Martin Luther King Jr. Day Workshop

January 19, 2025, 9:30am
Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave. S., Seattle

Mobilize workers’ un-tapped power to stop Trump:
Lessons from the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike and beyond

Centering the inspiring lessons from the historic 1968 coming together of Black Civil Rights and labor leadership in a powerful force for change, this workshop will explore how workers of all colors can unite today to use their power, including a General Strike. Speakers will engage participants in discussion of organizing strategies to reverse cuts to education, SNAP, healthcare and other vital programs, and to stop the Trump regime’s racist attacks on DEI and immigrants, trans rights and reproductive freedom.

Speakers: Gabriel Prawl, President of A. Philip Randolph Institute, Seattle Chapter; Ahmed Mumin, Executive Director of the Seattle Rideshare Drivers Association; Linda Averill, shop steward in Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 587; Salvador Castillo, leader in Wash. Federation of State Employees, Local 1495; Mahaila Adams, young activist and service worker in a non-union shop.

Hosted by: A Philip Randolph Institute, Seattle Chapter; Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity; Seattle Rideshare Drivers Association.

Also join the Organize for a General Strike! contingent afterwards. Gather in front of Garfield High School. Look for the banner. Wear your union colors! Invite your union siblings and co-workers, and everyone else too!

KOMO news coverage of November 15th Town Hall to Build a General Strike:
Seattle workers rally for potential ‘General Strike,’ fight against Trump admin.

Monthly OWLS Meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 6:30 pm

Mobilizing Labor to Stop Trump – Next Steps

• Proposals and ideas from the Nov. 19 Town Hall
• Plans for the 2026 MLK Day Celebration Jan. 19
• Building union-community alliances

Labor Battles
Share your workplaces battles and community actions. Get ideas and support!

Meeting location:
Washington State Labor Council, 321 16th Ave S, Seattle
(Corner of 16th & Jackson)

Save the Date

 Saturday, Nov. 15
10am: Doors open, 11am-1pm: Event

Town Hall to Build for a General Strike
Mobilize workers’ untapped power to stop Trump

A panel of speakers will be followed by break-out
groups to discuss action. Make your voice heard!

• Strategize to defend immigrants, free speech, the right to organize, and reproductive rights.
• Discuss how workers can win against the racism, homophobia, and militarism of the ultra-right.
• Apply lessons from Seattle’s 1919 General Strike for today.
• Build for a union-led united front.

Location: Seattle Labor Temple
5030 1st Ave S, Seattle 

RSVP at http://bit.ly/GeneralStrikeTH
To assist with the planning or to endorse the event, contact OWLS at organizedworkersls@gmail.com

Sponsored by: Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity
Endorsers include: A. Philip Randolph Institute, Seattle Chapter; Communication Workers of America Local 7800; Seattle Rideshare Drivers Association; Seattle Caucus of Rank-and-file Educators, Million Worker March Committee; Washington Federation of State Employees Local 1495; IBEW Local 46 Women’s Committee

Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 pm
WSLC offices 321 16th Ave. S., Seattle

Featured reports:

• Seattle Rideshare Drivers Association –  How changes in the industry and gig worker laws are impacting drivers across the country.
• Plans for the upcoming Town Hall to build for a General Strike: Mobilize workers’ untapped power to stop Trump – get involved!

Northwest Labor Battles – Everyone is welcome to bring news of their on-the-job organizing and get support, ideas and solidarity.

Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 pm
Washington State Labor Council offices
321 16th Ave. S., Seattle 98144
(corner of 16th & Jackson St)

Save the Date
 Saturday, Nov. 15

Town Hall to build for a General Strike
Mobilize workers’ untapped power to stop Trump

A panel of speakers will be followed by break-out
groups to discuss action. Make your voice heard!

• Strategize to defend immigrants, free speech, the right to organize, and reproductive rights.
• Discuss how workers can win against the racism, homophobia, and militarism of the ultra-right.
• Apply lessons from Seattle’s 1919 General Strike for today.
• Build for a union-led united front.

Location: Seattle Labor Temple
5030 1st Ave S, Seattle 

To assist with the planning, contact OWLS at organizedworkersls@gmail.com

Mark your calendars for the Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity (OWLS) meeting Tuesday, 6:30pm, Sept. 23 to discuss next steps and share your ideas on how we can organize now for a general strike. The Steering Committee will bring a proposal for an event following ideas from the last meeting.

We’ll also hear news of on-the-job organizing and labor battles where we can get support, ideas, and solidarity. 

We invite you to arrive a little early to socialize. If you’re able, bring a snack to share, but more importantly, bring yourself!

Tuesday, September 23 at 6:30 pm
Washington State Labor Council offices
321 16th Ave. S., Seattle

Tuesday, August 26 at 6:30 pm
WSLC offices 321 16th Ave. S., Seattle

Featured reports:

• The Washington State Labor Council – At its July Convention, debate erupted over labor’s future and whether the general strike should be in the tool kit.
• Air Canada strike – 10,400 flight attendants defied their government’s ultimatum to return to work, and won impressive contract gains.
• National Labor Relations Board – The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the NLRB’s structure is unconstitutional. What does this ruling mean for workers?

Northwest Labor Battles – Everyone is welcome to bring news of their on-the-job organizing and get support, ideas and solidarity.

Tuesday, August 26 at 6:30 pm
Washington State Labor Council offices
321 16th Ave. S., Seattle 98144
(corner of 16th & Jackson St)

OWLS Meeting: Tuesday, July 22 at 6:30 pm
WSLC offices 321 16th Ave. S., Seattle

Reports from a summer of labor battles

• Programmers, games developers, and tech workers are organizing the tech sector through the Communications Workers of America’s CODE-CWA campaign.
• Teamsters are making the news with solidarity strikes in support of Republic garbage haulers in Thurston County.
• The Committee of Interns and Residents-Northwest/SEIU, in negotiations with the Univ. of WA, are asking for labor support.
• Hospital workers in Parkland, represented by the Machinists. held a week-long strike to break the deadlock on negotiations for their first union contract.

Everyone is welcome to bring news of their on-the-job organizing and get support, ideas and solidarity.

Tuesday, July 22 at 6:30 pm
Washington State Labor Council offices
321 16th Ave. S., Seattle

July 22-24 in Vancouver, WA
The Washington State Labor Council annual convention will convene July 22-24 in Vancouver, WA. OWLS supports the resolution submitted by OPEIU Local 8, “Organizing a Permanent Labor Defense Force for Free Speech, Immigrant Solidarity & the Rights of All Working People in Washington.”
If you’d like to meet up at the convention let us know at organizedworkersls@gmail.com

The following resolution was passed by OWLS in January 2025. It has since been used as a model or adopted in part or whole by other unions, including Teamsters 763. Please let OWLS know if it is adopted in your union or labor or community group. Email OrganizedWorkersL@gmail.com.

Resolution for Mutual Defense

Whereas: The Trump administration has announced plans to gut the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), dismantle civil service protections for federal workers, and undermine public worker unions and the services they provide; and

Whereas: This administration is launching a shock and awe fear campaign against immigrant workers and against local governments, churches, schools and unions that have declared themselves as sanctuary entities;

Therefore Be It Resolved That: Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity commits to organizing for mutual defense by uniting with other unions and communities that are under attack, including immigrant workers, refugees, communities of color, public worker unions, women, and transgender people; and

Be It Further Resolved That: OWLS will do all in its power to defend our undocumented members, provide know your rights trainings to members, join MLK Labor and the Washington State Labor Councils’ campaign against ICE raids, and propose contract language that protects undocumented and other vulnerable members; and

Be It Finally Resolved That: OWLS will defend the free speech rights of our unions, our members and our allies to speak out, picket, protest and strike in opposition to anti-worker and unconstitutional edicts imposed by this administration and their cabinet of un-elected billionaires.

Passed at OWLS general membership meeting 1/28/2025

Monthly OWLS Meeting, Tuesday, June 24 at 6:30 pm:

Organize Now for a General Strike! Solidarity from Los Angeles to Seattle!

Trump’s mobilization of the National Guard and Marines to
raid workplaces and attack peaceful protesters in Los
Angeles is a turning point in our battle against a growing
fascist threat.
This administration hopes to paralyze us with a shock and
awe campaign of attacks on federal workers, unions and
the services they provide. Now they are doubling down by
arresting and deporting critics – be they judges, elected
officials, union leaders or ordinary working people.

Build United Fronts for Mutual Defense
Regardless of differences, the time has come to build alliances
of unions and communities that are under attack to defend
immigrant workers, refugees, communities of color, public
worker unions, women, and transgender people.

The General Strike is our Superpower
Trump and the capitalist class have the police and military
as their weapons. But workers have the power of
withholding our labor and we can bring the entire system to a standstill
if we strike together.
Bayonets and tear gas may disperse a crowd, but they
cannot force workers to produce products and services.
Labor is beginning to rise to meet the challenge: a massive
union outcry and protests forced the release of California
SEIU union President David Huerta after he was arrested
protesting a workplace ICE raid. But more is needed and
rank-and-file union members can be a catalyst.
Workers might start off with a one-day strike. There could
be rolling strikes, one industry this day and another
industry the next, still another the day after that. Let’s
prepare to work on strategies to create the greatest impact.
Come to the next meeting of Organized Workers for Labor
Solidarity (OWLS) to get news updates, discuss next steps
and share your ideas. OWLS meets the fourth Tuesday of
each month.

Meeting location: Washington State Labor Council Offices
321 16th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
(Corner of 16th & Jackson)

Tuesday, April 22 at 6:30 pm
WSLC offices 321 16th Ave. S., Seattle

Featured reports:
Time for a General Strike!
Federal workers are fighting Trump’s rollback of every hard-won gain from the last century. In retaliation, on March 27, he stripped hundreds of thousands of federal workers of their union rights, under the guise of “national security.” Unions and the broader community are rising up to defend public workers and the services they provide. It’s time to show our power! Join the discussion.

May Day mobilizations
We’ll have a report on plans for May Day actions, which are in the works across the country. Bring your ideas and energy.