First ever Spokane Saturday School a success

More than 90 members from more than 22 union locals spent a full day learning, building skills, and building community

The following is from WA LERC:

SPOKANE, WA (November 25, 2025) — This past weekend, members and leaders from more than 22 Eastern Washington unions came together at the first ever Spokane Saturday Union Members School (SUMS), hosted by the Washington Labor Education and Research Center (WA LERC). The event gathered over 90 union members from across Eastern WA, Idaho, and beyond at Spokane Falls Community College to learn essential union organizing skills and create space to strategize about how workers can coalesce around issues of importance in their communities.

During the day, participants took part in classes and workshops on essential skills for organizers, including topics like handling grievances, interpreting contracts, running participatory contract campaigns, and building bridges across political divides. Members also heard from speakers including Spokane Regional Labor Council President Jim Tiekin, Spokane Falls Community College President Patrick McEachern, Spokane-area journalist and historian Jim Kershner, and WA LERC Director Mara Rafferty.

Photo: WA LERC

The workshops, classes, and strategy sessions offered workers from diverse industries the opportunity for workers from diverse sectors to build solidarity and learn lessons from one another.

Lyn Doremus, Secretary of WFSE Local 1221, pointed to how this school played a critical role in filling labor education gaps in the area. “This school was incredibly helpful for members to get a chance to learn essential skills from each other, and to build members’ confidence as we fight for better conditions in our workplaces.”

Photo: WA LERC

“It was so exciting to see the turnout for the Saturday Union Members School in Spokane!” said Tina Morrison, Secretary Treasurer of the Spokane Regional Labor Council. “The energy was high throughout the day, and participants stayed engaged to the very end. I’m very grateful to the LERC and co-instructors as well as all the volunteers, and affiliates who brought this opportunity to our community.”

The school was hosted by the Washington Labor Education and Research Center, a statewide program housed at South Seattle College, established in 1987 to provide direct education and research to working people across the state. The event was co-sponsored by a number of local labor organizations and unions including AFSCME Councils 2, AFSCME/WFSE Council 28, Heat and Frost Insulators Local 82, the Spokane Regional Labor Council, PSE SEIU Local 1948,UFCW 3000, OPEIU Local 8, WFSE Local 1221, ProTec17, and the Yakima South Central Counties Central Labor Council.

The Washington Labor Education and Research Center was established in 1987 to provide direct education and research services in higher education to unions in Washington State. Learn more at on their website.