Seattle, WA – More than 150 people gathered in front of Seattle Central College on Saturday, March 28 to celebrate an historic victory. On April 1, the minimum wage for Seattle workers is going up to either $10 r $11 per hour (depending on health benefits and tips), and by 2025 the minimum wage will be $15.
Raising the minimum wage required a tremendous amount of organizing efforts and walkouts by workers at fast food residents. It is a feat that deserves celebrating, but passing the law was just the beginning. To make it effective, workers need to know their rights and employers have to follow the new law.
So in addition to celebrating, the group marched through central Seattle and stopped at a number of restaurants along the way like Subway, Chipotle, Starbucks and IHOP. At each stop, a few of the marchers entered the business to hand out fliers letting workers know about the raise and giving them a phone number to call if they are harassed about it or if their employer is not compliant. The final stop was at a McDonalds, which is relevant because it is suing the city over the new minimum wage.
The city has not yet set up the body that will enforce the new law. Click here to read more about that.
The mood of the march was festive with a boom box blaring “Celebrate good times, come on,” balloons, and chants such as “Hip hip hooray, Seattle’s getting a raise.”
With @VoteSawant for 15NOW pic.twitter.com/ZVYFCD9ZOv
— Comrade☭Vitaly (@comradevitaly) March 28, 2015
At @UW there are 11,000 workers who make less than $15/hr! Join WFSE workers on 4/1 to get UW to pay 15/hr pic.twitter.com/aWZJ5N4R5W
— Kshama Sawant (@VoteSawant) March 28, 2015
“Lets make sure we will fight for workers if they’re intimidated by their bosses as they enforce their new rights.” pic.twitter.com/h1LkXoo8u5
— Kshama Sawant (@VoteSawant) March 28, 2015
@FifteenNow @VoteSawant https://t.co/U9lGj6kHWo
— seveneast (@rickjbarry) March 28, 2015