Nearly 400 union delegates from across the state of Washington gathered in Wenatchee July 21-23 for the annual convention of the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC), AFL-CIO. WSLC works to coordinate political action and legislative advocacy for its roughly 600 affiliated local unions, and helps affiliates with organizing and communication. The convention is its highest decision-making body.
More than 30 resolutions setting official WSLC policy passed with the required two-thirds vote. Among those were resolutions to:
- Support passage of a state law to facilitate union recognition and collective bargaining rights for farm workers;
- Support a comprehensive public works and energy infrastructure jobs package being promoted by the Washington Building Trades Council; and
- Affirm that all workers should have the right to strike, whether in the private or public sector.
Delegates also voted to endorse Marie Gluesenkamp Perez for re-election in Southwest Washington’s Third Congressional District. Hers is expected to be one of tightest U.S. House races in the country in November.
WSLC conventions are also a chance to honor individuals and groups for their service to working people. This year’s honorees were:
- Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers for its work supporting members in the aftermath of Longview’s May 26 Nippon Dynawave chemical disaster, which killed 11 workers and injured seven others;
- Yakima Labor Council President Raul Lopez for his work bringing apprenticeship fairs to the Yakima area;
- Casa Latina for its work passing the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights (HB 2355) a 2026 law that extends labor protections to workers in private homes who have been excluded from the protections of the National Labor Relations Act and other labor laws;
- SEIU Healthcare 1199NW President Jane Hopkins for her work expanding economic opportunity for women workers;
- SEIU Local 925 Political and Legislative Director Erin Haick for her work as a union lobbyist at the state legislature; and
- National Writers Union member Mike Andrew for his leadership with Pride at Work and the Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action.
Much of the three-day convention was meant to educate and inspire, with speeches, reports, and panel discussions from National AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, Oregon Labor Federation Secretary Treasurer Sarina Roher, and Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham, among others. Burnham’s focus was the federal immigration surge in the Twin Cities area in January and February during which a federal agent shot and killed a nurses union member.
