2024 Year in Review

December 27, 2024

2024 was a big year for the King County Labor Community! From the historic strike at Boeing to a groundbreaking agreement at Lumen Field, our unions were busy fighting to improve workers’ lives. Let’s take a look back on the moments that defined 2024.

January

• More than 1,000 Virginia Mason workers join SEIU Healthcare 1199NW
• Macy’s workers with UFCW 3000 win a strong contract after months of bargaining 

February

• MLK Labor joins hundreds at the Capitol for Unemployment Insurance for Striking Workers Rally
• MLK Labor holds Wage Theft Summit with King County Prosecutor’s office

March

• MLK Labor holds principal officer breakfast to discuss Artificial Intelligence 
• LiUNA 242 breaks ground on new state-of-the-art Training Facility 
• Unionized REI workers from across the country rally at Issaquah HQ 

April

• IBEW 46 Limited Energy electricians begin 10-week strike 
• MLK Labor organizes Commissioner of Public Lands forum 
• The labor community celebrates Labor Oscars at the new union-built Convention Center Addition

May 

• MLK Labor commemorates 10th anniversary of Seattle’s historic minimum wage law
• Boeing firefighters set up picket lines after being locked out 
• UW academic student employees with UAW 4121 win a 36% pay increase after striking

June

• MLK Labor joins Alaska flight attendants at contract rallies throughout the summer
• MLK Labor leads 16 unions in signing a monumental Labor Harmony Agreement at Lumen Field
• President’s Organizing Initiative (POI) launches unionhiringhall.org

July

• MLK Labor leaders attend and showcase work at the WSLC Convention 
• POI partners with Comunidad Latina de Vashon to promote opportunities in unionized jobs 

August

• MLK Labor helps block attempt to roll back Seattle minimum wage protections 
• Woodland Park Zoo employees reach agreement on new contract 
• POI helps organize a series of union job fairs 

September

• MLK Labor holds first-ever Husky Union Night over Labor Day weekend 
• Hundreds of state workers walk off the job over contract negotiations
• Boeing machinists with IAM 751 begin historic seven-week strike 

October

• Seattle’s Waterfront Park opens with a Labor Standards Agreement negotiated by MLK Labor
• More than 50 union members attend MLK Labor’s Community Assemblies on extreme weather
• UNITE HERE 8 hotel workers hold a weeklong strike in SeaTac 

November

• MLK Labor leads 18 unions in signing groundbreaking FIFA Labor Standards Agreement
• Seattle Transportation Levy passes and Alexis Mercedes Rinck receives a record number of votes
• MLK Officers and the Executive Board are inaugurated for a new three-year term 

December

• United Farmworkers call for boycott against Windmill Farms mushrooms
• Thousands of Starbucks workers go on strike leading up to the Holiday Season