WSLC’s Karen White retires after more than 31 years at council

OLYMPIA (Jan. 7, 2022) — After 31-plus years on the staff of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Karen White is retiring. Today is her last day.

White first joined the WSLC in June 1990 for what was meant to be a temporary job at the reception desk and ended up staying. She worked in multiple positions and capacities in both the Seattle and Olympia offices. Among her accomplishments during that tenure was that she helped create and administer the Foundation for Working Families, the WSLC’s non-profit organization that assists union families in Washington state in times of hardship or disaster.

“Karen has been a key part of the WSLC team for more than three decades and she will definitely be missed,” said WSLC President Larry Brown. “I can tell you from firsthand experience when I was with the Machinists that Karen has been an important resource for WSLC’s affiliated unions to help them be active participants in the council’s conventions and other activities. And her work with the Foundation for Working Families has been exemplary. She has all our best wishes on her well-earned retirement.”

During her tenure at the WSLC, White has been an active member of Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) Local 8, where she has served on the Executive Board since 1995. She has also served as President of the Puget Sound Labor Agency, which provides food bank services, wheelchair ramps, and emergency services for union and community members.

“I’ve tried to be as active as possible and to fight for working people,” White said. “Our mission in the labor movement is to help improve people’s lives and I’m proud to have done my part at the WSLC, the Foundation, and the Labor Agency. And in retirement, I plan to keep it going by volunteering at the (PSLA) food bank.”

EDITOR’S NOTE — The Entire Staff of The Stand extends our hearty congratulations to Karen on her retirement. And the entire staff of the WSLC extends a big “Thank you, Karen!”