Newsletters

December 2025

From the President 

The end of the year is a natural time to reflect on the work that we’ve done and celebrate what we have accomplished. Together we faced what can only be described as unprecedented and unthinkable attacks on our institutions and our communities. But we faced these challenges together, taking strength from the fact that we were united in standing up for what we know is right. 

The incredible outpouring of solidarity, strength, and yes, even joy, were visible at the No Kings Day's, Labor Day, and other resistance events in our state and across the nation. It seems

November 2025

South Sound Labor School

Saturdays, January 31st, April 25th, July 25th, and October 31st, 2026

The Thurston Lewis Mason Labor Central Labor Council and the WA Labor Education and Research Center are proud to partner on the 2026 South Sound Labor School!

Join workers and union members from around Thurston-Lewis-Mason Counties to learn how to make our unions, communities, and organizations stronger and more effective. Featured topics include:

• Better Approaches to 1:1 Conversations
• Planning campaigns around grievances
• Participatory and engaging bargaining 
• Building workplace

December 2025

Remembering Bernal Baca

By Karen Strickland, Past President, AFT Washington

Long-time union leader and AFT Washington Government Relations Specialist Bernal Baca passed away on November 29, 2025.

I first met Bernal at an AFT Washington convention way back in the late nineties. He was fun-loving, energetic, and fully engaged in the business of the union and he maintained all of that in his work on behalf of our membership. After working as a counselor at Yakima Valley College for decades and serving as president of his local, AFT Yakima 1485, Bernal decided to vie for the Government