MLK Labor officers and board begin new term

The following is from MLK Labor:

SEATTLE, WA (December 5, 2024) — Washington’s largest County Labor Council, MLK Labor, celebrated the inauguration of Officers and Executive Board at its November Delegate Meeting. Executive Secretary-Treasurer Katie Garrow (LiUNA 242), President Dustin Lambro (UFCW 3000) and Vice President Stefan Moritz (UNITE HERE 8) were all sworn in for a new three-year term after being re-elected by acclamation in September.

The 33-member Executive Board took their oath of office after being elected by their trade section, constituency group, or by delegates as an at-large member. The new Board will meet for the first time in January.

Executive Secretary-Treasurer Garrow begins her second term amidst historic local union organizing but faces an incoming federal administration that is expected to be hostile to union rights.

The officers and executive board members taking their oath at the swearing in. Photo: MLK Labor

“MLK Labor and our local labor movement have a critical role to play as a progressive, urban central labor council fighting back against Trump,” said Executive Secretary-Treasurer Katie Garrow. “In the first year of our next term, we will prepare private sector unions for Right to Work and help all unions mitigate federal threats to vulnerable workers using our collective bargaining agreements and local government protections. We’ll continue to organize, because workers know that they cannot rely on corporations or the government to ensure they get a fair deal. In four years, we will have the opportunity to demonstrate again that King County offers a higher quality of life to people. Between now and then, we should build a billion dollars worth of workforce housing here, install 100,000 heat pumps in homes, begin offshore wind development off of the coast, and offer free college. We need to double down on an alternative model for workers that is not just scapegoating immigrants and trans people. The best defense is a good offense, and a vibrant King County will be our offense.”

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and newly-elected councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck also attended the inauguration and vowed to make Seattle an example for protecting organizing rights.

MLK Labor Officers and Executive Board Members were elected by their peers to represent our local labor movement for the next three years at the County Labor Council. Board members were elected to represent one of 17 trade sections, eight constituency groups, or as an at-large position elected by the full delegate body.

The incoming MLK Labor Board will be comprised of the following labor leaders:

Officers:

• Executive Secretary-Treasurer: Katie Garrow, Laborers 242
• President Tom Lambro UFCW 3000
• Vice President Stefan Moritz UNITE HERE 8

Trustees:

• Joe Mizrahi, UFCW 3000
• Karen Estevenin, PROTEC17
• Longinue Shipp, Teamsters 174
• Marsha Botzer, National Writers Union
• Nicole Grant, IBEW 46

Trade Section Representatives:

• Aircraft: Ryan Rule, SPEEA
• Automotive: Sam Grad, Teamsters 117
• Building Trades: Monty Anderson, Seattle Building & Construction Trades Council
• Childcare: Sarah Bright, SEIU 925
• Entertainment: Nate Omdal, Musicians 76-493
• Food and Allied Services: Eunice How, UNITE HERE 8
• Health Care: Casey Rukeyser, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW
• Higher Education: Emily Myers, UAW 4121
• Industrial: Jason Chan, Machinists 751
• K-12: Julianna Dauble, Renton Education Association
• Maritime: Lars Turner, Masters Mates and Pilots
• Metal: Todd Mitchell, Heat and Frost Insulators 7
• Private Sector: Zenia Javalera, SEIU 6
• Public Safety: Kenny Stuart, Firefighters 27
• Public Sector: Mary Keefe, Teamsters 763
• Retail: Ondrea Shallbetter, UFCW 3000
• Transportation: Jeremy Une, ATU 587

Constituency Group Representatives:

• Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA): Ligaya Domingo
• A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI): Gabriel Prawl
• Coalition of Black Trade Unionists: (CBTU): Claude Burfect
• Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW): Jo Blake
• Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA): Indira Trejo
• Pride at Work: Mike Andrew
• Washington Young Emerging Labor Leaders (YELL): C Moline
• Washington State Alliance for Retired Americans (WSARA): Don Bennett

MLK Labor also thanked outgoing board members Erin Haick, Robin Wyss, Vallerie Fisher, and Sam Sumpter.

About MLK Labor: The Martin Luther King, Jr. County Labor Council is the central body of labor organizations in King County, Washington. We are affiliated with the National AFL-CIO, the central labor organization in the United States, representing more than 13 million working people. Our mission is to unify all labor organizations in King County to build power and strength for all workers. Learn more at mlklabor.org.