W.S.L.C.
WSLC’s 2014 Legislative Conference gets a makeover
OLYMPIA (Dec. 20, 2014) — The 2014 session of the Washington State Legislature is shaping up to be another challenging one. With the State Senate firmly in control of Republicans and their “Majority Coalition Caucus,” the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, is anticipating more attacks on working people and their unions.
So the WSLC is going to try something different.
The annual WSLC Legislative Reception and Conference is getting a makeover that will allow participants to get more hands-on experience at the Capitol and face-to-face contact with the lawmakers and the legislative process.
Union leaders, staffers and rank-and-file members of WSLC-affiliated unions are invited to meet and mix with legislators, as always, at the WSLC Legislative Reception at the Olympia Red Lion on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 6. The following morning, Friday, Feb. 7, instead of convening a plenary session at the hotel, participants will have a brief breakfast and lobbying training at the WSLC’s Olympia office building at 906 Columbia St. S.W. After learning about the most pressing legislative issues facing labor, WSLC delegates will walk up to the Capitol campus and lobby their own legislators on these issues. Delegates will return to the WSLC Olympia office for lunch, report-backs and a discussion with legislative leaders.
Transportation will be provided from the Red Lion Hotel to the WSLC on Friday morning and back to the Red Lion after the lunch session.
For this intensive day of lobbying to be successful, the WSLC has contacted its affiliated unions and urged them to send as many rank-and-file members and staff as possible. The WSLC asks that unions submit attendees’ names and home addresses no later than Jan. 24, so the council can set up meetings with the appropriate legislators. For best results, register online here. The $85 registration fee will cover the WSLC Legislative Reception on Feb. 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Olympia Red Lion Hotel, the WSLC 2014 Lobby Training on Feb. 7, plus the breakfast and lunch served that day.
Many legislators and other state officials will meet and mingle with participants at the reception on Thursday night. This is a great opportunity for union members to talk informally with legislators. If you wish to bring a guest(s) to the reception on Thursday night, there will be a nominal fee of $15 per guest.
To make onsite registration for the reception and training go more quickly, the WSLC will be opening early registration in the Red Lion lobby at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6.
The WSLC has reserved a block of rooms at the Olympia Red Lion Hotel. The rooms that have not been reserved by Jan. 7, 2014, will be released and not available at the WSLC group rate. So make your reservations now by calling 360-943-4000 or 800-325-4000 and tell them you are with the Washington State Labor Council conference.
On Friday morning at 8 a.m., delegates will board buses at the Red Lion Hotel and ride to the Lobbying Training being held at the WSLC’s Olympia office building. On Friday afternoon at 2 p.m., delegates will board buses at the WSLC Olympia building and return to the Red Lion Hotel.
For more information, email or call Jan Hays at 206-281-8901.
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