Young Workers Unite Kicks Off

Thank you to all the participants, panelists and supporters of our Young Workers Unite: Union Leadership Virtual School!  We convened 30 union activists from across the state for a four-week series by and for young union members looking to build power for the next generation of our movement. The series was held in early spring in collaboration with Washington Young Emerging Labor Leaders (WA YELL), and the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO. 

Our series welcomed workers 35 years old and younger to learn from one another, share experiences and perspectives between industries and regions about the struggles young workers face, and build the collective capacity of our movement. Workshops covered important skills like internal organizing, campaign building, navigating the labor movement, and the advancing anti-racist practices. Each workshop included a panel where local labor activists from NALC Branch 79, Local 7 Heat and Frost Insulators, IAM 751, and more shared lessons from the field.

Next, the Labor Center, YELL and the WSLC are taking the Young Workers Unite program local communities across the state! If you are interested in helping to build a young workers program in your own community, please contact James Oliveros at james.oliveros@seattlecolleges.edu