M.L. King County Labor Council

The M. L. King County Labor Council is chartered by the AFL-CIO and strives to represent the interests of workers in King County. We are comprised of over 150 affiliates, including many local unions as well as local chapters of constituency groups. Organizations must be affiliated with the AFL-CIO on a national level to be eligible for affiliation.

Each Council-affiliated organization elects delegates to the M. L. King County Labor Council as representatives of their union, giving their union's members a voice within the Council. Delegates are an important source of information for their locals concerning Council activities. All told, more than 450 union delegates comprise the M. L. King County Labor Council. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in Hall One of the Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 First Avenue. Every three years, the Council holds elections for officers, trustees, trade section representatives and constituency group representatives. These 25 individuals make up the Executive Board, which meets twice monthly to consider requests from affiliates and other Council business. Trade section representatives are appointed by the unions that make up the individual sections. The entire Council body nominates candidates and votes to fill the other positions. The executive secretary is the principal officer and full-time staff person of the Council.

Committee Information

Updated On: Jun 17, 2010 (09:19:00)

The Council has several active committees. Here are descriptions and contact information for each. Committee participation is a great way to get involved!

Diversity Committee
Goals: Work with local unions to increase diversity within our central labor council. Work to ensure full participation of all delegates in the work of the central labor council. Address issues of affirmative action and civil and human rights in the labor movement and in our community.

The Diversity Committee is composed of constituency groups (Coalition of Labor Union Women, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Pride at Work and the A. Philip Randolph Institute) and rank-and-file members of our union affiliates. The work of the committee is affiliate-driven. At times, the committee works to support community-based programs and issues. The committee meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in Room 208 of the Seattle Labor Temple. Click here to send us an email if you have any questions or would like more information.

Education Committee
Goal: Plan educational trainings and events for the labor movement in King County.

The Education Committee meets monthly on the third Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. in Room 208 of the Seattle Labor Temple. Click here to send us an email if you have any questions or would like more information.

Political Action Committee
Goals: To build a labor to labor political operation within the Martin Luther King Jr. County Labor Council and its affiliates. To elect pro-working family candidates to local government bodies within Martin Luther King Jr. County. To maintain a political leader accountability program – seeking and tracking elected officials’ support on legislation and in our organizing and contract battles

The Political Action Committee is composed of designated delegates of affiliated local unions and rank and file members of our affiliated unions. The committee meets to discuss key races, coordinate our efforts in those races and to assist local unions with planning an internal political program. The work of the committee changes throughout the election cycle. The committee meets regularly at the Seattle Labor Temple. Click here to send us an email if you have any questions or would like more information.

COPE (Committee on Political Education):
The Committee on Political Education consists of officers and members of the MLKCLC Executive Board (except those representing AFL-CIO Constituency Groups – see AFL-CIO policy below¹) and individuals whom affiliated organizations have named in writing to actively participate on the COPE interview panel as a COPE representative. COPE representatives named by affiliates need not be delegates. Click here to send us an email if you have any questions or would like more information.

¹AFL-CIO policy on constituency group participation in COPE states that no AFL-CIO constituency group may be present for any meeting or proceeding concerning the endorsement of a political candidate or other partisan political activity.

The following information is available:

Puget Sound Labor Agency (Updated: Apr 01, 2010 11:06:00)

Worker Center (Updated: Jul 07, 2010 16:25:00)

Executive Board List (Updated: Aug 05, 2010 12:06:00)

Page Last Updated: Jun 17, 2010 (09:19:00)