Convention 2025: Our Voice, Our Power, Our Movement

Three days of learning, power-building, joy — and hope. Here’s the wrap-up of the 2025 WSLC Convention.

VANCOUVER, WA (July 25, 2025) — Three days, 400 delegates, and one labor movement, energized to keep fighting for justice, dignity, and freedom for all working people. Union members from all corners of Washington strengthened bonds of solidarity, grew skillsets, and celebrated the powerful resiliency of a movement by and for working people.

“Convention was an exercise in joy and justice,” said WSLC President April Sims and Secretary Treasurer Cherika Carter, as Convention adjourned Thursday afternoon. “We celebrated our wins, built community with one another, and recommitted ourselves to using our voice and our power to carry our movement forward. As we look ahead, we’re reflecting on the unflinching words of Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates, who called us to be accountable to our obligation in this moment to build power for all working people.”

Here are some highlights:

NIA WINSTON, Secretary Treasurer of UNITE HERE keynoted Thursday’s session, introduced by a UNITE HERE Local 8 member who works at the Vancouver Hilton where Convention was held. Flanked by local UNITE HERE members on stage, Winston shared her path into organized labor — working long hours at a young age to provide for her brothers and child, and the search for one, good job that could build a life of economic stability and dignity for her family. Winston fired up the crowd with her no-nonsense, all-gas-no-brakes approach to building power for marginalized workers, no matter the obstacles that we face.

In her words, “We don’t ask permission. We cannot afford to let anyone, anywhere get in our way.”

VICTORY VIDEO — this fan-favorite annual video lifts up the constant work of Washington’s labor movement to improve the lives of all working people. From victories in the Legislature, at the bargaining table, and on the picket line, here’s how Labor has been building power for workers:

AWARD WINNERS — The 2025 slate of honorees embody the values that underpin Washington’s labor movement: solidarity, hope, and resilience.

UFCW Local 367 was honored with the Power to the People award, recognizing the member-driven, open-bargaining strategy that netted a strong contract for thousands of grocery workers in Washington state, and the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network was recognized with the President’s award, honoring the organization’s tenacious fight for freedom and dignity for immigrants and migrants across Washington.

UFCW Local 367 members, 367 President Michael Hines, WSLC officers April Sims and Cherika Carter, and WSLC Poltical & Strategic Campaigns Director Osta Davis on stage.

Here’s all the 2025 award winners:

• Mother Jones group award: IAM Local 751
• Mother Jones individual award: Richard Howard (IAM District 160 Local 695)
• Bruce Brennan award: Jeremy Clevenger (NWETT, LiUNA LOCAL 252)
• Elsie Schrader award: Janie White (WEA)
• Power to the People individual award: Sen. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane)
• Power to the People group award: UFCW Local 367
• President’s award: Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network

RESOLUTIONS — Delegates debated and voted on more than two dozen resolutions Thursday, submitted by affiliated unions. Resolutions as passed by the body will now be formatted and processed by the Secretary Treasurer and will be available on the WSLC website in August.

Convention is made possible by the labor of working people. The WSLC especially thanks the members of UNITE HERE and IATSE who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support this year’s event.