From today’s Urbanist:
2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the World Trade Organization protests, commonly called “the Battle of Seattle,” an important AFL-CIO-led protest for worker rights and anti-globalization.
The quarter-century anniversary has seen an important spark for union and labor work in the city, as organizations across public and private sectors carry their work forward.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tallied 33 major work stoppages that started in 2023, indicating this was the largest national labor movement since 2000. Multiple campaigns to unionize or strike garnered national attention, including SAG-AFTRA, which represents 160,000 media professionals, such as screenwriters.
Following these developments, the AFL-CIO released new polls on August 29, 2023, showing support for union work across ages and political lines. 88% of people under 30 view unions favorably. 71% of Americans support unions, majorities being Republicans and Independents.
Subsequently, 2023 was named the Year of the Union by NPR.
2024 looks no different, as workers across industries are working on unionizing and bargaining for new contracts. Union leaders around Seattle and King County are looking to use their organizations for transformative change.
“Our interests as workers and the interests of the general public are aligned and we can fight together to be able to transform our workplaces, our industries and ultimately all of our lives,” said Katie Garrow, Executive Secretary and Treasurer for MLK Labor, the central body of labor organizations in King County representing more than 150 unions and 100,000 workers.
Read the complete story here.