Reclaim worker power: vote no

It’s up to us to defend our progress and make sure Washington stays a welcoming home for working people, not a playground for the rich

by OSTA DAVIS
November 1, 2024

45,000 jobs. Over two billion in childcare and education funding. Insurance premiums working people can afford. These are just some of the things we stand to lose if anti-worker initiatives pass in Washington State this year.

With only days to go until the 2024 Election, all eyes are on the campaign for U.S. President. But here in Washington, other historically important choices are also on the ballot. 

Thanks to a mega-millionaire hedge fund manager buying his way onto the ballot, voters have several misleadingly written initiatives to reject this year. These initiatives would allow big corporations and the ultra-wealthy to avoid paying what they owe, shifting the bill – and burden – to working families. 

That’s why the affiliated unions of the WSLC voted to endorse a ‘NO’ vote on I-2109, I-2117, and I-2124. These initiatives would dismantle the progress we’ve made towards an equitable tax system, fully-funded education, a union-made clean energy transition, a long term care safety net, and so much more. 

I-2109 would cut funding for our schools, preschools, and childcare facilities by dismantling the state’s capital gains excise tax. These foundational investments give our youngest Washingtonians a strong start in life and provide parents with support to fully engage in the workforce. In a state where working people pay a proportionally greater percentage in taxes than the ultra-wealthy do, we cannot afford to shortchange future generations by giving billionaires a tax break.

I-2117 would let large polluters off the hook and cut protections for our air, water, and land. By repealing the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), I-2117 would cut tens of thousands of jobs, clean-energy infrastructure, and home energy rebates for working folks. The CCA is a worker-centered plan for building a green energy economy and climate resiliency. It’s essential we defend it. Vote ‘NO.’ 

I-2124 would make it harder for working people to afford long-term care, sending more working families into debt when they can’t pay. The end result of this initiative would be more people leaving their jobs to care for aging relatives. Most of us will need help with daily living activities at some point in our lifetimes, let’s not add more burden and financial strain to folks needing to access this life-changing care. Vote ‘NO’.

Washington is a big, diverse state. We don’t all agree with each other. But some things unite the vast majority of us: we want to support families struggling with mounting childcare costs, we want to be stewards of our beautiful natural environment, we want to fully participate in the economy, and we want dignity and stability as we age. 

The coalition that supports this vision of Washington is broad; we can’t afford the cynicism of the initiative supporters to roll back the gains we’ve made. It’s up to us to defend our progress and make sure Washington stays a welcoming home for working people, not a playground for the rich.

Union members are gathering Saturday in Kent to get out the ‘NO’ vote on these anti-worker initiatives. Sign up here. 

Osta Davis is the Political & Strategic Campaigns Director at the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.