Nominate union members, locals for 2020 WSLC awards

(July 15, 2019) — Each year at its annual convention, the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO presents awards recognizing the efforts and accomplishments of specific union organizations and individual union members. Although the WSLC’s 2020 Convention will be a virtual affair, conducted via Zoom video conferencing Sept. 23-25 — these awards will again be presented so the WSLC is calling on its affiliated unions to submit names for consideration.

The deadline for nominations for all awards is Wednesday, August 12.

Following are descriptions of the awards that will be presented for the WSLC’s 2020 Convention. (Follow the links to download nomination forms.)

MOTHER JONES AWARD

The WSLC Mother Jones Award has been recognized for decades as the state labor movement’s award that recognizes our own members in their struggle for dignity and respect for all working men and women in our state. Traditionally, two awards are given, one to an individual and one to an organization. Candidates for the award will best exemplify the tradition of Mary “Mother” Jones’ immortal statement, “Mourn for the dead, but fight like hell for the living!”

In 2019, the individual Mother Jones Award went to Mike Elliott of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (pictured at right). The organizational award was presented to the Washington State Nurses Association, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, and UFCW 21, the unions that have fought for 10 years, and in 2019 finally won, legislation to guaranteeing uninterrupted breaks for nurses and frontline healthcare workers in Washington state.

The WSLC Economic Development and Transportation Committee reviews nominations and recommends recipients for this award to the WSLC Executive Board. If you have questions about this award, contact EDT Committee staff liaison Bill Messenger (bmessenger@wslc.org) or 360-357-8736.

BRUCE BRENNAN AWARD

The WSLC Education, Training and Apprenticeship Committee gives an annual “Bruce Brennan Memorial Award” to the individual who has contributed the most to further the cause of apprenticeship, education and training in Washington state. In 2019, it was awarded to Chris Winters of Painters Local 1964.

For more information or if you have questions about this award, contact ETA Committee staff liaison Emmanuel Flores at eflores@wslc.org or 360-570-5179.

ELSIE SCHRADER AWARD

The WSLC Women’s Committee presents this award for the advancement of women in leadership roles and/or for activism on behalf of women within the labor movement. The Elsie Schrader Award honors the advancement of women in leadership roles and/or for activism on behalf of women within the labor movement. Last year, the Elsie Schrader Award went to Theresa Purtell of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 27 (pictured above).

For more information about this award, see the Elsie Schrader award criteria. If you have questions about this award, contact Women’s Committee staff liaison Cherika Carter (ccarter@wslc.org) or 206-254-4927.