Trumka to keynote WSLC’s 2021 Convention

Delegates should register now for the July 21-23 virtual convention

UPDATE — The deadline for registration for the 2021 WSLC Convention has been extended to Friday, June 25.

(June 4, 2021) — The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, the largest union organization in the state representing the interests of approximately 500,000 rank-and-file members in more than 600 labor locals and councils, will have the honor of welcoming AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka as keynote speaker to its 2021 Convention to be held July 21-23 via the Zoom video conferencing.

The theme of this year’s WSLC convention will be “Our Time Now” and in addition to President Trumka, it will feature many distinguished speakers and breakout workshops on economic justice as we emerge from the pandemic. It will also address the importance of passing the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act in achieving that justice.

“This past year has been hard on working families, but we have risen to the pandemic’s multiple challenges and now we have the opportunity to build back better instead of merely returning to ‘normal’,” said WSLC President Larry Brown. “This convention will set the WSLC’s course for the coming year as we work together to ensure our collective voice is heard. That’s why we are urging all of our affiliated unions to send a full delegation to our convention to guide this important work.”

The WSLC’s affiliated unions are being urged to register their delegates now so their credentials can be verified and they can be sent all the necessary materials and information in advance. Affiliates have already been sent a Convention Call indicating the number of delegates to which they are entitled, so those delegates should register now online. Each union’s master credential listing its delegates and alternates must be completed by Friday, June 25  Monday, June 21, along with the $125 registration fee. (Email Willa Kamakahi with any questions about the process.)

Delegates to the convention must be members of the union they are representing. Rank-and-file members who wish to represent their union as delegates should contact their local union for more information about how to serve in this role. All will receive trainings and step-by-step instructions from the WSLC on how to participate via Zoom.

The convention will convene at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 21, will continue at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 22, and resume at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 23. Convention business is expected to conclude by the end of the day Friday.

Here’s what else you need to know:

RESOLUTIONS — As always, 2021 WSLC Convention delegates will consider resolutions that are a key part not just of the WSLC Convention, but of the organization itself. It is through the debate and passage of these resolutions that WSLC positions and policies are established. (See the resolutions approved in 2020 for examples.) Any WSLC-affiliated union may submit resolutions. The WSLC is accepting resolutions submitted via email only this year. Proposed resolutions should be emailed (preferably in Word format) to resolutions@wslc.org no later than June 23. Copies of the proposed resolutions will be emailed to all registered delegates by July 7 for their review in advance.

COMMITTEES — Delegates are invited to participate in convention committees, which will meet on Thursday and Friday. These committees include the Labels & Unfair Lists, Legislative and Resolutions committees, which will consider the proposed resolutions assigned to them and make amendments/recommendations to the full convention. Other committees are COPE Buttons, Credentials, Grievance, Rules & Order of Business, and Sergeant-at-Arms. The normal duties of these committees will be adapted for this year’s virtual convention. If delegates would like to serve on any of these committees, they can indicate their preferences when they register. Delegates will be notified 15 days in advance of the date of the convention if they have been selected to serve on a convention committee.

AWARDS — Each year at convention, the WSLC presents awards recognizing the accomplishments of specific union organizations and individual union members. They are the Bruce Brennan Award for furthering the cause of apprenticeship, education and training; the Elsie Schrader Award for the advancement of women in leadership roles and/or for activism on behalf of women within the labor movement; and the Mother Jones award to the individual and organization that best exemplify the tradition of Mary “Mother” Jones’ immortal statement, “Mourn for the dead, but fight like hell for the living!” The deadline for nominating union members or organizations for these awards is Friday, June 11.