Following are the workshops planned for the 2022 Constitutional Convention of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
- Tuesday’s Round 1 workshops (1:30 – 3 p.m.)
- Tuesday’s Round 2 workshops (3:15 – 4:45 p.m.)
- Wednesday’s Round 1 workshops (1:30 – 3 p.m.)
- Wednesday’s Round 2 workshops (3:15 – 4:45 p.m.)
TUESDAY, JULY 19 (Round 1)
From 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
- Utilizing the WSLC’s Immigrant and Worker Justice Toolkit — As a labor movement, our ability to address comprehensive immigration reform in our membership relies on our skill to create authentic relationships with our immigrant members. We should understand their needs and honor their lived experiences through our everyday actions as a union. The WSLC’s Labor Immigration Committee has created the Immigrant and Worker Justice Toolkit designed to protect the labor rights of immigrant workers and members. The Toolkit provides documented and undocumented immigrant workers and union leaders with the resources and support they need to create a just and equitable future for immigrant workers in the United States.
- FACILITATOR: Dulce Gutiérrez, WSLC Union, Community & Naturalization Organizer
- PRESENTERS: Connie Rodriguez, LiUNA; and Amy Leong, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)
- Equity Assessments in Public Policy — Public policy decisions made by lawmakers impact Washingtonians across the state in their communities and on the job. Some policy choices land differently for Black workers, Indigenous workers, and other workers of Color, but it is not always obvious how. Washington’s labor community has developed a tool to help policy makers and policy advocates assess proposals both in terms of impact, and the policy development process. This workshop will introduce that tool, and provide context for how the labor movement’s policy advocacy can better engage the full spectrum and experience of Washington’s working class.
- PRESENTERS: Joe Kendo, WSLC Government Affairs Director; and Joan Jones, SEIU Washington State Council
- Labor Law Update — The Biden Administration has ushered in a new day at the U.S. Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board as his appointees re-orient these critical agencies back inline with their founding missions. Join a discussion with a union-side labor law attorney and get an update on the latest state and federal laws that stand to impact work place conditions, union regulations, and organizing processes before the NLRB and PERC.
- FACILITATOR: Kairie Pierce, WSLC Workforce Development Director
- PRESENTER: Sarah Derry, Attorney, Barnard Iglitzin and Lavitt, LLP
TUESDAY, JULY 19 (Round 2)
From 3:15 to 4:45 p.m.
- Recruiting and Developing Diverse Leaders in Our Unions — We are in a critical moment: Washington has 3rd highest union density, workers are organizing and unions overall have a rate of approval we have not seen since 1965. In addition, the 2020 Census shows that developing diversity in our communities is not only a national trend but is now a change that has occurred in Yakima, Franklin, and Adams counties (with King County not far behind). Join this interactive workshop to gain new resources and network with other labor leaders to identify, recruit and develop emerging leaders in our diverse state in order to build a stronger labor movement. In addition, WSLC will provide an active list of open Boards, Commissions and Trainings for union members to sign up.
- FACILITATOR: Kasi Marita Perreira, WSLC Director of Racial and Gender Justice
- PRESENTERS: Cohosted by WSLC Racial Justice Committee, WSLC Diversity Committee, and AFL-CIO Constituency Groups
- Fixing a Broken Economy — We know how broken the economy is for working people. That’s why we fight together to take back the power from big corporations, both in the workplace and in the halls of government. We’ve won key victories. Just in the past two years, we’ve: saved essential public services, protected pensions, and invested in critical infrastructure. We’ve seen some real improvements. But we can’t stop when there’s so much more to do. Now is the time to recruit or coworkers and talk to our family and friends about candidates who will fight for working families, and help to fix this broken economy. Join this workshop to learn new techniques and gain practical skills to have courageous conversations about our broken economy and what we can do to fix it. Together we can create an economy that works for us all of us.
- FACILITATOR: Cherika Carter, WSLC Political and Strategic Campaigns Director
- PRESENTERS: Washington’s finest Labor politicos
- Labor Leader vs Responder: Strategies for Building and Maintaining Membership in the Public Sector — In the years since the Janus decision, public sector unions have re-tooled and developed innovative strategies for engaging workers in the face of concerted third-party efforts to un-organize public workplaces. Join presenters from unions and community partners who have sought to reimagine internal organizing and learn from their experiences.
- FACILITATOR: Yvette De La Cruz, Washington Education Association
- PRESENTERS: Ryan Hollander, Accountable Northwest; Matthew McGetrick, Teamsters 117; and Cheryl Miller, Teamsters 117
WEDNESDAY, JULY 20 (Round 1)
From 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
- Working People, the Green Economy, and Jobs — In this session, we will provide a big picture overview of opportunities and strategies the labor movement is using to win good jobs and build union power in the clean energy sector. We will discuss deployment timeframes, place-based best practices, and union wins. The session will include an interactive discussion where participants will have the opportunity to share current challenges and opportunities and identify the major players and strategies to make gains in creating high-road clean and advanced energy and manufacturing industries, that strengthen union density, raise labor standards and support the needs of working people and communities.
- FACILITATORS: Bennetta Robinson, Senior Researcher for Renewable Energy Organizing, AFL-CIO; and Zoe Lipman, Deputy Director, AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council (IUC)
- The (Unfinished) Intalco Story: Lessons Learned for Strengthening Manufacturing in Washington — Restarting the Alcoa Intalco Works smelter in Ferndale would bring back almost 700 union manufacturing jobs to a rural community. It will also ensure a reliable domestic supply of green aluminum—for everything from beer cans to airplanes. Intalco is the last primary aluminum smelter on the West Coast, with the largest capacity in the U.S. With support from labor; tribal, federal, and state leaders; industry; and environmental groups, a private equity firm is seeking to modernize and reopen the facility. The deal hinges on securing a power contract from the Bonneville Power Administration. Join panelists to discuss the significance of Intalco and what it means for the future of materials manufacturing in Washington.
- FACILITATORS: Chelsea Mason-Placek, WSLC Workforce Development Director
- PRESENTERS: Mike Tanchuk, CEO, Green Aluminum; Steve Sleigh, President, Sleigh Strategies; Jessica Koski, Washington Policy Manager, BlueGreen Alliance
- Apprenticeship and Organizing: Past, Present and Future — Labor has a long history of utilizing registered apprenticeship to train and teach workers. This workshop will start with a brief overview of registered apprenticeship and apprenticeship preparation. Our panel of experts will speak about how registered apprenticeship overlaps with union organizing in the past, present and future. We will hear directly from affiliates and policy leaders about work being done in Washington State, and beyond. Additionally, we will discuss the new apprenticeships laws passed in Washington State in 2022, and impacts on the system. This discussion will include information on the newly created registered apprenticeship expansion grants available now from the Department of Labor & Industries. The intent of these funds is to expand capacity for state-registered apprenticeship programs, provide equipment upgrades, and ensure apprentices have access to a broad suite of student support services.
- FACILITATOR: Rachel McAloon, WSLC Workforce Development Director
- PANEL: Erin Fraiser, Assistant Executive Secretary, Washington State Building & Construction Trades Council; Ligaya Domingo, Racial Justice and Education Director, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW; Andrea Ornelas, Assistant Political Director, LIUNA! Local 242; Nathe Lawver, Executive Secretary, Pierce County Building and Construction Trades; and Kairie Pierce, WSLC Lead Workforce Development Director
WEDNESDAY, JULY 20 (Round 2)
From 3:15 to 4:45 p.m.
- Recruiting and Developing Diverse Leaders in Our Unions — We are in a critical moment: Washington has 3rd highest union density, workers are organizing and unions overall have a rate of approval we have not seen since 1965. In addition, the 2020 Census shows that developing diversity in our communities is not only a national trend but is now a change that has occurred in Yakima, Franklin, and Adams counties (with King County not far behind). Join this interactive workshop to gain new resources and network with other labor leaders to identify, recruit and develop emerging leaders in our diverse state in order to build a stronger labor movement. In addition, WSLC will provide an active list of open Boards, Commissions and Trainings for union members to sign up.
- FACILITATOR: Kasi Marita Perreira, WSLC Director of Racial and Gender Justice
- PRESENTERS: Cohosted by WSLC Racial Justice Committee, WSLC Diversity Committee, and AFL-CIO Constituency Groups
- It’s BINGO Time: Learn About Workers’ Compensation Updates — The Project Help staff will cover the latest updates on workers’ compensation system, key information for workers once a claim has been filed; wage replacement benefits; independent medical exams (IME); and permanent partial disability awards; and much more all while playing a BINGO game. Prizes will be awarded to game winners!
- FACILITATOR: Jessica Gallardo, WSLC Project HELP Director
- PRESENTERS: Kathy Petruzzelli, Project HELP Claims Specialist; and Emmanuel Carrillo, Project HELP Bilingual Claims Specialist
- Fixing a Broken Economy — We know how broken the economy is for working people. That’s why we fight together to take back the power from big corporations, both in the workplace and in the halls of government. We’ve won key victories. Just in the past two years, we’ve: saved essential public services, protected pensions, and invested in critical infrastructure. We’ve seen some real improvements. But we can’t stop when there’s so much more to do. Now is the time to recruit or coworkers and talk to our family and friends about candidates who will fight for working families, and help to fix this broken economy. Join this workshop to learn new techniques and gain practical skills to have courageous conversations about our broken economy and what we can do to fix it. Together we can create an economy that works for us all of us.
- FACILITATOR: Cherika Carter, WSLC Political and Strategic Campaigns Director
- PRESENTERS: Washington’s finest Labor politicos