WSLC 2026 Convention: Day 1

Conversations about good jobs, a fireside chat with AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, remarks from WSLC President April Sims, and more — here’s the highlights from Day 1 of the 2026 WSLC Constitutional Convention

WENATCHEE, WA (July 22, 2026) — Nearly 400 union members gathered in the Apple Capital of the World on Tuesday, convening for the 2026 Washington State Labor Council Constitutional Convention.

WSLC President April Sims convenes the 2026 WSLC Convention.

Opening ceremonies featured a presentation of colors from members of IAFF Local 1296 and IAFF 1052, as well as a tribal acknowledgment and grounding from Aliana Diaz (International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 19), a Tulalip Tribal Citizen and Chairwoman of the North America Building Trades Unions Indigenous Committee. Diaz called convention delegates to, “bring good medicine, while you are here and into your daily work. By good medicine, I mean being engaged in community, listen to each other, think of solutions that properly represent your membership and your surrounding communities.”

Secretary Treasurer Cherika then grounded delegates in the language of the WSLC Constitution, which calls the movement to, “pledge ourselves to the more effective organization of working people; to securing full recognition and enjoyment of the rights to which they are justly entitled; to the achievement of ever higher standards of living and working conditions; to the attainment of security for all the people; to the enjoyment of the leisure which their skills make possible; and to the strengthening and extension of our way of life and the fundamental freedoms which are the basis of our democratic society,” followed by a welcome from the Northwest Washington Central Labor Council President Jeremy Chase and Wenatchee Mayor Mike Poirier,

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and WSLC President April Sims during the Tuesday morning plenary.

Liz Shuler, reelected last month for another term as President of the AFL-CIO, joined WSLC President April Sims for a conversation on the challenges and opportunities before organized labor — and shared a little love for the region where she grew up.

“I miss the Pacific Northwest like you cannot believe,” said Shuler. “It’s the people, wanting to lift each other up and surround each other with support.”

Sims and Shuler dug into the ambitious goal delegates to the AFL-CIO Convention set to bring two million more union members into the movement by 2032 and the industries that Shuler believes are ripe for worker organizing: tech, clean energy, healthcare, and more.

“There is a better economy that we can build for working people, one that will work for us,” said Shuler. “Billionaires are robbing us, taking more and more of the wealth. We have the ability to write a new script.”

The full conversation can be viewed online at TVW starting at 01:01:00.

Sims then took the stage for opening remarks, elevating the purpose of the WSLC’s annual convention, gathering hundreds of union members together for three days every year.

“Years from now, people will ask what organized labor did when democracy was tested, what we did when AI transformed work, what we did when billionaires tried to rewrite the rules in their favor,” said Sims. “I want the answer to be simple: ee celebrated victories that reminded working people what was possible. And when the moment demanded more of us we did the hard, often unseen work…Because that’s what this movement has always done.”

Sims’ full speech can be viewed online at TVW starting at 01:42:00.

From left: Heather Kurtenbach, WSBCTC; Juan Tapia, Bricklayers Local 1; Daisy Lugo, IBEW Local 191; Joanna Soderlund, UA Local 32; and Tani Lindquist, WEA

Heather Kurtenbach moderated a panel on growing good, union jobs, hosting a conversation with Tani Lindquist (WEA), Daisy Lugo (IBEW Local 191), Joanna Soderland (UA Local 32). and Juan Tapia (Bricklayers Local 1) about the need for federal investment in job-creating clean energy infrastructure, sustainable revenue at the state level like the Millionaires Tax to fully fund schools and infrastructure investments, and how organized labor can leverage worker power to ensure these objectives are achieved.

Panelists shared just how essential stability in public policy and sustainable revenue are for creating jobs.

“A lot of contractors call us and say our jobs got pulled because of no funding,” said Tapia. “People don’t want to build when there is uncertainty,” Soderland added.

For apprentices, this uncertainty can prevent folks from reaching the work hours needed to journey out in a trade. Kurtenbach highlighted work at the federal level to advance legislation that would allow workers in building and construction trade apprenticeships to continue to access safety net benefits during their first year of training, particularly vital for those coming to a trade from low-wage jobs.

Lindquist highlighted Washington Education Association’s success with the first-of-its-kind, union educator run apprenticeship program certifying special education teachers, filling a staffing gap in many school districts in Washington. With nearly a 100% retention rate in the program, WEA recently certified the fourth class out of the apprenticeship, with guaranteed jobs at partnering school districts.

View the full panel discussion online at TVW starting at 02:0:50.

From left: WSLC Secretary Treasurer Cherika Carter, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW President Jane Hopkins, and WSLC President April Sims.

The morning’s plenary rounded out with awards recognizing exceptional leaders in Washington’s labor movement. Jane Hopkins, President of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, received the Elsie Schrader Award in recognition of her work expanding economic opportunity for women workers.

“Her leadership reflects the very best of our movement,” said AFL-CIO President Shuler, who presented the award.

Raul Lopez, President of the Yakima and South Central Counties Labor Council, received the Bruce Brennan award, recognizing his work bringing apprenticeship fairs to the Yakima area.

“We need to figure out a pathway out of poverty,” said Lopez, accepting the award. “And I know through a union job, that’s achievable.”

Day 1 of the 2026 WSLC Convention continued with afternoon workshops and an evening gathering raising funds for the WSLC’s boots-on-the-ground political program to elect pro-worker candidates in every corner of Washington state. Convention reconvenes Wednesday, July 22 at 9:00 a.m.