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More than a warehouse

The Labor Archives of Washington is a living weapon for solidarity

by CONOR M. CASEY

(December 17, 2025) — For over a century, the workers of the Pacific Northwest have built unions, walked picket lines, and fought for justice. Their stories of struggle and triumph are not relics of the past—they are active, breathing tools for today’s movement, safeguarded and mobilized by the Labor Archives of Washington (LAW).

Born from a historic coalition between the Washington State Labor Council, unions across the region, the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies, and the University of Washington Libraries, LAW was founded in 2010 with a clear, worker-centered mission. Its very creation was an act of solidarity, funded by dozens of unions and hundreds of individuals. This isn’t an archive looking down from an ivory tower; it’s an archive built by and for the labor community that continues to be in collaboration and relationship with that community. 

A Dynamic Hub, Not a Static Collection

Free and open to the public, LAW is the official repository for over 350 collections. But it is far more than a storage room or a peaceful library. It’s a dynamic center of community learning and services that offers free records management advice to unions, helps researchers and students, creates educational programs, and hosts public events that connect our militant past to today’s fights.

The collections themselves tell the full story of our movement:

  • Union Records: The minutes, contracts, and newsletters that document our formal power.
  • Personal Papers: The letters and photos from leaders and rank-and-file members that capture the human spirit of organizing.
  • Social Justice Records: Materials from allied fights for civil rights, immigrant justice, and political action.
  • Digital Projects: Initiatives like the SeaTac-Seattle Minimum Wage History Project, preserving the battle for $15.

Images: Labor Archives of Washington

Bringing History to the Front Lines: Digital & Accessible

Knowing that access is key, LAW has launched groundbreaking projects to bring history directly to members, educators, and organizers wherever they are.

Recent digital milestones include:

  • New Online Exhibits on Carlos Bulosan and Fil-Am worker organizing, Women in the Trades, Washington Farmworkers, and the World Trade Organization Protests—featuring hundreds of hours of newly digitized protest footage.
  • An Expanding Oral History Portal capturing contemporary stories, from COVID-19 workers to ILWU pensioners. Critically, every interview is being fully transcribed and captioned to meet ADA standards, ensuring access for all. This vital, labor-intensive work is a top priority.
  • Groundbreaking Digitization Projects, like preserving scholar William Little’s interviews with Tyree Scott and the United Construction Workers’ Association, highlighting grassroots direct action for affirmative action by workers of color that transformed the construction industry and unions.

This innovative, access-first work has earned LAW the American Library Association’s prestigious John Sessions Memorial Award—three times (2013, 2021, and 2025). The 2025 award committee specifically praised our multilingual exhibits and AI-assisted captioning and accessibility equity  initiatives. We’re proud that these award-winning projects often chart new paths without central university funding, demonstrating our team’s resourcefulness and deep commitment to equal access for all.

Deepening Community Engagement & Building Power

LAW’s work happens in partnership with the labor movement. Over the past year, our small but mighty team has:

  • Tabled at the WSLC Conventions, teaching a practical workshop.
  • Tabled at MLK Labor,  Pierce County, and Snohomish-Island County Labor Councils Labor Day Picnics. 
  • Presented at the Pacific Northwest Labor History Association conference.
  • Hosted AFL-CIO Union Summer participants and collaborated on public programs and exhibits with the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI).
  • Developed new K-12 education tools with teachers’ unions to bring labor history into classrooms.
  • Supported student-led projects like the Women on the Waterfront and Washington State Rainbow Coalition oral histories.

Looking ahead, we’re building new pathways for solidarity:

  • Creating Archival Advocates cohorts within unions like ILWU Local 19, WSLC, and MLK Labor to help members understand, preserve, and use their own history.
  • Expanding our Community Advisory Board and planning new public events.

A Critical Crossroads: Our Momentum is Under Threat

Despite this incredible momentum and national recognition, LAW faces a severe threat. We just sustained a sudden 20% cut to our state budget.

This isn’t about trimming fat—it’s a direct blow to our capacity to process new collections from unions, maintain our digital resources, and support the staff and student workers who power this vital work. This cut jeopardizes our ability to serve you.

Our team remains fiercely committed to our mission and to sustaining our current services. But we cannot do it alone. The labor movement built this archive, and now we need the movement’s help to defend and grow it.

Your Solidarity is Our Strength

The Labor Archives of Washington is a testament to our collective memory and a crucial weapon for our future. It ensures the voices of workers who built this region will never be forgotten and will always inspire the fights to come.

Here’s how you can stand in solidarity:

  1. USE THIS RESOURCE: Explore collections online, plan a research visit, or invite us to your union or council meetings.
  2. JOIN THE FRIENDS OF THE LABOR ARCHIVES: Your membership provides direct, flexible support for our most urgent projects and programming.
  3. ADVOCATE: Help us spread the word about the archive’s value and the impact of this budget cut within your networks.
  4. DONATE: Consider a direct contribution to help us bridge this funding gap and continue our essential work.

By preserving our past, we power our future. Let’s protect this vital institution together.

Explore & Connect:

 

Conor M. Casey, MA, MLIS, CA is Head of the Labor Archives of Washington.

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