Workers took to the Alaska Airlines shareholder meeting to speak directly to the executives and shareholders with a simple message.
“Alaska Airlines needs to do right by every worker that serves their passengers.”
Here are a couple of excerpts from the day of action. Continue reading
SeaTac, May 14 – Airport workers and community allies are moving forward on a voter initiative to improve the jobs of thousands of low-wage workers in and around SeaTac Airport.
Last week, airport workers who are part of the SeaTac Committee for Good Jobs filed an initiative petition with the City of SeaTac and have begun to collect signatures to get the measure qualified for presentation to the City Council, and for inclusion on the November 2013 ballot
More than 90 volunteers came out last Saturday to gather signatures. The Committee expects to gather enough signatures to qualify to get the measure qualified for presentation to the City Council, and for inclusion on the November 2013 ballot in the coming weeks. A broad array of workers, faith and community supporters, union members and retirees are part of the SeaTac Committee for Good Jobs. Working Washington is also part of the Committee.
The measure would set basic employment standards for workers employed in the transportation, tourism and hospitality industries in SeaTac:
From King 5 News by Lori Matsukawa. “Longtime Seattle activist Pramila Jayapal was one of 15 Asian Pacific Islander American women recognized by the White House as “Champions of Change” Monday. 
As founder of “One America” shortly after the attacks of 9-11, Jayapal has worked for immigrant rights and immigration reform. When asked about the progress of immigration reform in Congress, Jayapal responded, “I really believe that we’re going to make it happen this year!”
Read the entire story and watch the video: http://www.king5.com/news/local/Seattle-woman-honored-as-champion-of-change-in-Washington-DC-206364721.html
One of the most interesting parts of this story is that one of the achievements Ms. Jayapal mentions is the work that One America has down around the Port of Seattle standing up for workers’ rights.
“Regardless of who hires them, all the jobs at the port should be living wage jobs,” she said. “That’s what this is all about.”
Workers throughout the airport and seaport join with Seattle’s Ethiopian community in 
mourning the death of Ayenachew Tadesse. Ayenachew was a Primeflight worker at Sea-Tac Airport who was killed in an industrial accident in the cargo area on April 23.
Ayenachew Tadesse came to Seattle from Ethiopia in 2010. He and Netsanet Sime married later that year, and this past January celebrated the birth of their first child, Daniela. Ayenachew also worked a second job so he could provide for his family. He was active in his church and was well known throughout the community.
Aneyachew’s death is a powerful reminder of why we are standing together to make all airport jobs good jobs. Most immediately, airport workers and other Port workers are grieving along with the community and are committed to support Ayenachew’s family and community. Netsanet, baby Dianiela, and their entire family need our support in this difficult time.
Donations can be sent to:
Ayenachew Tadesse Memorial Contributions
c/o Shakespear N. Feyissa
Law Offices, PSC
1001-4th Ave. Plaza, Suite 3200
Seattle, WA 98154
Checks should be written to Netsanet Sime.
New “First class, coach class, poverty class” ads call on @AlaskaAir to #raisethewage as low-wage worker unrest continues at our airport
Beginning this week, Sea-Tac passengers waiting at the baggage claim, smartphones in hand, will see a new ad which enlists them to tweet @AlaskaAir to #raisethewage for baggage handlers and thousands of other poverty-wage workers at our airport.
Standing out from among the more typical airport ads asking passengers to use a particular limo service, stay in a downtown hotel, or support the Gates Foundation, the new “First class, coach class, poverty class” ads — appearing at all 16 carousels — enlist passengers to use their smartphones to tell Alaska Airlines to do something to improve the poverty-class wages and working conditions at our airport. Continue reading