My platform: Centering our diverse working class

I spent this Labor Day with workers and immigrants celebrating labor the best you can, with songs, chanting, food and solidarity.

The morning started with about 50 of us at the annual Ralph Chaplin memorial sing along, celebrating the life of the great labor activist and songwriter buried here in Tacoma. Then I joined dozens of unions and many hundreds of workers at the Pierce County Central Labor Council’s annual Labor Day picnic for food, speeches and music. I wrapped up at a powerful rally by Tanggol Migrante, La Resistencia and many others in support of Zahid Chaudry, Filipino detainees, and everyone illegally held at the Northwest Detention Center. Hundreds more folks from across the NW were there speaking truth to power.

Solidarity to everyone who made it out to these or any other events on this important day for workers. Solidarity to our diverse working class. Read on for my platform on labor, or see my platforms on our Sheriff office, ranked-choice voting, and protecting vulnerable residents.

I’m excited to have the sole endorsement of UAW 4121, my former union

Donald Trump’s breaking of union contracts and firing close to a half million federal workers in the biggest direct government attack on organized labor in US history. And his attacks on the National Labor Relations Board mean that state and local governments will need to work doubly hard to protect the rights to organize and bargain with a union.

But we can go beyond this, and fight for “industrial democracy” by pushing for card check recognition for county workers (where a majority of workers on union cards means the union is recognized), a commission on workplace conditions and rights, and greater labor representation across our boards and commissions.

Pierce County is a deeply working class area. Yet we have a shortage in effective training, and in particular the transition from Career and Technical Education (CTE) in high school to later Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship programs. This creates problems for our young local workers.

I also have the sole endorsement of WFSE 443, who represent many public sector workers in the county.

Some of the best jobs in skilled trades go to workers coming in from King County, even as many of our own knowledge sector workers drive north. There has been some wonderful work by apprenticeship programs and the building trades to address this, but the county can step up. We should work to include Project Labor Agreement and Targeted Local Hire language in our charter, meaning that the County ensures good work goes to unionized jobs held by folks born and raised in the area. It’s not just the right thing to do. It’s the smart thing for our economy.