Friday is Juneteenth, the annual commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. This year, June 19 arrives amid historic anti-racism protests, a surge in support for the Black Lives Matter movement, and renewed efforts to reform and demilitarize policing in this country. Union members are urged to participate in the following celebrations, […]
SEATTLE (June 15, 2020) — Following the University of Washington Medical Center’s announcement of plans to permanently close the in-patient psychiatric unit, Washington State Nurses Association released the following statement on Friday: This move has the potential to harm patients, their loved ones, and the nurses who serve them. As our nation grapples with the […]
The following is from MLK Labor, the AFL-CIO central labor council for King County: SEATTLE (June 5, 2020) — This week, the MLK Labor Executive Board met to discuss and respond to the extraordinary events of the past week. The Board passed a resolution that affirms that systemic racism exists in the Seattle Police Department […]
YAKIMA (June 5, 2020) — The following is an open message and call to action from SEIU Healthcare 1199NW to their Yakima friends, neighbors and community: We hold strong in our commitment to care for you and your family during this pandemic. We will never stop advocating for the safe care of every community member […]
The following is from Community to Community Development (C2C): YAKIMA (June 3, 2020) — This past Sunday evening, David Cruz, an employee at Allan Bros. Fruit, who participated in strikes for COVID-19 protections after an outbreak at their company, died from the virus. Whether he contracted the virus at work or elsewhere, his close proximity […]
The following is from AFT Washington and the Tacoma Federation of Paraeducators (TFP), AFT Local 461: TACOMA (June 3, 2020) — Tacoma Public Schools is cutting basic education services to the most vulnerable students in the Tacoma Public School District. On Monday, paraeducators received reduction in hours and layoff notices resulting in a more than […]
UPDATE (May 31, 2020) — An 85-vehicle caravan of supporters of the Yakima Valley fruit warehouse workers on strike for safe conditions and fair pay traveled to Yakima on Saturday to show their solidarity. Larry Brown, President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, was among the many who delivered messages of support at the […]
UPDATE (June 1, 2020) — We’re disappointed to share that on Friday, instead of offering us voluntary recognition, the @seattletimesco offered us what amounted to an election on its terms –– one that would have forced us to forfeit rights and protections that the @NLRB process would allow us to retain. — Seattle Times Digital […]
The following is from Community to Community Development (C2C): OLYMPIA (May 27, 2020) — On Tuesday, workers who have been on strike at apple packing sheds in the Yakima Valley where COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred led a caravan to Olympia to deliver more than 200 complaints against their employers to the state Department of Labor […]
As efforts to avoid the smelter’s shutdown continue, labor petitions for TAA benefits FERNDALE, Wash. (May 21, 2020) — The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO has assisted the International Association of Machinists in seeking federal help for some 700 employees at Alcoa’s Intalco Works aluminum smelter in Ferndale, where the company plans to curtail […]
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