UNITE HERE Rally to Demand Extended and Increased Unemployment Benefits

A Tale of Two Pandemics: Millions Will Starve / Billionaires Make Another Trillion

In 2020, billionaires gained $1 trillion—while millions of working people lost jobs and are barely surviving. 

Join UNITE HERE Local 8 and Restaurant Workers United on Saturday, January 30th to demand extended unemployment benefits, increased unemployment benefits, and extending the eviction moratorium. 

Where: Amazon Spheres, 7th Ave & Lenora St

When: Saturday, January 30th at 12PM

UNITE HERE is the union of hospitality and food service workers, workers who were hardest hit by job losses from COVID-19. Workers and their families are barely surviving, making less than $337/week on unemployment, or receiving no income if they are undocumented. Restaurant Workers United is a growing network of food service workers who started to organize together during the pandemic around safety, relief, and respect.

Meanwhile, Seattle Area billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates’ wealth increased by $92.1 billion from the beginning of the COVID-19 shutdown—for a combined net worth of $303.1 billion as of December 2020. 

In a country where the billionaires’ wealth has increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 shutdown, we cannot accept the excuse that there is not funding for relief that will stave off starvation, homelessness and even greater loss. At a minimum, we demand:

• Extension of federal unemployment relief beyond April — when millions whose jobs have not returned will lose all income — through the end of the pandemic.
• Increase of weekly unemployment benefits to a livable income.
• Extension of the eviction moratorium until after the pandemic has ended so that families can remain safely in their homes. 

We demand action. Extend and increase unemployment benefits until jobs come back! Extend the eviction moratorium and cancel rent! 

Join hospitality and food service workers at the Amazon Spheres at 12PM on Saturday, January 30th!