On Wednesday, September 23 2009, this fight ended. After multiple refusals, three days from our 14-day deadline, T.I.G. restaurant/bar in Pioneer Square gave in and paid Young the $500 in unpaid dishwashing wages that he’d been owed for months. Even a court order back in April hadn’t been enough to make the boss pay, but direct action, with the promise of more, did the trick. Thanks to all who came out for the Sept 12th action.
It was not enough for WinCo Foods (Kent, WA) just to fire John J, their lowly employee who had the nerve to discuss pay and working conditions with his coworkers. They also decided to sue him.
When they fired John, back in November ’08, the best excuse management could come up with was his alleged “theft” of a packet of ranch sauce – price: 38 cents – with which he had flavored his fully paid-for snack in the break room one day. At the time, although he was outraged at their dishonesty, John decided he’d had enough of working for WinCo and moved on to bigger and better things, including getting involved in supporting fellow workers and tenants through the Seattle Solidarity Network. But WinCo was still not finished with him. The company’s lawyers began sending him letters threatening to sue him unless he paid them $200 compensation for the 38-cent sauce packet.
In response, 14 of us went with him into the office of the company’s top local manager, Lori Lulay, to deliver a message: withdraw, in writing, your legal threats against John, or else you will have a conflict with the Solidarity Network.
Over two weeks went by, and they did not do so. Next, a few of us joined John for a small rain-soaked evening picket at WinCo on Easter Sunday, which got a lot of attention from both customers and the company. The following Saturday we held a larger picket during the peak shopping hours of the week, with signs and flyers saying “Don’t Shop Here!” and “Leave John Alone!”.
Finally, the message got through to the chain’s corporate office in Idaho. On Saturday, April 25 2009, John received a letter from WinCo in which the company officially dropped all charges against him.
Thursday, April 9, we won our fight with the U district Pita Pit. Two hours into our second picket, the franchise owner came out and asked ex-employee John L to come inside (for the third time) and talk. John agreed, and a few minutes later he came out smiling, with a check in his hand for the full amount that had been withheld from his pay. Thanks to everyone who came out to make it happen!
After months of being denied their full wages, the production workers at an expensive Seattle furniture business joined up with the Solidarity Network and began preparing for action.
Shortly before the fight was set to begin, they spoke with the owner, informed her that they were now involved with the Seattle Solidarity Network, and asked her once again for their pay.
The boss’s immediate reply: “No.”
Then, about 24 hours later, the three received an unexpected delivery: the pay they were owed, all of it, in cash.
Apparently the boss used those 24 hours wisely by browsing our website, looking at our past actions, and thinking about what such a conflict might do to her business.
This victory is the work of not just the three who took a stand, but of everyone who has taken part in these struggles over the past year. Thanks for being there! Of course, we are just getting started.
During the December snowstorms, Carlos and his son had to leave their north-Seattle apartment for over two weeks after a pipe burst and flooded the place. After the repairs were done, the owners – major Sound-area property developers – refused to let him deduct rent for the time they had been forced out. Carlos argued that this was unfair and withheld the money anyway, but the company kept insisting he had to pay. He then joined with the Solidarity Network and we prepared for an action campaign. He informed management that he did not intend to pay, and that he was now involved with the Solidarity Network. On Wednesday January 28, two days before the first planned action, we received word that the company had agreed to back off and let Carlos keep the money.