About the LERC
About the WA Labor Education and Research Center
The Washington State Labor Education and Research Center delivers high-quality education and training programs for the dynamic and diverse working people of Washington State. We build the skills, confidence and knowledge that workers need to know, exercise, and improve their rights in the workplace. The LERC is the only organization providing this type of education to rural and urban communities across the entire state.
Invaluable Know Your Rights Resources
Every year, thousands of workplace violations go unaddressed because people are unaware of their rights in the workplace. Since 2007, the WA LERC has published the Workers’ Rights Manual, the only comprehensive document for Washington workers that outlines workers’ rights including state, federal, and local levels. The Manual, one of the most well-known workers’ rights resources in the state, is now in its 6th Edition, forms the basis for trainings with workers, students, and young people entering the workforce, helping them understand the basics of workplace rights frameworks applicable to them in WA.
Education and Training Designed for Working People
The LERC’s Education Programs provide hundreds of hours of training opportunities to thousands of worker leaders across Washington. The LERC hosts night classes, weekend schools, online and hybrid classes for accessibility to the entire state. Classes prepare workers to play leadership roles in their unions, workplaces, and other community organizations, teaching essential skills including the basics of workplace organizing, running effective meetings and organizations, and fostering organizational change.
Contracts and Community Partnerships
The LERC is a hub for contract trainings and community partnerships that bring additional resources to South Seattle College. The LERC’s contract trainings raise substantial funds from external sources, which support the work of the Center, while also supporting the rest of the College’s operations.
Small Budget, Major Impact
The LERC is supported each with $500,800 from the state budget, an amount that has not changed in a decade. The LERC supplements this funding with its rigorous contract training program that brought in $300,000 in new revenue in 2025-2026. Consistent funding by the state makes it possible for the LERC continuing to offer high quality, accessible programs, across the state.
Download this page as a PDF here.