The following is the President’s Column from 2021 Legislative Report of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO. By LARRY BROWN (July 7, 2021) — In 1978, Californians approved one of the most consequential ballot measures in U.S. history, Proposition 13. It slashed and limited property taxes and began a “tax revolt” that spread across […]
Pacific Northwest’s extreme heat is another sign that climate crisis requires immediate action By SARAH TUCKER (July 6, 2021) — It was over 100 degrees when the power in my Seattle neighborhood cut at 9:30 p.m. last week. Let’s go to the lake, I told my partner, maybe there’ll be some breeze. We crossed […]
New ITC assessment of 40 years of trade deals: They didn’t help much. Our assessment: Their economic and political consequences are incalculable. By DAVID GROVES (July 1, 2021) — NAFTA. CAFTA. WTO. FTAA. TPP. If you are a labor or environmental activist, those acronyms conjure up decades of pitched battles with lawmakers of […]
One year after George Floyd’s murder, we are making progress in Washington state to reshape policing and engage our members on racism By APRIL SIMS (May 25, 2021) — George Floyd was lynched one year ago today in Minneapolis. George Floyd should be alive today; instead, his death has defined the past 12 months, […]
We are at a crossroads: continue with failed corporate-first government or make a job-creating investment in America itself By RICHARD TRUMKA (May 10, 2021) — As President Biden addressed a joint session of Congress recently, he highlighted a fundamental truth about his American Jobs Plan. For once, our leaders aren’t pushing another tax break […]
Administration’s support could help vaccinate the world, end humanitarian crisis By HILLARY HADEN (May 7, 2021) — On Wednesday afternoon, the Biden administration announced it would support a temporary waiver of patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organization. This is a huge win for the Global South countries that would otherwise […]
Labor committee chairs hail advances on workers’ issues amid, after COVID By Sen. KAREN KEISER and Rep. MIKE SELLS (April 29, 2021) — We have heard a lot of talk about “essential workers” over the past year, as we depend on people whose work cannot be done remotely; tens of thousands of workers braving […]
Kids’ Chance helps children when their parent is killed or seriously injured at work By KAIRIE PIERCE (April 28, 2021) — Workers’ Memorial Day is an international day of remembrance for workers who are killed on the job or die from work-related illnesses. It is traditionally observed on April 28, a date commemorating the […]
Workers’ Memorial Week: Remembering, honoring and strengthening resolve in support of workplace safety and health By LIN NELSON (April 26, 2021) — Death, disability, disease — from hazards endured on the job. This is not a new issue. For a long time we’ve known that work can be hazardous, uneven in its impacts and […]
By JESSICA KOSKI (April 22, 2021) — Limiting global warming to 1.5°C demands rapid and bold industrial transformation. The industrial sector accounts for approximately one quarter of our global carbon footprint. The roadmap to net zero emissions by 2050 requires accelerating the production of next generation low-carbon materials and sustainable energy technologies. Today as we […]
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