Update state’s Public Records Act to exempt birth dates from disclosure The following is from the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO: House Bill 1888 would protect the safety and privacy of public employees and their families. Sponsored by Rep. Zack Hudgins (D-Tukwila), HB 1888 exempts government employees’ birth dates from public disclosure. Washington’s Public […]
Important hearing Thursday in Olympia; be there and/or contact legislators OLYMPIA (Jan. 22, 2020) — For years, Washington workers have fought for safe workplaces, good jobs and the right to join together to negotiate a fair return on their work. Now, workers in the state’s newly emerging cannabis industry are joining that fight as they […]
OLYMPIA (Jan. 21, 2020) — Last year, grassroots action by union members and community supporters helped restore overtime protections for salaried workers in Washington state. Our updated overtime protections will give hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians more time to spend with their family and friends, more overtime pay, or a little of both. But before […]
WSLC announces 2020 Shared Prosperity Agenda for legislative session OLYMPIA (Jan. 9, 2020) — The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO — the state’s largest union organization, which represents the interests of approximately 550,000 rank-and file members in more than 600 union organizations — has released its Shared Prosperity Agenda for the 2020 session of […]
The following is from the Harvard Labor and Worklife Program: OLYMPIA (Jan. 6, 2020) — The number of employers engaging in worker misclassification in Washington state has risen substantially over the last 10 years. Misclassification has resulted in the denial of pay and benefits for tens of thousands of workers as well as millions of […]
OLYMPIA (Dec. 30, 2019) — When the new year — and decade — begins this Wednesday, don’t forget to celebrate the improvements in workplace standards and benefits that will arrive for Washington workers in 2020. All of these were the result of legislation, voter initiatives and policy changes supported by the Washington State Labor Council, […]
By MIKE YESTRAMSKI President, WFSE/AFSCME Council 28 OLYMPIA (Dec. 18, 2019) — According to a narrow (5-4) Washington Supreme Court ruling, state employees’ birth dates are currently subject to public disclosure. Anyone can request a public employee’s date of birth as a matter of public record — a significant breach of personal privacy and safety. […]
WSLC hails Washington’s updated overtime pay rules, saying they will help ‘restore work-life balances’ for thousands of families. TUMWATER (Dec. 11, 2019) — The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) on Wednesday announced its long-awaited rule change to update and restore overtime protections for hundreds of thousands of salaried workers in the […]
Online registration is now available for reception, lobby day on Feb. 5-6 OLYMPIA — In recent years, pro-worker majorities in the Washington State Legislature have passed landmark laws to protect the environment while creating good union jobs, to reform our collective bargaining laws to adjust to the Janus decision while protecting public employees, to […]
General contractors have expansive duties to ensure worker safety, says Washington Supreme Court By JENNIFER ROBBINS and DMITRI IGLITZIN of Barnard Iglitzin & Lavitt OLYMPIA (Dec. 4, 2019) — The Washington Supreme Court issued a strongly-worded opinion in Vargas v. Inland Washington, LLC on Nov. 21 that should help encourage general contractors to take […]
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