2013 resolutions set WA State Labor Council policies, priorities

VANCOUVER (Aug. 6, 2013) — Every year, hundreds of delegates representing the unions from around the state that comprise the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO meet to discuss, debate and approve resolutions that guide the WSLC’s policies and priorities in the coming year. This year was no exception as WSLC 2013 Resolutions were approved on a variety of subjects ranging from apprenticeship to the Washington Investment Trust.

The WSLC has posted TVW coverage of its 2013 Convention held July 25-27 at the Vancouver Hilton Hotel and Convention Center.

Although most of the resolutions were debated and approved on July 27, two were approved a day earlier so members of Congress could hear from delegates about some important priority issues.

Resolution 24, “Benefits of Comprehensive Immigration Reform in Washington State,” was approved July 26 and that afternoon a copy of it was delivered to the office of Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R) by a delegation of convention representatives from the 3rd Congressional District (see photo). The resolution notes:

Clark County is 10 percent foreign born, 32.3 percent being Asian American or Pacific Islander and 22.6 percent being Latino, and that this percentage is growing at a rapid rate… (and) more than 100 small businesses in Vancouver have posted signs in their store windows since July 11 supporting swift action on comprehensive immigration reform legislation, and that Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler is viewed as a critical vote for reform.

To date, Rep. Herrera Beutler has yet to respond and explain how she will vote on immigration reform.

Also approved on July 26 was a Resolution 23, “Resolution on the Columbia River Crossing,”so they could hand a copy to Rep. Denny Heck (D) when he addressed delegates the following morning. In that resolution, WSLC delegates unanimously went on record “supporting the CRC replacement… acknowledging that the benefits of building this project, including the light rail component, are in the best interests of the residents, workforce, and businesses of Clark County, as well as in the best interests of Washington State and that we should do all that is within our ability to secure federal and state funding for the CRC replacement project.”

Other resolutions included support for the SeaTac Good Jobs Initiative establishing a $15 minimum wage in that airport community, paid sick days and Family and Medical Leave Insurance, and a universal single-payer health care system. There were also resolutions in opposition to federal “Secure Communities” detainer requests by local law enforcement officials and the Obama administration’s so-called “free trade” agenda and make sure Washington working families know how their Congressional delegation votes on those agreements.

Check out all of the 2013 WSLC Resolutions here.