Hundreds Rally for Family Wage Jobs on the Waterfront
On Sunday, August 10th, hundreds rallied together at Seattle's Colman Dock Ferry Terminal to protect family wage jobs on the waterfront and safeguard the standard of living we've achieved in Seattle. One out of every four Seattle jobs is port-related. Those jobs have set a standard that has helped keep Seattle wages and benefits among the best in the country-but new developments threaten to undermine that standard.
The strongest force maintaining family wage jobs on the waterfront is the ILWU, the International Longshore & Warehouse Union. The ILWU has not only helped to protect our community standard of living, but has also stepped forward again and again to support other workers and community struggles.
Food service workers on the Washington State Ferry (WSF) belong to the Inlandboatmen's Union (IBU), the ILWU's marine division. Thanks to their IBU contract, they've had secure, family-wage jobs. Now WSF is looking for a new food service provider. In the past, WSF has insisted that any new contractor recognize the workers' union. This year, for the first time, WSF intends to let any company come in, even one that won't promise to keep the current workers or maintain their wages and benefits.
For more information, contact Jobs with Justice, 206-441-4969, wsjwj@igc.org.
|
