Nothing moves without workers. Our labor is the backbone of our economy. In 2023, workers fought and won. From pandemic years, sky-rocketing inflation, and corporate greed, working folks’ backs are up against the wall. At the same time, our eyes are open to fundamental truths. And rather than accept the rough hand we’ve been dealt, workers are fighting back.
Nationally, the successful contract bargains by UPS Teamsters, UAW autoworkers, and SAG-AFTRA and WGA members galvanized working people. This energy has transformed into organizing wins and policy successes, game-changers for working communities, including here in Washington state.
In January, working people gathered in Olympia to advocate for pro-worker legislation. We made meaningful progress on clean-energy jobs, staffing standards at hospitals, housing options, and apprenticeship.
This fall, we launched Climate Jobs Washington, centering union jobs in the clean energy economy. We announced the award of billions of federal funding for a Pacific Northwest hydrogen hub, expanding clean-energy job opportunities for our region. Working hand-in-hand with building trades unions ensures working people are centered in climate resiliency.
Throughout 2023, working people flexed our power. Graduate workers and researchers at University of Washington fought for better pay, striking for 10 days and winning double-digit raises. Educators in Southwest Washington stood up for their students, walking out on strike and winning increased classroom support and wages to retain and recruit teachers.
Farmworkers with UFW are fearlessly organizing at Windmill Farms, fighting back against an anti-worker boss and financier who weaponize immigration status and misogyny against worker solidarity. Despite employer intimidation — and limited organizing rights — farmworkers are taking their fight to the people in Yakima County and Seattle.
Healthcare workers in Vancouver and Longview struck for better wages, safety, and respect on the job. SEIU 1199 Healthcare NW workers at MultiCare in Yakima and WSNA nurses at Seattle Children’s Hospital brought their fight for a fair contract to the community, holding vigils raising awareness of workplace violence and the dire staffing crisis in local health facilities.
Service workers have led the charge. Workers at Homegrown, organizing with UNITE HERE Local 8, are activating a militant strategy, embracing the power of strikes. Starbucks Workers United continues organizing new stores, centering queer and trans joy and liberation. Rideshare workers, organizing with Teamsters 117, are fighting racial bias in Uber and Lyft driver termination processes and winning more rights as workers.
We build together and win together — not just for union members. Our victories lift up all working people, including millions of workers who would join a union if they had the opportunity.
In 2024, we’re committed to making this dream a reality for more working people. We’re growing our organizing capacity, moving deep work to overcome barriers workers face when unionizing, and translating skyrocketing enthusiasm into growing union membership.
We’re ensuring our movement is a welcoming home for all workers. The U.S. working class spans folks across race, gender, country of origin, sexuality, and religion. This diversity is a strength we must harness to grow our movement or risk fading into irrelevance.
We’re building the clean-energy economy we need to protect our families and bring more union jobs to the Pacific Northwest. Climate resilience is essential for working communities, especially communities of color, and we have the skilled, union workers needed to build and maintain essential clean-energy infrastructure.
We’re building independent political power, electing worker champions to fight for our communities, working together to pass more worker-first policies, like unemployment insurance for striking workers and a ban on captive audience meetings.
In 2024, the stakes are rising, with massive contract fights and a pivotal national election on the horizon. But working people are ready to reclaim our power and energize our movement. United, we’ll continue to win for working communities on the job site, in the streets, and in the halls of power.
April Sims is president of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, a federation of more than 600 local unions representing more than 550,000 rank-and-file union members in Washington.
