Working to Live in Southwest Washington

What Do We Mean When We Talk About "Equity?" With Kasi Perreira and Shellea Loutsis - Allen

#LaborRadioPod

It's been a year since the death of George Floyd, and working people in Southwest Washington and across America are having hard conversations about how members of marginalized groups are treated here in the United States.

 

Thankfully, the Washington State Labor Council (https://wslc.org/) is here to help with those conversations.  WSLC Director of Racial and Gender Justice (https://www.wslc.org/race-and-labor/) Kasi Perreira tells Shannon and Harold what her department is all about, some of the history Labor is working to acknowledge and move past (https://www.thestand.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Race-and-Labor_booklet_lo-res.pdf) and about the WSLC's Race, Gender and Labor Workshops (one of which the Southwest Washington Central Labor Council a couple weeks ago - https://www.facebook.com/events/758646614817740/ ... and be on the lookout for more in the future!)

 

Interested in the WSLC's workshops, and in being a part of them? Find out how to be a certified trainer at https://forms.gle/feVmmBNg6qNfW7T39 

 

Before she left, Kasi also talked about the WSLC's 2021 #JuneTeenth celebration, which kicks off on Instagram Live on June 15: https://www.facebook.com/WAaflcio/posts/3989898384378847 Check the Calendar at The Stand for JuneTeenth celebrations all across Washington State - https://www.thestand.org/calendar/

 

June is also PRIDE month! PRIDE at Work (https://www.prideatwork.org/) National Co-President Shellea Loutsis - Allen stops by to talk about what PRIDE means to her, the challenges LGBTQ+ workers are still facing, the importance of the Equality Act (https://aflcio.org/press/releases/labor-applauds-overdue-passage-equality-act,) and about PRIDE at Work's annual Celebrating Solidarity event on June 24: https://www.prideatwork.org/celebrating-solidarity-2021/ 

 

Shellea even turns the tables on Shannon and Harold, and asks THEM about how involved LGBTQ+ working people are in their community - which is a perfect opportunity to talk about the Southwest Washington Central Labor Council's support of Vancouver USA PRIDE (http://vanusapride.org/) thanks to a couple of very special Delegates to the Council!

 

Remember working people in Southwest Washington, this is YOUR podcast! Email us at podcast@swwaclc.org and let us know what you think about the show, and what you'd like to hear in future episodes!

We're a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network - find more radio shows and podcasts that speak to working people about working people's issues at www.LaborRadioNetwork.org.

Can Your Boss Really Do That? Is It Even Legal? With Diana Winther and Daniel Hutzenbiler

#LaborRadioPod

Far too many people feel mistreated at work, but when is that mistreatment because of a "bad boss," and when is it actually a violation of the law?

Shannon and Harold talk to two Labor attorneys to find out where that line is drawn, and what recourse working people have under the law.

First they talk with Diana Winther (https://www.ibew48.com/leadership/diana-winther) General Counsel for this episode's sponsor, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 48, about the difference between Labor law and employment law - and when it might be time to contact an attorney if you think your employer is violating the law.

Then they talk with Daniel Hutzenbiler (https://mbjlaw.com/attorneys/daniel-hutzenbiler/) a union attorney at McKanna Bishop Joffe about the federal laws that protect Americans in their workplaces - and the changes passage of the #PROAct will bring.

Remember working people in Southwest Washington, this is YOUR podcast! Email us at podcast@swwaclc.org and let us know what you think about the show, and what you'd like to hear in future episodes!

We're a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network - find more radio shows and podcasts that speak to working people about working people's issues at www.LaborRadioNetwork.org.

A Historic Legislative Session For Working People With Rep. Sharon Wylie, Sen. Karen Keiser and Rep. Monica Stonier

#LaborRadioPod

Washington's 2021 Legislative session closed on April 25th, and it was called "historic" by a lot of people, for a lot of reasons. 

The most obvious reason is that the Legislature couldn't meet in person at the state capitol in Olympia because of the Covid 19 pandemic. The session was also historic because of the groundbreaking laws and policies the legislators passed to help working people during the pandemic - and long after it's over.

State Senator Karen Keiser (https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/keiser/) and Representatives Sharon Wylie (https://housedemocrats.wa.gov/wylie/) and Monica Stonier (https://housedemocrats.wa.gov/stonier/) take Shannon and Harold through some of the high points including protecting essential workers, providing infrastructure like broadband and childcare, making sure agricultural workers get overtime, reforming Washington's upside-down tax code, and more!

Remember working people in Southwest Washington, this is YOUR podcast! Email us at podcast@swwaclc.org and let us know what you think about the show, and what you'd like to hear in future episodes!

We're a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network - find more radio shows and podcasts that speak to working people about working people's issues at www.LaborRadioNetwork.org.

Why Do ALL Working People Need The PRO Act - with Senator Patty Murray and AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Liz Shuler

#LaborRadioPod

It's May Day, or International Workers Day!

Shannon and Harold couldn't think of a better time to talk about how working people can come together and work towards fair treatment in their workplaces... and about the PRO Act, which will make it easier for them to do that when it passes the Senate!

One of the authors of the Protecting The Right To Organize Act, Washington's own Senator Patty Murray (https://www.murray.senate.gov/), calls in to tell them why she created the bill and why she's fighting so hard to get it passed.

Then, AFL-CIO (https://aflcio.org/) Secretary Treasurer Liz Shuler (a Northwesterner herself) takes them on a deep dive into the bill and what it will do for working people - whether they're in a union or not - and explains how the PRO Act is more than just labor law reform... it's a civil rights and human rights bill!

Remember working people in Southwest Washington, this is YOUR podcast! Email us at podcast@swwaclc.org and let us know what you think about the show, and what you'd like to hear in future episodes!

We're a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network - find more radio shows and podcasts that speak to working people about working people's issues at www.LaborRadioNetwork.org.

 

Don't Look Back - Move Forward And... What Do Nurses Need At PeaceHealth SW?

#LaborRadioPod

It's been a while, huh?

Now that she's back and ready to podcast, Shannon takes charge and focuses on all the great things happening for working people right now - including:

The American Rescue Plan - https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/11/biden-1point9-trillion-covid-relief-package-thursday-afternoon.html 

The PROAct - https://passtheproact.org/ 

The American Jobs Plan - https://www.whitehouse.gov/american-jobs-plan/ 

And... a president that's not afraid to say GOOD things about unions (seriously... did you hear this speech? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZpUD9KgYc4)

Joining Shannon and Harold to talk about all this are SW Washington Central Labor Council Vice President Bob Carroll and Secretary Treasurer Randall Friesen; they weigh in on all the good things the current administration has in the works - and on what working people can look forward to in the future right here in the lower-left-corner of the Evergreen State!

Then, Washington State Nurses Association (https://www.wsna.org/) Local Unit Co-Chair at Peace Health Southwest Medical Center Didi Gray drops by to talk about the issues her union is running into while trying to negotiate a new contract - and the rally WSNA has planned for the Vancouver Waterfront on April 10!  Find out more on their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/VancouverRNsCareForUs 

Remember working people in Southwest Washington, this is YOUR podcast! Email us at podcast@swwaclc.org and let us know what you think about the show, and what you'd like to hear in future episodes!

We're a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network - find more radio shows and podcasts that speak to working people about working people's issues at www.LaborRadioNetwork.org.

Financial Stability In The COVID Era With Special Guests Patrick Town and Ross Wolf

#LaborRadioPod

It's always difficult for working people to get their finances in order, but it's especially difficult in this COVID-19 era we've all been living through. Shannon and Harold talk to two financial experts -

Ross Wolf, President of Pacific Financial Advisors (https://www.pacificfa.com/) and

Patrick Town, founder and Executive Director of Union Home Plus (https://www.unionhomeplus.org) 

- about the pressures working people are facing, and what they can do to start on the road to true financial stability.

Be sure to visit Ross's Financial Plan app at https://wealth.emaplan.com/ema/LeadGen/Welcome/eecacd89-a7a2-4fe0-abe6-c2d5eca0eb6b 

Remember working people in Southwest Washington, this is YOUR podcast! Email us at podcast@swwaclc.org and let us know what you think about the show, and what you'd like to hear in future episodes!

We're a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network - find more radio shows and podcasts that speak to working people about working people's issues at www.LaborRadioNetwork.org.

Sharing Your Views With Your Government (The RIGHT Way) With Special Guests Monica Stonier and Annette Cleveland

#LaborRadioPod

Washington's 2021 Legislative session opened this week against the backdrop of political violence at the nation's Capitol, and new restrictions because of the COVID 19 pandemic. Washington has a lot of very important issues to be dealt with during this session, and it's crucial that working people engage with their legislators... but between increased security and legislators' absence from the state Capitol in Olympia, how are they supposed to do that?

Shannon and Harold dig into these issues with state Representative Monica Stonier (https://housedemocrats.wa.gov/stonier/) who has a handy infographic to help constituents connect with the "remote" legislature on her Facebook page at

https://www.facebook.com/RepMonicaStonier49/posts/1108713819567400 

Then, they talk to state Senator Anette Cleveland (https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/cleveland/)
about how the Senate is dealing with the new restrictions.

Finally, Washington State Labor Council Government Affairs Director Joe Kendo (https://www.wslc.org/joe-kendo/) drops by to talk about the issues he and the State Labor Council are prioritizing for working people in the Evergreen State, including

Senate Bill 6051: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5061&Year=2021&Initiative=false which provides improvements to unemployment insurance and

House Bill 1076: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1076&Initiative=false&Year=2021 which focuses on Labor Standards Enforcement.

Joe (and his one-year-old "assistant" Evan, who joins him for the interview) also encourages listeners to subscribe to https://www.thestand.org/ for the latest information on what the State Labor Council is doing for working people in Olympia.

Remember working people in Southwest Washington, this is YOUR podcast! Email us at podcast@swwaclc.org and let us know what you think about the show, and what you'd like to hear in future episodes!

We're a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network - find more radio shows and podcasts that speak to working people about working people's issues at www.LaborRadioNetwork.org.

Oh What A Year It's Been With Special Guest Larry Brown

#LaborRadioPod

You don't need us to tell you that 2020 has been a ROUGH year... and you don't need us to tell you why! With everything that's happened, though, there have been some major victories for working people!

Rather than dwell on the bad things that have happened this year, Shannon and Harold decided to talk to the people involved with some of those victories, including

- Clark College Association for Higher Education (https://www.ccahe.org/) President Suzanne Southerland, who tells us about CCAHE's successful strike and standing in solidarity with WPEA members (http://www.wpea.org/clark.html)...

- Washington State Nurses Association (https://www.wsna.org/) Local Unit Co-Chair at Vancouver's Peace Health Hospital Didi Gray, who tells us about two bills passed in the Washington Legislature to keep nurses safe...

- International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 5 (https://ilwulocal5.com/) Representative Myka Dubay, who tells us how employees at Vancouver's Columbia River Veterinary Services (https://columbiarivervet.com/) won their union - Myka also reminds us to ditch that OTHER online book store and to shop union and shop local at Powell's books through the union's "partner link" (https://ilwulocal5.com/support/) which directs 7.5% of your purchase to their worker relief fund for laid off Powells workers...

- News Coordinator for the Columbian (https://www.columbian.com ) and shop steward for the Columbian Guild (https://www.facebook.com/ColumbianGuild ) Lindsey Hewitt tells us about the challenges - and successes - of bargaining during a pandemic...

- Vancouver Association of Education Support Professionals (https://www.vaespwa.org ) President Barb Plymate tells us about her union's recent victory - and what podcast listeners like YOU did to make it happen!

Then Shannon and Harold take a broader look at worker victories across the state with Washington State Labor Council (https://www.wslc.org) President Larry Brown - and they talk about what working people can expect in 2021!

Remember working people in Southwest Washington, this is YOUR podcast! Email us at podcast@swwaclc.org and let us know what you think about the show, and what you'd like to hear in future episodes!

We're a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network - find more radio shows and podcasts that speak to working people about working people's issues at www.LaborRadioNetwork.org.

Labor's Helping Hands For The Holidays... And All Year Round!

#LaborRadioPod

Organized Labor is always there for working people in our region - but particularly during the holiday season when so many people impacted by employment issues aren't able to provide a happy holiday for their families!  With that in mind, Shannon and Harold talk to several people in our local Labor community about what they're doing to support working families this season.

First, they talk to Myka Dubay from the International Longshore and Warehouse Workers Union Local 5 (https://ilwulocal5.com/) who is urging people to do their holiday shopping online at our local independently-owned union book store, Powells Books, through ILWU Local 5's Partner Link:

https://ilwulocal5.com/Support/

7.5% of all sales made through this link go to ILWU Local 5's Covid 19 Worker Relief Fund to support laid-off Powell's workers.

Then Shannon and Harold talk to Northwest Carpenters Union (https://www.nwcarpenters.org/) president Joe Cadwell about the Carpenters annual holiday toy drive, and about Joe's own podcast Grit Northwest (https://buildnw.org/podcast.)

Next, they talk to Labor's Community Service Agency (https://www.lcsaportland.org/) Executive Director Eryn Byram about what LCSA does for working people all year round, and changes to this year's Presents From Partners event (https://www.facebook.com/PresentsFromPartners.)

Finally, the president of the Southwest Washington Central Labor Council (https://www.swwaclc.org) comes on the show - wait a minute... she's ALWAYS on the show!

Our own Shannon Myers tells us about the SWWACLC's new drive-through Solidarity Food Bank, which starts operating this month.

Remember working people in Southwest Washington, this is YOUR podcast! Email us at podcast@swwaclc.org and let us know what you think about the show, and what you'd like to hear in future episodes!

We're a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network - find more radio shows and podcasts that speak to working people about working people's issues at www.LaborRadioNetwork.org.

What Do The New Covid Restrictions Mean For Classified Staff (And For YOU?) With Special Guests Temple Lentz and Julie Olson

#LaborRadioPod

Vancouver School District classified employees have been furloughed for months, and they're struggling. Barb Plymate, president of the Vancouver Association of Educational Support Professionals (http://www.vaespwa.org/) joins Shannon and Harold to talk about the district's justification for these furloughs... and the fact that it has the money to put these people back to work!

Find out more at the Washington Education Association Riverside Uniserv Council's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WEARUC

Want to do more to help VSD classified employees?  Sign the petition at https://www.change.org/p/wendy-smith-vansd-org-bring-support-staff-back-in-vancouver-public-schools-to-help-our-students-succeed

Next, Washington governor Jay Inslee has announced new restrictions (https://coronavirus.wa.gov/) in response to skyrocketing COVID 19 cases in the Evergreen State. 

Clark County Councilors Temple Lentz ( https://www.facebook.com/CouncilorTempleLentz/) and Julie Olson (https://clark.wa.gov/councilors/julie-olson) stop by to talk about the new restrictions, what the County is doing to help working people deal with them, and what effect they might have on the holidays!

Stay up to date on the latest COVID 19 information at https://clark.wa.gov/covid19 

And, don't forget to support our LOCAL restaurants and retailers! One way to do that is to visit the Northwest Wine and Food Society at https://nwwfs.org/

Remember working people in Southwest Washington, this is YOUR podcast! Email us at podcast@swwaclc.org and let us know what you think about the show, and what you'd like to hear in future episodes!

We're a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network - find more radio shows and podcasts that speak to working people about working people's issues at www.LaborRadioNetwork.org.