FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 7/10/2013
Councilmember Mike O’Brien
Councilmember Nick Licata
Councilmembers to host discussion of fast food workers’ issues
in wake of May 30 strikes
Brownbag event will feature workers and policy experts on conditions facing workers
and what industry trends could mean for Seattle
Seattle – The May 30th “Strike Poverty” day of action, which included hundreds of fast food workers and impacted dozens of restaurants across Seattle, raised questions and concerns about the job security and working conditions facing low-wage fast food workers in Seattle.
City Councilmembers Mike O’Brien and Nick Licata will host a “brownbag” discussion to continue exploring the growth of poverty-wage jobs and hear from fast food workers and policy experts about a range of workplace issues including illegally withholding wages, or “wage theft”, health and safety concerns, and threats of retaliation by managers for union organizing.
WHAT: Council will invite fast food workers and other wage earners to share their experiences and insights on working in one of the largest and fastest-growing industries and the challenges they face
WHO: Councilmembers O’Brien and Licata will hear from Rebecca Smith, National Employment Law Project, regarding findings from a report on wage theft and other labor law violations many low-income workers regularly experience and possible solutions to help fuel Seattle’s economy
WHEN: Thursday, July 11 from 12:00-1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of City Hall (map)
The public is welcome to follow the conversation on Twitter: #strikepoverty