WSLC legislative events Thursday, Friday

UPDATE (Feb. 9, 2016) — Online registration is now closed for the WSLC Legislative Reception and Lobbying Conference on Thursday night and Friday. But union officers, staff and rank-and-file members can still register on site and attend. Registration will be available starting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Olympia Red Lion Hotel for the reception that starts at 6:30 p.m., and registration opens at 7:30 a.m. Friday for the lobbying conference that begins at 8 a.m.

UPDATE (Jan. 22, 2016) — Both the WSLC Legislative Reception on Thursday evening, Feb. 11 and the WSLC Lobbying Conference on Friday, Feb. 12 will be at the Olympia Red Lion Hotel. The following story has been updated with that change.

OLYMPIA (Jan. 5, 2016) — This year is shaping up to be a challenging session of the State Legislature. While the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO will be fighting off “Right-to-Work” (For Less) legislation, the council will continue advocating for a Shared Prosperity Agenda that includes aerospace tax break accountability, raising the minimum wage, providing paid safe and sick days, discouraging wage theft, promoting pay equity, stronger safety and health laws, and making sure the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes.

The WSLC wants to build on the successful strategy of its last two legislative conferences by engaging affiliates’ rank-and-file members in direct lobbying with their legislators. So once again, the WSLC will host its annual Legislative Reception and Lobbying Conference on Feb. 11-12 in Olympia and encourages leaders, staffers, and especially rank-and-file members of WSLC-affiliated unions to attend these important, informative events.

REGISTER NOW!  Click here to register online. The $100 registration fee covers materials, admission to the Reception, which includes drinks and hors d’oeuvres, plus breakfast and lunch for the Lobbying Conference. Preregistration is especially important because the WSLC will be making appointments with state legislators in advance, so if you plan to attend, please sign up today! If you have any questions, email Kamaria Hightower or call her at 206-254-4913.

The action begins Thursday night, Feb. 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with the WSLC Legislative Reception at the Olympia Red Lion Hotel. This is a great opportunity for union members to meet and mix with legislators, elected state officials, and agency directors and staff in an informal setting. Registered attendees are welcome to bring a guest(s) for $15 per person. To keep the registration lines shorter, early registration will be available in the Red Lion lobby starting at 1 p.m. on Thursday.

The following morning, Friday, Feb. 12, attendees will have 7:30 a.m. breakfast and an 8:30 a.m. legislative lobbying training at the WSLC’s Olympia building, 906 Columbia St. SW. After learning about some of the most pressing legislative issues, participants will walk two blocks to the Capitol to meet with their district’s state legislators on these issues and other matters important to their unions. All will return to the WSLC office for lunch and a quick debriefing and be finished by 2:30 p.m.

The following morning, Friday, Feb. 12, the WSLC Lobbying Conference begins at the hotel at 7:30 a.m., with registration and a light breakfast, and legislative lobbying training will be held from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. After learning about some of the most pressing legislative issues, participants will leave the hotel to go to Capitol to meet with their state legislators, returning to the hotel at 12:30 p.m. for lunch and debrief, which will end by 2 p.m.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Olympia Red Lion Hotel for Thursday night, Feb. 11, but must be reserved by Jan. 12 to receive the WSLC Group Rate, or they be released and rates will be higher. Make reservations by calling 360-943-4000 or 1-800-325-4000 and tell them you are with the Washington State Labor Council’s conference.

Please join the WSLC on Feb. 11-12 for these important events and urge your fellow union members to come as well so Labor’s voice is heard is heard in the halls of our Statehouse. Click here to register today!