Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Legislative Conference

Welcome!

This page will be your “convention packet” stuffed with all the information that delegates and guests need to get the most out of the 2023 Legislative Reception and Conference of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO held Thursday and Friday, Feb. 2-3 at the Olympia Hotel on Capitol Lake, 2300 Evergreen Park Dr. SW.

Below you’ll find:

 

COVID SAFETY

 

●  COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOL — The WSLC is very excited to be able to meet in-person in 2023 while adhering to CDC-recommended COVID-19 testing and safety protocols.

  1. The WSLC will provide each attendee with a COVID-19 rapid antigen test kit at check-in to self-test before the start of the conference and/or reception.
  2. All attendees will attest to both a negative COVID-19 test and that they are free of COVID-19 symptoms.
  3. All attendees should familiarize themselves with the symptoms of COVID-19, and the WSLC will post CDC guidance at all entry points.
  4. Attendees experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are asked to isolate in their room.
  5. Masks are not required, but recommended and will be provided.
  6. The WSLC will make hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes available in all convention gathering spaces.
  7. Attendees are encouraged to have a clearly marked personal water bottle and be cautious of potential cross contamination at water stations.
  8. Attendees are asked to report to any symptoms or positive COVID-19 result to the WSLC COVID-19 designee, Kairie Pierce (kpierce@wslc.org or 360-791-1583).

 

AGENDA

 

●  REGISTRATION — Registration for both the Legislative Reception and Conference is available in the Ballroom Foyer (downstairs) from 5 – 7 p.m. Thursday. Registration/check-in for the Conference will begin again at 7:30 a.m. Friday and we’ll convene at 8:30 a.m. All attendees must register to get name tags, conference packets, and attest to a negative COVID test.

Each year, volunteers sell COPE (Committee on Political Education) buttons to raise money for WSLC political programs. If you or your union didn’t pay for your COPE button when you registered online, you can buy one from a COPE volunteer near the registration counters.

●  LOBBYING 101 — First-time delegates and other who want a refresher on best practices for meeting with state legislators can attend our Lobbying 101 session from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Olympic Room. You can also check out this short video with some lobbying tips from our legislative team.

●  RECEPTION — The WSLC Legislative Reception is from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Forest Ballroom downstairs.

●  CONFERENCE — Here is the agenda for Friday (subject to change):

  • 7:30 a.m. — Registration begins / breakfast served
  • 8:30 a.m. — Conference begins
  • 10:00 a.m. — Buses begin loading to take delegates to the Capitol (see instructions below)
  • 10:30 a.m. — Lobbying meetings with legislators (See Meeting Schedules below)
  • 12:00 p.m. — Buses begin loading at Capitol to return to hotel (see instructions below)
  • 12:15 p.m. — Boxed lunches at hotel
  • 12:50 p.m. — Representative from the Governor’s office 
  • 1:00 p.m. — Legislator Panel
  • 2:00 p.m. — Conference ends

 

BUS INSTRUCTIONS

 

The WSLC has chartered four buses that will take delegates from the Olympia Hotel on Capital Lake to the State Capitol and back. Board the buses from 10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Friday in front of the hotel. Each bus will depart as it is filled and will have a WSLC staffer serving as Bus Captain to answer your questions. Buses will drop off delegates near the POW/MIA Memorial near the State Capitol to attend their meetings with legislators.

To return to the hotel, find your bus in the same area where you were dropped off. They will depart for the hotel on the following schedule:

  • BUS #1 leaves at 12:00 p.m.
  • BUS #2 leaves at 12:15 p.m.
  • BUS #3 leaves at 12:30 p.m.
  • BUS #4 leaves at 1:00 p.m.
    Don’t miss that last bus or you are on your own to get back to the hotel.

Boxed lunches will be available for all delegates when they return to the hotel.

 

MEETINGS WITH LEGISLATORS

 

The WSLC staff worked hard to schedule meetings for all pre-registered delegates with the legislators from their home districts. Check out the Legislator Meeting Schedule to find out the times and the COVID Protocols for meetings in each Legislative District. Keep in mind that MOST LEGISLATORS REQUIRE MASKS and have set limits for the number of constituents they can meet with at a time. (This schedule is subject to change so check back for updates as the meeting times near.)

Whether or not you are able to meet with each legislator from your district, we are encouraging all participants to write their legislators a quick note via Kudoboard. (Links are available in the Meeting Schedule document.)  Thank them for meeting with you and/or say “sorry to have missed you,” and remind them about the issues you are urging them to support.

Not sure what Legislative District you live in? Click here to find out. 

 

CONFERENCE MATERIALS

 

Download PDF versions of the following:

WSLC’s 2023 “Better Jobs, Stronger Communities” Legislative Agenda — available in a 1-page (front-and-back) summary or a 4-page version that includes bill numbers. The WSLC has also prepared one-page fact sheet on the following priority issues:

Invest in Essential Public Workers — Fund the contracts and healthcare agreements for state employees, teachers, and other educational staff; increase pay for part-time community and technical college faculty, paraeducators and other low-wage education professionals; expand collective bargaining rights to more workers; and protect private union membership records.

Create Climate Jobs — Invest in climate upgrades at our public schools, further improve siting and permitting processes for energy facilities, and track the environmental and labor impacts of our state’s infrastructure materials.

Healthcare Staffing Standards — Set nursing staff minimums, close loopholes in overtime and rest-break rules, and ensure functional hospital staffing committees.

Worker Protections (Washington Safe at Work – SB 5217) — Repeal antiquated restrictions preventing the state from protecting workers from musculoskeletal injuries.

Housing Options for Working Families — Reform exclusionary zoning, legalize significant density near transit, and make it easier to build affordable housing.

Safe Unpaid Leave Act for Railroad Workers (by SMART Transportation Division/UTU) — Providing job protection for railroad workers who must take certain types of unpaid leave.

WSLC’s 2022 Legislative Report & Voting Record — The 2022 edition of the Washington State Labor Council’s Legislative Report is available to read online or to download the full 8-page PDF. This annual report summarizes the fate of legislation affecting working families in each year’s session of the Washington State Legislature, and how each legislator voted on these issues. (You can also download the WSLC 2022 Voting Record only.)

 

FEEDBACK

 

Please fill out a quick Conference Feedback Form to let us know what you liked and didn’t like. This will help us improve the WSLC Legislative Conference in 2024. Thank you.

 

CONNECT WITH THE WSLC

 

Get the latest news and working families legislation — and about Washington’s labor movement — at the WSLC’s award-winning news service: The Stand. You can also subscribe via email to receive it every weekday morning in your inbox.

Also, please follow us on social media @WAaflcio:

When posting about the WSLC Legislative Conference on social media, use:

  • #BetterJobsStrongerCommunities
  • #WSLC2023
  • #1u

 

 

↑ Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Log in - Powered by WordPress - Designed by Gabfire Themes