Ground Zero For Worker Protections: Voices From The 2025 WSLC Convention

The 2025 Washington State Labor Council Convention took place July 22nd - 24th at the Vancouver Hilton. As The Stand put it (https://www.thestand.org/2025/07/convention-2025-our-voice-our-power-our-movement/) those three days "strengthened bonds of solidarity, grew skillsets, and celebrated the powerful resiliency of a movement by and for working people."

Over the course of those three days Harold hit the Convention floor and talked with other Delegates including

• Ryan Andreas (USW Local 289m - https://usw.org/)
• Joe Bond (IBEW Local 48 - https://www.ibew48.com/)
• Ava Claridge (AFSCME Local 443 - https://www.wfselocal443.org/)
• Rik Desken (SAG-AFTRA Seattle Local - https://www.sagaftra.org/seattle)
• Dustin Hysmith (SMART Local 16 - https://www.smw16.org/)
• C Moline (NALC Branch 79 - https://nalc79.org/ - and Washington Young Emerging Labor Leaders - https://www.instagram.com/washington_yell/)
• Nate Omdal (AFM Local 76-493 - https://local76-493.org/)
• Chuck Pirtle (AFSCME 1181 - https://www.facebook.com/WFSELocal1181/ - and the Kitsap County Central Labor Council - https://unionhall.aflcio.org/kitsapcountyclc)
• Tony Zemple (IUOE Local 302 - https://www.iuoe302.org/  - and the Northwest Washington Central Labor Council - https://www.nwwclc.com/)

about the big moments that stood out to them during the event, their impressions of Vancouver, and why working people who aren't in a union (yet) should care about what happens at state Labor Federation Conventions.

If you'd like to hear some of the speeches the Delegates mentioned when they talked to Harold, check out TVW's coverage of
Day 1 (https://tvw.org/video/washington-state-labor-council-constitutional-convention-2025071064/)
and 
Day 2 (https://tvw.org/video/washington-state-labor-council-constitutional-convention-2025071065/) 
of the WSLC Convention.

This episode is sponsored by Union Plus's Unions Power America Sweepstakes, which offers union members across the country the chance to win $40,000.00 and a dream trip to New York City! No purchase is necessary; find out all the details and official rules at https://unionpowerusa.com.

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