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.​

2026 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. 

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.

Get Involved

Stay connected with the happenings of the legislation session:
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Be in the Know

State Law
For current state law, access the Revised Codes of Washington (RCW) and the Washington Administrative Code (WAC):
Revised Code of Washington
Washington Administrative Code
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

2025 Session Wins

  • Child Labor Safety - Increases oversight and protections of minors in the workforce, and both modifies and increases penalties for violations of child labor laws. HB 1644/SB 5756 - Rep. Fosse/Sen. Stanford

  • Responsible Bidder Criteria - Modifies the responsible bidder criteria for public works projects by strengthening education and compliance around apprentice utilization. HB 1549/SB 5476 - Rep. Fosse/Sen. Hasegawa

  • High Hazard Prevailing Wage - Requires contractors at high hazard facilities to explicitly notify apprentices of their occupation and wage rates, prohibits apprentices from working outside of their application occupations, and requires that workers in these facilities be paid at least the rate required for skilled journeypersons. HB 1173/SB 5447 - Rep. Bronoske/Sen. Saldana

  • Workers' Compensation Time-Loss - Modifies the Workers' Comp. Time-Loss formula, by standardizing payments between married workers without dependent children and unmarried workers with dependent children. HB 1788/SB 5548 - Rep. Richards/Sen. Shewmake



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  • Home
  • Affiliates
    • Regional Councils >
      • Central WA BTC
      • Columbia Pacific BTC
      • Longview/Kelso BTC
      • NW WA BTC
      • NE WA/N Idaho BTC
      • Olympic Peninsula BTC
      • Seattle/King County BTC
      • South Sound BCTC
    • 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
      • Certified Electrical Workers of WA
    • Affiliate Login
  • Apprenticeship & Training
  • Legislative & Political Action
    • Candidates
  • Community
    • Scholarship
    • CLUB
  • Convention
    • 2025 Convention
    • 2023 Convention
    • 2021 Convention
    • 2019 Convention
  • About Us
    • Officers