Pierce County CLC celebrates its 125th anniversary

TACOMA (April 8, 2015) — Mayor Marilyn Strickland has proclaimed Wednesday, April 8 to be Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO Day in honor of the 125th anniversary of the founding of the council formerly known as the Tacoma Trades Council. Union members and their families are invited to a special PCCLC celebration Wednesday evening starting at 7 p.m. at the IBEW 76 Hall, 3049 S. 36th St. in Tacoma.

Here is a brief history of the council, provided by PCCLC Secretary-Treasurer Patty Rose:

On April 3, 1890, Labor Solidarity was born in Tacoma when representatives from eight Tacoma trade unions met to form the Tacoma Trades Council, the predecessor of today’s Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.  The eight were the Cigar Makers, Carpenters, Stone Cutters, Bricklayers, Iron Molders, Tinners and Cornice Makers, Longshoremen and Knights Assembly 4223.

The council’s original purpose was to provide a legal organization to acquire land and build a hall, but was soon overshadowed by the pressing needs of a union movement struggling to organize and protect working people.

As a united labor movement supporting each other, they aided groups of workers that were too weak to improve their conditions alone.  125 years later, the Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO has 89 affiliates, representing 37,000 workers in Pierce County.

Our mission continues to be to improve the lives of working people and their families and gain greater respect, a better standard of living and employment stability for our members and our community.