legislative issues

 
WSLC's 2012 Legislative Report & Voting Record

The 2012 edition of the Washington State Labor Council's Legislative Report and Voting Record, which summarizes the fate of legislation affecting Washington's working families in this year's State Legislature, is now available online (in HTML and PDF). This year's Legislative Voting Records are also posted online, as are voting records dating back to 2000.

Printed copies of the 2012 report are being mailed to all affiliated unions. All rank-and-file members of WSLC-affiliated unions may also request a free printed copy of this publication to be mailed to them. Call 206-281-8901 for more information.

A fresh look at Washington state's business climate

"Outside the Echo Chamber" is a special series of reports by the Washington State Labor Council aiming to restore perspective about our state's business climate and examine the successes we can build upon as business, labor and government leaders work together to maintain and increase the number of good-paying jobs in this state, particularly in the aerospace industry.

►  Part 1 -- Washington: Still a business-friendly state -- Our state is consistently ranked among the very best states for business. We have comparatively low business taxes, a lighter regulatory burden, a highly skilled and trained workforce, excellent higher education, and for those reasons and many others, our state outperforms other states.

►  Part 2 -- Our state workers' compensation advantage -- One of the most persistent myths about Washington state's business climate is that our workers' compensation costs are higher than in most other states. The truth is, 35 states have higher employers costs than Washington for workers' compensation coverage.

►  Part 3 -- Unemployment Insurance: Saving families AND businesses -- In 2010, Washington's unemployment insurance system pumped more than $4.3 billion into our state economy. But some political and business leaders tend to ignore its benefits -- and the many businesses and jobs it has preserved -- and focus on decrying its costs.