyn, Columbus, Davis, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Minneapolis, Mobile, Spokane, Worcester, Grand Rapids, MI, Madison, Tampa, Portland (ME and OR), Tacoma, and Chicago.
Here are some highlights:
Seattle: March for $15, Be There!
March for $15 on March 15th. If you can make it to the Seattle march, Judkins Park at 1pm, please do! If you live elsewhere, please see if there is a neighborhood action group or branch near you! There are a number of cities with rallies and 15 Now kick-off meetings on the 15th.
15 Now’s National Week of Action
21 Cities across the country, from International Women’s Day to the March for $15!
Find your local March for $15 action!
From the Philadelphia march for International Women’s day on March 8th to the Seattle Action groups’ banner drops and bus speak-outs mobilizing for March 15th, the 15 Now week of action has been a tremendous success across the country with events in over 20 cities!
But this is only the beginning. Continue reading
Join in the 15 Now Week of Action
The Fight for 15 has captured the imagination of hundreds of thousands of low-wage workers, young people, and occupy and union activists. Now is the time to step up this struggle. We have an historic opportunity. The Fight for 15 has the potential to be a catalyst for turning back the decades-long corporate assault on working people.
We’ve planned a week of action from March 7 to 15 for raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15. These actions can range from organizing a public meeting or town hall, to a picket line outside a McDonald’s, to a major demonstration, and anything in between.
These are the planned events for the 15 Now Week of Action, culminating in the March for $15 on March 15th. Be sure to check back for updates as we hear back from Neighborhood Action Groups about more events.
Please get involved and join in the action!
International Women’s Day
- Seattle, with Kshama Sawant speaking
Sat. March 8, 11:00am, Pratt Park to Hing-Hay Park 1800 S. Main St. Seattle
- Tacoma
Continue reading
15 Now on the Streets of Queens
On Sunday, March 2nd, 15 Now activists stepped onto the streets of Queens, New York City as part of a lively contingent in the St. Pat’s For All parade. This annual event in the historically Irish American neighborhood of Sunnyside is an alternative St. Patrick’s Day event organized because of the long-standing exclusion of LBGT groups from the main parade in New York City. St. Pat’s For All attracts a wide range of groups and a working class crowd. Continue reading
Seattle Council hearing: “That’s why I support $15”
March 5 – the first public hearing of the Seattle council about raising the minimum wage reveals the huge support for $15 and the fear-mongering of business’ advocates for poverty wages
By Ginger Jentzen
The first speaker to address the Seattle City Council and Mayor Ed Murray’s Income Inequality Advisory Committee set the tone at the Town Hall on Wednesday. Stephen Price, wearing a red 15 Now shirt, reminded the crowd of 800 of the millions struggling in poverty, while a tiny elite hoard obscene wealth. He was followed by Jason Harvey, a Burger King employee for the past 8 years, who expressed his fear: “If you pass this with 100 exceptions, you end up hurting people like me who need your help.” After 4 hours and 94 public testimonies, the message was clear: Seattle supports a strong $15/hr with no exemptions, no tip credits and no delays! Continue reading
Media Roundup: Seattle Public Hearing For $15/hr Minimum Wage
Thank you to everyone who participated in Wednesday’s public hearing on raising Seattle’s minimum wage. After four hours and 94 public testimonies, the message was clear: Seattle overwhelmingly supports raising the minimum wage to $15/hr with no exemptions, no tip penalty and no total compensation! A whopping 74 people spoke in favor of a strong $15/hour minimum wage, with only 11 people completely opposed.
With 700 people in attendance, a sea of red shirts stretching from wall to wall, and thunderous applause and cheering in support of $15/hour echoing throughout the building, it is clear that the momentum is building. And let’s keep it up by going all out to mobilize for the March for 15 on March 15th! Learn more and invite your friends here.
In the meantime, check out some of the media coverage of this historic moment!
March 5th: First public hearing on $15 minimum wage will set precedent!
City Councilmembers will host a Town Hall on Wednesday, March 5 to hear input from the public relating to raising the minimum wage in Seattle. The meeting will be jointly-sponsored with the Mayor’s Income Inequality Advisory Committee. This will be the first official public forum for Seattleites to share their thoughts on the concept of raising the city’s minimum wage, and will likely set a precedent for upcoming debates on the official level. Big business will certainly send their lobbyists to fight against the raise by spreading all kinds of misinformation, so it is critical that we pack the room with supporters of $15/hr to far outnumber its opponents, and sign up to testify in favor.
Report from Neighborhood Action Groups
Out of this weekend’s 15 Now Action Group meetings, supporters began an energetic mobilization for the March for $15 on March 15, handed out leaflets, postered across the city, and planned neighborhood protests against low wages during the March 7-15th Week of Action!