WSLC 2021 Convention begins tonight

Watch on Facebook Live as WSLC President Larry Brown welcomes AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka

(July 21, 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 convene its 2021 Convention tonight as WSLC President Larry Brown welcomes AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka as keynote speaker. This convention is the second (and hopefully last) being conducted virtually via Zoom.

Not a delegate? You can watch tonight’s plenary session from 5 to 6:30 p.m. via Facebook Live at the WSLC’s page @WAaflcio. Tonight’s convention workshops from 6:45 to 8 p.m. are also open to all members of WSLC-affiliated unions. See the descriptions of tonight’s workshops and register to participate.

The theme of this year’s WSLC convention will be “Our Time Now.” In addition to President Trumka, it will feature multiple 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.”

The convention will reconvene at 5 p.m. on Thursday for another brief plenary session — also broadcast via Facebook Live — as WSLC Secretary Treasurer April Sims welcomes Nashville CLC President Vonda McDaniel, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer and King County Executive Dow Constantine. Plus more workshops!

On Friday, convention business begins at 9 a.m. and is restricted to registered and credentialed delegates. (If you are a delegates, make sure you are registered.) The body 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.)

Each year at convention, the WSLC also 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 WSLC’s top executive officer will also present President’s Awards.

If you are a registered delegate and you have questions about the convention, email Willa Kamakahi.