Sharp-looking Teamsters in the State Capitol's legislative building, from l to r: Chris Larry, Ian Sabio, Guillermo Mogollan, Paul Dascher, and Rosanna Sim.

Local 117 members took to the Capitol again yesterday as a part of the Washington State Labor Council's annual Lobby Day event. It was the second time in three weeks when Teamsters have shown up and showed out in Olympia to pass legislation in support of working families. 

Back on January 29, hundreds of members turned out for our DOC Lobby Day, while the focus on yesterday's event was on workers in our private and other public sector shops. More than 50 Teamsters joined hundreds of workers from other Unions for a lobby training in the morning followed by visits with lawmakers. 

"This is a learning experience and a chance to bond with other unions," said Katherine Scott, a shop steward, who works on the production line at Swire Coca-Cola. "It's an eye-opener, something I've never done before." Scott has been getting her feet wet in multiple union activities recently, including a volunteer organizing drive for the Lumen campaign last month.

Katherine Scott is ramping up her union engagement on both the political and organizing fronts.

This was also the first time lobbying for Dionne Holly, a shop steward and self-described jack-of-all-trades who works at the Safeway/Albertsons distribution center in Auburn. "I came here to check out what it means to make change, how these bill that come before legislators can affect us in a negative way or positive way," he said. "I'm hoping we can get some things passed that working people need." 

"The union brings people up," says Dionne Holly who joined the WSLC lobby day event.

Members like Scott and Holly spoke with legislators about several key bills, including SB 5041 which would give striking workers access to unemployment insurance. 

"It would help level the playing field," said Joel Waugaman, another shop steward who attended the event. Waugaman's group just wrapped up a challenging negotiations at MV Transportation. "We're trying to stop corporations from keeping people out on strike forever and forcing workers to accept lower pay."  

Teamsters looking tough at the State Capitol: Give workers what they need!

Members also spoke out in support of bills to protect the health and safety of young workers on the job (HB 1644) and to give public sector workers the right to bargain over AI implementation in the workplace (HB 1622/SB 5422).

"Today was an amazing day in Olympia for Teamsters and our entire union family," said Paul Dascher, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters 117, who joined the event. "These policies that lawmakers pass don't just happen by chance. They happen because we all engage and fight to improve conditions for workers. I'm incredibly proud that our Union is a part of it."