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LEGISLATIVE ISSUES

The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO is the largest labor organization in the state, a nonprofit association of some 500 AFL-CIO and Change to Win unions and organizations, representing some 400,000 union members across Washington. One of the services the WSLC provides its affiliated organizations is legislative education and advocacy. As is the case with collective bargaining, by joining forces and speaking with a united voice on issues affecting working families, labor has greater influence.

 


WSLC 2009 Legislative Position Papers

 

WHERE WE STAND

Here are the WSLC's 2009 Position Papers on specific legislative issues (published every two years). Each has background information, labor's position and recent legislative histories. Download a 50-page PDF file of the entire 2009 Position Papers:

Affordable Housing & Homelessness 

Apprenticeship 

Business Climate 

Campaign Finance Reform 

Family Leave Insurance 

Free Speech in the Workplace 

Health Care and Prescription Drugs 

Immigration Reform, Guest Workers & New Americans 

Initiative Accountability 

Minimum Wage and Tip Penalties 

Outsourcing 

Overtime Pay & Wage-Hour Standards 

Predatory Lending 

Prevailing Wage & Davis-Bacon 

"Right-to-Work" vs. Free Bargaining 

State Employee Collective Bargaining 

Tax Policy, Subsidies & Economic Development 

Unemployment Insurance 

Workers' Compensation
Appeals & Protests; Benefit Levels; Chemically Related Injuries; Employability; Group Self-Insurance; Independent Medical Exams; Retrospective Rating Program; Three-Way Industrial Insurance

There are approximately 580,000 union members in the state -- 20.2% of the non-agricultural workforce -- ranking Washington as the 4th most unionized state in the nation. But the legislative positions taken by the Washington State Labor Council are on issues affecting ALL working people, not just union members.

From minimum wage to workers' compensation, from overtime pay to unemployment insurance -- the Washington State Labor Council are all too often the only voice in Olympia on behalf of everyday working people on many legislative issues. That is unfortunate, given the number of corporate and trade association lobbyists who often fight to remove or roll back hard-earned workplace standards and rights. But it is a banner the WSLC and other labor organizations carry with pride.

The WSLC Position Papers -- listed at the right under "Where We Stand" -- are intended to provide a summary of the issues affecting working families that have come up and are likely to come up again in the State Legislature. These are intended to be a quick educational and reference tool for legislators and others who follow the legislative process. More detailed information about these issues are available upon request. For more information, email Communications Director Kathy Cummings or call her at 206-281-8901.


Urge legislators to support the Worker Privacy Act!

The Worker Privacy Act (HB 1528 and SB 5446) would allow workers in Washington state to choose whether or not to participate in employer communication on issues of individual conscience, including politics, religion, charitable giving, and unionization. Employers would retain their freedom of speech on all issues, including these. But under the Worker Privacy Act, they would not be able to require employees to participate in such meetings, or punish or fire those who opt out.

Washington state residents: Send your legislators an email of support for the Worker Privacy Act. Click here for more information about the WPA.


2008 WSLC Legislative Report

The 2008 WSLC Legislative Report & Voting Record is available online, in abbreviated form. Copies of the full printed report were mailed to all affiliates, legislators and subscribers to WSLC publications. Members of affiliated unions can order a free copy by calling 206-281-8901.  


Copyright © 2009 -- Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO