This is a cross-post, by Justine Winnie, from The Stand, a project of the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) and its affiliated unions. Winnie of OPEIU Local 8 is the newly elected recording secretary for WA YELL. 

More than 50 young leaders and allies converged Aug. 5 in Wenatchee for the Washington Young Emerging Labor Leaders’ (WA YELL's) first annual convention. Members from diverse corners of the state kicked off their time at the WSLC’s convention with a bang and brought their trademark spark and dedication to movement-building across industries, unions and generations.

The daylong YELL Convention welcomed WSLC President Jeff Johnson and WSLC Secretary-Treasurer Lynne Dodson, plus presenters Elaine Rose of Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Sarah Laslett and Will Brucher of the Washington State Labor Education and Research Center.

Rose spoke of galvanizing young women to political action in the face of attacks on their health and rights, a theme that connects with labor’s challenges and goals in 2012. YELLers then stood and walked their talk during an energetic presentation from Laslett and Brucher highlighting strategy and practice of direct actions. The Labor Center’s presentation later yielded a surprise flashmob in the convention’s general assembly to vividly convey YELLers’ solidarity with union fights around the state.

WA YELLers were happy to welcome new YELL members from eastern and southeastern Washington, as well as guests from sister group Oregon YELL. Enthusiastic and rapid expansion has characterized the group’s first year, and the convention lent new energy to the commencement of new chapters in Spokane and the South Puget Sound area, including the election area representatives, a new position within YELL. The group also elected its 2012 officers.

Nearly a dozen YELL members also stepped up in the 104-degree Wenatchee heat to visit union homes and discuss the importance of turning out the vote for labor candidates Jay Inslee and Bob Ferguson, forming a quarter of the Labor Neighbor walkers that day.

Connections between workers in varied unions and regions continued to strengthen as the WSLC kicked off its own convention. YELL hosted a hospitality suite, where workers, young and old, kicked back and enjoyed lively discussion of issues within the movement. Young workers also formed bonds with the Women’s Committee, co-hosting a breakfast, where they heard more from Rose about commonality between labor rights and women’s rights. The convention’s general assembly also heard a Young Workers Panel featuring WA YELL President Kamaria Hightower, Alex Stone of the Economic Opportunity Institute, Tasha West of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 21 and Anita Nath of UNITEHERE! Local 8.

Young workers enjoyed recognition of their work and presence from such diverse sources as AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker and Bob Ferguson, WSLC-endorsed candidate for attorney general, who thanked YELL members for their work on his and Rep. Jay Inslee’s campaigns. The diligence and steadfastness of the young activists of YELL also was recognized by WSLC delegates who voted unanimously to approve a WSLC Executive Board seat for a WA YELL representative.

The convention provided an excellent venue for YELLers to absorb expertise and experience from veteran leaders, while allowing new bonds to form across our state’s vibrant labor movement. As friendships and collaborations develop between generations, between community organizations and labor, between steelworkers, letter carriers and farm workers, our movement grows exponentially in strength and vision.

For more information about WA YELL, visit their Facebook page.