Widely considered to be the "voice of labor" in our state, the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO and WFSE locals represent and provides services for hundreds of local unions, trade councils and union members throughout Washington state. The WSLC's core programs are legislative advocacy, political action, communications and media relations, and assistance with organizing campaigns.
The WSLC is a voluntary organization, but only union locals and councils affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations are eligible to affiliate. Although not every AFL-CIO local or council is a dues-paying affiliate, the WSLC represents the official position of the AFL-CIO in our state. It operates by consensus and has no legal or constitutional authority to impose a position or policy on any local union or trade council.
Officers of the WSLC are elected by affiliated members every four years. The elected officers are the President, the Secretary-Treasurer and the 20 Vice Presidents, who together comprise the WSLC Executive Board. The board meets quarterly and establishes the WSLC's policies and programs in between conventions.
Conventions are held annually. Delegates to WSLC conventions debate and establish the organization's positions or policies on issues, candidates and programs by voting on motions and resolutions. Any credentialed delegate may introduce motions to the convention, and any affiliate may submit resolutions to the convention.
Currently, there more than 500 local unions affiliated with the WSLC, representing nearly 300,000 rank-and-file union members working in our state. The WSLC is the largest labor organization in our state and is the only organization representing all AFL-CIO unions in the state
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