SEATTLE — Space Needle employees joined labor activists rallying for higher pay outside the iconic landmark Wednesday.
Employees who work at the Needle say they haven’t had a raise in more than 1,000 days.
They are also upset seasonal workers will be hired, some making more than union workers who have worked there for years.
The rally also comes after workers said they were given webinars on how to live on less.
The Space Needle is in the middle of hiring 200 seasonal workers, 50 of whom will be paid $15 to $25 an hour.
Current workers said those wages are more than veteran full-time workers are earning, and they have been working without raises for more than three years.
Workers say the "live on less" webinars told them to cook meals instead of eating out or visit museums on free admission days.
The Space Needle says it offered a raise to the union two years ago, but the union said the offer was not worth discussing.
Veteran Space Needle employee Michael Hall told KIRO 7 he's been hoping for a raise for the last four years.
"It's great that they're going to pay summer hires a wage that people can live on. I welcome them to do it for the rest of the union workers,” said Hall.
When asked about the pay issues, Space Needle management said in a statement, "We invest in our team members and we are committed to being a great place to work."
Rally leaders were joined by Seattle City councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Nick Licata.
Meanwhile, the first summer hiring fair will be on Wednesday as well.