WA YELL event to feature AFL-CIO’s Shuler on June 7

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler will be the guest of honor at “Sunset Cocktails on the Sound,” a social and fundraising event to benefit the Washington Young Emerging Labor Leaders (WA YELL), from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 7 at the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle. Unions are urged to bring their younger emerging leaders, or to recruit some to attend this inspiring event.

As the youngest elected officer at the AFL-CIO, Shuler is committed to increasing the involvement of young adults in the labor movement. She is a strong supporter of WA YELL’s mission to attract young workers, activists and the unemployed into labor and social justice movements and to provide leadership development opportunities for them.

“We have to change the perception of unions,” Shuler says. “We need to figure out how to make unions ‘cool’ again and reconnect with people where they live. We’re about community. We’re about people helping each other.”

Open to the public, “Sunset Cocktails on the Sound” is being organized by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace/IFPTE 2001, in cooperation with the M.L. King County Labor Council, the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and WA YELL.

“Like many unions, SPEEA realizes many of our strongest members are nearing retirement,” reads a letter to members from the union’s executive officers. “SPEEA has always welcomed younger member involvement, however, we realize more is needed to ensure there is developed leadership for the future of our union. Supporting WA YELL is one avenue SPEEA is using to ensure new leaders have a community and training available.”

This special event on June 7 is limited to 300 attendees. Individual tickets are $60 and can be purchased here.

Unions can guarantee tickets for their members through sponsorship. These are also limited. Here are the sponsorships available:

CHAMPION  –  $2,500

• 25 tickets to the event
• Each ticket purchased counts toward one-year membership in WA YELL
• Your organization’s name in The STAND every time the event is announced
• Your organization’s name, listed as a Champion, on a rotating slideshow at the event
• Your organizations name recognized by Liz Shuler as a Champion at the event
• Group photo opportunity with Liz Shuler

CO-HOST  –  $1,000

• 10 tickets to the event
• Each ticket purchased counts toward one-year membership in WA YELL
• Your organization’s name in The STAND every time the event is announced
• Your organizations name, listed as a Co-host, on a rotating slideshow at the event

SPONSOR  –  $500

• 5 tickets to the event
• Each ticket purchased counts toward one-year membership in WA YELL
• Your organization’s name in The STAND every time the event is announced

Reserve sponsorships or individual tickets by calling Kamaria Hightower at 206-281-8901, ext. 21. If your organization is interested in securing a sponsor position, but need to wait for final authorization, she can help you make arrangements.

For more information about WA YELL, check out its Facebook page.