WASHINGTON STATE BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL
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State Issues.

We lobby on behalf of our members—working men and women—across the state, and at all levels of government. Our political values are simple: to achieve and sustain the betterment and protection of our members. We work closely with elected officials to find solutions to complex labor issues, and to ensure that those who benefit from Washington's growth include those who build it.​

2022 Policy Agenda

Transportation Package - Transportation investments are necessary for sustaining a reliable infrastructure, creating family-wage jobs, and ensuring an equitable economic recovery for Washington. The state must fund preservation and maintenance efforts, at a minimum, and not solely rely on federal investments that will not remedy the increasing deficit in transportation spending that requires over $10 billion in the next 10 years for preservation and maintenance alone. 

Clean Energy Infrastructure & Workforce - The path to Washington’s clean energy economy must maintain employment for workers affected by energy market changes; must not prematurely eliminate current energy sources without a sufficient and diversified in-state energy infrastructure; must not incentivize or rely on the exporting of projects and importing of energy; must ensure out-of-state procurement of energy includes Project Labor Agreements, or at least high-road labor standards, and do not subvert CETA responsibilities; must include research and pilot project funding to bring new energy technologies to market; must ensure current infrastructure is repurposed and new facilities can be built; and must ensure any decarbonization policies include union labor standards. 

Siting & Permitting - Meaningful siting and permitting reform is necessary for Washington to build a diversified and self-sufficient in-state clean energy production infrastructure and the manufacturing of components for clean energy technologies. In addition, projects lost to other states is a loss of family-wage jobs and local economic benefit for communities, and ultimately results in greater emissions due to weaker environmental laws in other states. 

Apprenticeship Pathways and Apprentice Support - Pathways to building trades apprenticeship programs must be recognized and supported the same as other postsecondary pathways. State registered apprentices must receive all available supports and services that other postsecondary students have access to. A journey card must not be deemed less than a two-year degree and all competencies acquired through building trades apprenticeship programs must be acknowledged. In addition, the Washington College Grant for Apprentices must be accessible to building trades apprentices and disbursed by college financial aid departments when the apprentice is enrolled with them.

Data Center Construction - The construction, maintenance and refurbishment of data centers provide family-wage union jobs, on-the-job training opportunities, and economic stimulus to local communities. All available certificates for tax incentives have been exhausted and must be extended for data centers to locate and remain in rural counties in Washington. 

Training & Work Standards - A skilled and trained workforce is essential to Washington’s economy, meeting industry needs and workplace safety.

Child Care Infrastructure - Access to childcare, particularly outside of traditional work hours, is a barrier for building trades apprentices and journey workers to be successful in their careers and, in particular, limits access to apprenticeship pathways for women and single-parents. 

Capital Budget - Investments in capital projects positively impact access to family-wage jobs and on-the-job training opportunities for Washingtonians through prevailing wage and Apprenticeship Utilization Requirements.

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State Law
For current state law, access the Revised Codes of Washington (RCW) and the Washington Administrative Code (WAC):
Revised Code of Washington
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TVW 
TVW offers live and archived, unedited, coverage of Washington State government, politics and public policy. ​
Watch TVW
TVW Reporting
Through its award-winning produced programs, TVW gives the public compelling, balanced, nonpartisan reporting on current public policy topics. TVW’s produced programs include:
  • Inside Olympia – In-depth interviews with state leaders, hosted by Austin Jenkins.
  • The Impact – A weekly news show covering key decisions at the State Capitol and how they impact you; hosted by Mike McClanahan.
  • Legislative Review – During the legislative session, a daily summary of legislative highlights; hosted by Angela Nolasco.
  • Field Report – TVW travels around the state for on-the-ground reports on hot public policy topics.
  • Washington to Washington – TVW’s ground-breaking series covers policy topics from both Washingtons: our state and D.C.
  • The Decision – TVW’s legal show offers fascinating discussions on recent WA Supreme Court decisions.
  • Documentaries – TVW has won multiple Emmy Awards for its in-depth political documentaries.

In the News

Where should the new light rail route go in Seattle? City Council gives some recommendations
​July 5, 2022
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2022 Session Wins

  • Transportation Resources - Joint House and Senate Democrats transportation revenue proposal. SB 5974/HB 2119 - Sen. Liias/Rep. Fey

  • Supplemental Transportation Appropriations - Joint House and Senate Democrats transportation expenditure proposal. SB 5689/HB 1786 - Sen. Liias/Rep. Fey

  • Tax Preferences for Rural & Non-rural Data Centers - Extends the current sales and use tax exemption for data center construction in rural counties and creates an urban pilot; includes PLA and AUR language and a grid reliability study. HB 1846 - Rep. Berg

  • Clean Energy Manufacturing Tax Incentives - Extends a sales and use tax deferral to clean energy storage and renewable and green electrolytic hydrogen projects and a reduction in repayment for meeting labor standards. HB 1988/SB 5744 - Rep. Shewmake/Sen. Nguyen

  • EFSEC - Establishes EFSEC as an agency, reducing time and steps in siting process, expands jurisdiction to clean energy manufacturing, clarifies transmission line project siting, strengthens roles with tribes and expands opportunities for public input. HB 1812 - Rep. Fitzgibbon

  • Apprenticeship Funding & Permeable Pathways - Ensures access to the Washington College Grant financial aid for apprentices, requires colleges to provide credit equivalency for RSI, and funds a neutral party study of apprenticeship to degree pathways and apprenticeship funding in Washington.  - E2SSB 5764- Sen. Randall

  • State Registered Apprenticeship & Council - Establishes sector-based platforms to support apprenticeship, creates three grant programs for JATCs to apply to for equipment, instructional technologies and apprentices supports, and establishes an apprentice retention study and report on opportunities to expand apprenticeship utilization, among other things.  E2SSB 5600 - Sen. Keiser

  • Opportunity Scholarship - Includes an expansion of eligibility to the Opportunity Scholarship to apprentices in state registered apprenticeship programs - SB 5797/HB 1805 - Sen. Liias/Rep. Paul

  • Career & College Pathway Grants - Establishes a WA Career & College Pathways Innovation Challenge Program to be administered by WSAC; grants to local partnership for innovative strategies to increase postsecondary attainment, including state registered apprenticeship, for both youth and adults - SB 5789 - Sen. Randall
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  • Home
  • Affiliates
    • Regional Councils >
      • Central WA BTC
      • Columbia Pacific BTC
      • Longview/Kelso BTC
      • NE WA/N Idaho BTC
      • NW WA BTC
      • Olympia BTC
      • Olympic Peninsula BTC
      • Pierce County BTC
      • Seattle/King County BTC
    • Affiliated Unions >
      • Boilermakers
      • Bricklayers
      • Cement Masons
      • Elevator Constructors
      • Electrical Workers
      • Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Workers
      • Iron Workers
      • Laborers
      • Operating Engineers
      • Painters & Allied Trades
      • Plumbers & Pipefitters
      • Roofers
      • Sheet Metal Workers
      • Teamsters
    • Affiliated Associations >
      • WA State Association of Electrical Workers
      • WA State Association of the UA
      • Iron Workers DC
      • IUPAT - DC 5
      • Washington/N Idaho DC Laborers
      • Jt Council of Teamsters No. 28
      • Regional Council of SMART
  • Apprenticeship & Training
  • Political Action
    • Candidates
    • State Issues
    • Federal Issues
    • Construction Labor Caucus
  • Community
    • Scholarship
    • CLUB
  • Convention
    • 2021 Convention
    • 2019 Convention
  • About Us
    • Officers