SERVICES
provided by the
Washington
State Labor Council
The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO provides many services to its affiliated organizations, and also has grant programs designed to offer direct worker assistance. Here is a summary of the WSLC's core mission, and contacts for more information:
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY -- The reason we organize unions in the first place is because through collective action we have more power. By joining together, union organizations affiliated with the WSLC can speak with one strong voice in Olympia. Important workplace rights and standards won at the bargaining table can be lost with the stroke of a politician's pen at the Capitol. The WSLC has fought hard to maintain those standards and to attain new ones in areas ranging from collective bargaining to prevailing wage, from unemployment benefits to workers' compensation. The WSLC also helps its affiliates develop legislation to address industry-specific issues of concern. For more information about the WSLC's legislative program, visit our Legislative Issues page or contact the WSLC's lead lobbyists Robby Stern and Jeff Johnson at 206-281-8901.
POLITICAL ACTION -- The WSLC has an aggressive program to educate rank-and-file union members around the state on where political candidates stand on working people's issues. The WSLC's political education program, considered a national model by the AFL-CIO, offers instruction and assistance for unions interested in voter registration drives, candidate training for union members, establishing and building political action funds, and communicating with members via mail, phone and worksite leafletting. It also pioneered the Labor Neighbor program, where union members hit the streets to talk to other union members about issues that matter to working people. For more information, check out our Political Education page or contact WSLC Political Director Diane McDaniel at 206-281-8901.
COMMUNICATIONS -- In addition to using this website and other communications tools to help our affiliated organizations disseminate information, the WSLC is available to help its affiliates plan media strategies for events and campaigns. Assistance in preparing news releases, publicizing events, and developing union newsletters/websites are all available through the WSLC. Just contact David Groves at 206-281-8901 for more information.
ORGANIZING SUPPORT -- Effective union organizing drives often require the support of the community. The WSLC can help rally the support of community leaders, elected officials and other unions' members in the area to assist in successful organizing. The council is also a valuable resource of information and literature on the benefits of joining unions.
In addition to those four core missions, the WSLC offers other services including:
EDUCATION -- Various members of the WSLC staff conduct shop steward training and general membership workshops on a wide range of issues. Training union activists to be union leaders of the future is critical to the strength of the labor movement, and the WSLC places a high priority on helping its affiliated unions conduct training sessions for their activists. If you are interested in requesting such workshop assistance at your union, please fill out our Workshop/Staff Request Form online.
RESEARCH -- Assistance is available to affiliated union organizations with contract and economic research. The WSLC also helps its affiliates develop legislation to address industry specific issues of concern to working people. For more information, contact Research Director Jeff Johnson.
AFFILIATE AND DIRECT WORKER ASSISTANCE -- While many of the WSLC's services are designed to help union locals and organizations, assistance is also available to rank-and-file union members directly, including the following programs:
Community and Technical Colleges -- A grant from the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges is designed to increase participation of worker representatives on colleges' general and program advisory committees. Training is also available for college and labor staff. For more information, contact Kairie Pierce at 360-943-0608.
Dislocated Worker Assistance -- The WSLC has two labor liaisons for the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) who conduct "rapid response" activities during plant closures to make sure that the affected workers have access to the best job retraining and re-employment program opportunities available. Assistance is also available with applying for unemployment and other benefits available to these working families during their time of crisis. For more information, contact WIA Labor Liaisons Lori Province and Bill Messenger at 206-281-8901.
Project Help -- A program, jointly administered by the WSLC and the state Department of Labor and Industries, to assist injured workers in the early and successful resolution of workers' compensation claims. Call 1-800-255-9752, or contact Project Help Director Vicky Smith or Project Help Claims Assistant Viona Latschaw for more information.
The WSLC can also help your union with its unique needs and specific issues. Affiliated unions can just contact us at 206-281-8901 or 1-800-542-0904, and request our assistance. We are here to serve you.
Copyright © 2007 Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO