(July 8, 2016) — With Primary Election ballots set to be mailed out by county auditors next week, here are a few election-related news items for union members and their families in Washington state: Labor Neighbor walks are planned for Saturday, July 16 in Federal Way and Everett; the Executive Board of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO has taken action to endorse four more legislative candidates; and the WSLC-opposed anti-transgender Initiative 1515 couldn’t collect enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

Labor Neighbor walks July 16 in Federal Way, Everett

Union volunteers will visit fellow union members in the 30th and 44th Legislative Districts on Saturday, July 16 to deliver literature and explain why labor’s endorsed candidates have earned their union’s support. These Labor Neighbor neighborhood walks are part of the grassroots political program of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Participants in the July 16 walks will meet at 9 a.m. at these locations:

FEDERAL WAY — Meet at the Washington Education Association, 32032 Weyerhaeuser Way S., to distribute information about labor’s endorsed candidates for State Representative in the 30th LD: Mike Pellicciotti and Kristine Reeves.

EVERETT — Meet at the Everett Labor Temple, 2810 Lombard Ave., to distribute information about labor’s endorsed candidates for State Representative in the 44th LD: John Lovick and Katrina Ondracek.

Labor Neighbor volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. for snacks and a brief training, pair up and hit the doors, return to their staging location, and be finished by 1 p.m. Make sure your union is represented in this important effort!

For more information or to RSVP, contact WSLC Field Mobilization Director April Sims at 253-441-5113.

WSLC E-Board endorses 4 more legislative candidates

In addition to the endorsement action taken by union delegates from across the state at the WSLC’s COPE Convention on May 21, the WSLC Executive Board this week voted to add the following endorsements of candidates who had yet to complete the interview/questionnaire process in time for that convention:

Shelley Kloba — LD 1,  House Position 2

Dan Maher — LD 12, House Position 1

Jordan Webb — LD 13, House Position 2

Katrina Ondracek — LD 44, House Position 2

Download a printable list (PDF) of all WSLC-endorsed candidates updated with this information.

Labor-opposed anti-trans I-1515 won’t make fall ballot

Speaking of WSLC endorsement action, here’s some great news! Initiative 1515, the WSLC-opposed proposal to block bathroom and locker-room access for transgender people, won’t make the ballot this fall in Washington state. The I-1515 campaign couldn’t gather the 246,000 signatures needed to qualify.

The campaign was in response to the Human Rights Commission’s clarification to existing state law that guaranteed access to locker rooms, restrooms and similar facilities in public and private building according to an individual’s gender identity.

To understand why this is an important labor issue in addition to a civil rights issue, check out this excellent explanation by WSLC Government Affairs Director Joe Kendo:

“This is absolutely a workers’ rights issue. And that is why last July, hundreds of union members unanimously adopted Resolution 30 at the WSLC annual convention. Resolution 30 put the WSLC on record as opposing discriminatory healthcare practices against transgendered people, and encouraged all affiliated unions to pursue health equity for our transgendered sisters and brothers. I can think of nothing more fundamental to a person’s health and well-being than having safe access to restrooms and other facilities in the workplace.”

Read Kendo’s whole statement here.