Welcome to the 2024 Convention page!
This page will become your “convention bag,” stuffed with all the information that delegates and guests need to get the most out of the 2024 Constitutional Convention of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, which will be held July 16-18 at the Coast Wenatchee Hotel and Convention Center. In the coming weeks, we will be posting the tentative convention agenda, rules, proposed resolutions, workshop descriptions, forms, and everything else you need. This page will be continually updated, so keep checking back — and refreshing the page — as we add materials and information.
THANK YOU to our Affiliate Sponsors
Get READY
● REGISTER NOW! — Online registration remains open for the WSLC’s 2024 Constitutional Convention. If you have questions or need additional information, contact Rashea Dickey at rdickey@wslc.org.
● RESERVE YOUR ROOM — The WSLC is proud to patronize a Union-represented hotel, the Coast Wenatchee Hotel & Convention Center. We have a room block and recommend that you reserve your rooms early, as the block will fill up quickly. You must identify that you are with the WSLC group to receive the $138 nightly rate. Reservations may be made with the Front Office at (509) 662-1234 or via email fom@wenatcheecenter.com. The Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel will confirm room reservations directly with guests. Deposits are refundable if cancellation is made at least 48 hours in advance. Room reservations must be made by June 24, after which rooms will be returned to general rates.
Room reservations are also available at the Red Lion Hotel Wenatchee City Center. Discounted room reservations are available (group: WA State Labor Council Conference – group code: WAST0716) for reservations made through June 18. Reserve a room online or by phone by calling the hotel at 509-663-0711 and press 0
● COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOL — The health and safety of everyone in attendance remains a priority. The WSLC encourages all participants to self-test for COVID before attending the convention. The WSLC recommends that all adhere to the CDC-recommended COVID prevention measures, such as staying current on vaccination, frequent and thorough handwashing, and staying home (or in your hotel room) and testing if you develop symptoms – you can find a list of known COVID symptoms from the CDC. Masks are optional at convention.
● OUR CONSTITUTION — Check out the WSLC Constitution and Bylaws to understand the structure and organization of the council and its annual conventions.
● RULES — These are the proposed Convention Standing Rules for the 2024 Convention. These rules will be considered and voted upon by the convention body on Tuesday.
● NEW DELEGATES — If you are a first-time delegate, check out the New Delegate page to find out what the WSLC is, what it does, and your role at this convention. We encourage you to attend the New Delegate workshop at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 16 (Room TBA) before the convention begins on Day 1 to get acquainted with the agenda, traditions and events associated with the convention.
Tentative AGENDA
Find the full Tentative Agenda here.
Map of the Convention Center: lower floor and upper floor.
Abridged Tentative Agenda below:
Monday, July 15
6pm – 7:30pm — Early registration
6pm – 7:30pm — Welcome Reception
Tuesday, July 16
7:30am – 4:30pm — Registration
8am – 9am — New Delegate Orientation
9am — Convention Convenes
12pm — Lunch break & Women’s Committee Luncheon
1:30pm – 4:45pm — Workshops
3:15pm – 4:45pm — Committees
5:30pm -8pm — Hot Union Supper 🔥
Wednesday, July 17
7:45am – 8:30am — Trade Section Meetings
9am — Convention Convenes
11:50pm — Group photo! Wear your union colors!
12pm — Lunch break & President’s Luncheon
1:30pm – 4:45pm — Workshops
6pm – 8pm — Women’s Committee Silent Auction
7pm – 9pm — Dinner & Dancing 💃🏽 🕺
Thursday, July 18
9am — Convention Convenes
10am — Convention business, including consideration of proposed resolutions
Convention WORKSHOPS
On Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, the WSLC will offer hands-on interactive workshops.
TUESDAY, JULY 16
1:30pm – 3:00pm
Cultivating Welcoming and Healthy Spaces Part 1
Have you ever wondered what makes a community truly thrive? It’s not just about shared interests; it’s about creating a space where everyone feels valued, heard, and welcome. In this workshop we will learn how and why we need to be intentional in cultivating welcoming and healthy spaces to build a unified movement – and how our strength in union makes Washington State a place where all our communities can thrive.
Unpacking Power: Using Research in Organizing
Research supporting organizing aims to understand and unpack power. Who holds power? When and how can change happen? How can we make equitable change?
In this workshop, we will build our collective understanding of the role of research and researchers, sometimes referred to as strategic campaigners, as integrated members of our organizing teams. We will demonstrate research skills and resources and share examples of research supporting organizing campaigns. This workshop will use popular education methods – we will learn from and with each other!
Climate Jobs Washington
The Climate Jobs National Resource Center is a worker-centric network of unions and researchers committed to fighting two existential crises that plague our civilization – runaway climate change, and runaway income inequality. Recently, the WSLC and affiliates have formed a Washington State chapter to organize support for the job-creating projects necessary to modernize our energy systems while creating a new generation of high quality, unionized jobs in construction, manufacturing, and operations. Join others in the labor movement to learn more about what Climate Jobs Washington has accomplished, and what the future holds for working people in the clean energy economy.
TUESDAY, JULY 16
3:15pm – 4:45pm
Cultivating Welcoming and Healthy Spaces Part 2
We know that wealthy elites consolidate their wealth and power by leveraging systems of oppression to divide the working class. This workshop builds on the learning from Part 1 to respond to the threat and scarcity script of wealthy elites with a vision of cross racial and gender solidarity to reclaim the power of working people. By joining together across all races, backgrounds, and genders, we can rewrite the rules so that every family has what we need to get and stay well, every working person has a safe, good job and every community can protect our air and land for generations to come.
Injury to All
Responsive to union advocacy, the Biden administration implemented immigrant worker protections that provide important tools to unions, organizers, and labor campaigns around the country. The ability to secure concrete immigration protections and work permits for workers organizing or taking action to enforce labor laws has proven to be a game changer for unions with immigrant members. This workshop shares a practical toolkit to equip unions and organizers with everything they need to protect immigrant workers during an organizing effort and bring greater momentum to their campaigns.
Labor Leaders on Advisory Committees
Are you passionate about your union and industry knowledge? Consider serving as a Labor Member on a Community and Technical College Advisory Committee! This is a great opportunity to advance the worker voice in your industry and community. Currently, many advisory committees across the state need labor members to serve on their industry advisory committees.. In this workshop, we will cover a wide range of topics including: how to get involved, time commitment, how to show up prepared, and resources available from the WSLC Workforce Development Department. You will hear from Labor Leaders currently serving and from the colleges on what they need from an Advisory Member. Come learn about current openings, best practices, and lessons learned!
Activating Members: Turning Issues into Campaigns
This workshop offers tools for moving your issue from conversations to campaigns. Learn how to take an issue at work and establish a campaign to win. Go from idea to victory by learning how to organize a campaign, build momentum, mobilize activists, and ultimately secure a win.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16
1:30pm – 3:00pm
Unemployment Insurance: Benefits & (Breaking) Barriers
COVID magnified the pre-existing challenges for laid off workers to successfully get Unemployment Insurance (UI), especially for those already marginalized and/or working non-standard jobs. For too many, delays and denials are still causing crisis-level financial strain in an already stressful time. Join the WSLC, Drivers Union/IBT 117 and the WA Employment Security Department for a high-level overview of UI and a deeper dive into the new community-based UI Navigator program and other ways our state is attempting to change workers’ experiences with UI.
Racial Equity and Public Policy: Building for All Working People
In an interactive simulation, participants will learn about the racial wealth gap, including some of its roots in public policy. We will also learn about tools to bring more equitable policies into our organizations and our movement.
Story of Self
Join us for an interactive workshop designed to harness the power of storytelling to amplify the impacts of political campaigns. Learn how to craft compelling narratives and use your personal story to genuinely connect with voters in a way that builds worker solidarity. During this workshop, we will reflect on the role stories have played in past campaigns and practice tools to enhance awareness, courage, and connection in doorbelling and phone banking efforts.
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WEDNESDAY, JULY 16
3:15pm – 4:45pm
Using Policy to Reclaim Worker Power
This discussion will focus on ways to engage with local, county and state lawmakers as a union member. We will break down ways to have your voice heard as a union member and how to use policy as a tool to reclaim worker power. We will discuss successful worker-led policy actions and how you can get involved in the work of developing and advocating for worker friendly policy in government.
WSLC, AFL-CIO Direct Worker Support Programs
The WSLC offers direct worker services including Project HELP, Workforce Development, Unemployment Insurance navigation, and U.S. Citizenship legal aid. This workshop will educate union leaders and rank-in-file members about resources available to them when dealing with an injury on the job, facing a layoff, or seeking legal representation to obtain citizenship. These programs have the potential to help your union’s organizing efforts, strengthen your membership, and build your pool of resources.
Labor Law Update
As the labor movement in the United States fights with renewed vigor to elevate and improve the lives of working families, wealthy special interests have pulled no punches to stop that work in its tracks. Join a conversation with labor-side attorneys to learn about the latest advancements in pro-worker legislation, agency rules, and case-law, and also how to navigate the latest attacks from adversarial corporate legal interests and their allies in Government and the courts.
Convention COMMITTEES
Delegates appointed to serve on the following committees will be notified prior to convention. Check back for a list of committee assignments for the following committees (the Tentative Agenda will indicate where/when they meet):
- Sergeant-at-Arms
- Rules
- Resolutions
- Legislative
- Labels & Lists
- Grievance
In addition, by WSLC Constitution, each affiliated local union is entitled to membership in one or more of the following Trade Sections:
- Building Trades
- Food & Beverage
- Industrial Unions
- Maritime & Transportation
- Miscellaneous Trades
The Trade Sections meet at 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday, July 17 to elect trustees, consider grants in support of organizing and defense efforts, and conduct other business. This is the 2024 list of affiliated unions in each trade section.
Proposed RESOLUTIONS
To be considered on time, all Proposed Resolutions must be postmarked and/or emailed to the Secretary Treasurer at ccarter@wslc.org no later than Monday, June 17. Copies of the submitted Proposed Resolutions will be emailed to all registered delegates by Tuesday, July 2. Any proposed resolutions received after June 17 will be marked late and will be considered only if two-thirds of convention delegates vote to do so.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Resolutions, Legislative and Labels & Lists committees (see above) will meet to review and discuss Proposed Resolutions. These committee meetings are open to all delegates, but only those who have been assigned to serve as committee members will vote on whether to amend and/or recommend adoption of the resolutions. On Thursday, the committees will introduce each resolution to the convention floor for debate and action.
Convention EVENTS
Women’s Committee Luncheon
Tuesday, July 16
12pm – 1:30pm
Get tickets
Hot Union Supper 🔥 (fka COPE BBQ)
Join the WSLC CLC network for an evening of fun and community building featuring food trucks.
Proceeds support WSLC political work.
Tuesday, July 16
5:30pm – 8pm
Get tickets
President’s Club Luncheon feat. Bob Ferguson
Open to all President Club members, with an opportunity to support AG Ferguson’s Gubernatorial campaign. Contact Rashea Dickey at rdickey@wslc.org to sign up.
Wednesday, July 17
12pm – 1:30pm
Women’s Committee Silent Auction
Peruse and bid on donated goodies, all for a good cause. Proceeds support the Committee’s mission of empowering women workers.
Wednesday, July 17
6pm – 8pm
CALL FOR DONATIONS: Do you have items you’d like to donate to the auction?
Contact Sybill Hyppolite at shyppolite@wslc.org.
Dinner & Dancing 💃🏽 🕺
Join your fellow delegates and guests for a hosted reception followed by dinner, awards, and dancing.
Wednesday, July 17
6pm – 9pm
Sponsors
