Union and political leaders discussed proposed laws they say are hostile to workers -- including a minimum-wage cap and the repeal of workplace ergonomics -- at the Washington State Labor Council's yearly conference.
"Class warfare has been declared upon us," council lobbyist Robby Stern said, stirring up raucous cheers from the 300 people in the audience.
Across Olympia on the Capitol Campus, Senate Majority Leader Jim West said he wasn't impressed with the rhetoric.
"What labor's agenda has done over the years, unfortunately, is cost the state jobs," said West, R-Spokane. "This whole thing of class warfare is absurd."
Gov. Gary Locke said he appreciated the work unions do.
"I believe in unions, and I am proud of our state's record," Locke said. "You fight to maintain strong labor standards, increase workplace safety, and you are the voice for the working poor."
He vowed to defend the ergonomics rule, which has fanned intense opposition from businesses that say implementing it would be costly.
"I want to reassure you that I will veto any bill that repeals the ergonomics rule," Locke said to a standing ovation.
He also made it clear that he opposes the Republican-backed "voluntary rule" for complying with the ergonomics standard.
Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, scoffed at the idea of a rule being voluntary.
"There isn't such a thing as a voluntary rule," Keiser said. "It's a rule, or it's not."
West and other Republicans -- along with business groups -- argue that the ergonomics rules, along with other factors such as the state's high minimum wage, make the state less attractive to business.
"Our priority this session is to improve the economy, create jobs," West said. "We don't care if they're union jobs or nonunion jobs, so long as they're jobs that let workers support their families."
Locke touched on how Washington's economy is struggling in the face of a state budget shortfall, estimated at $2.4 billion.
The state must trim costs, but it also can squeeze out revenue if it nixes some tax exemptions, said Locke, who has vowed not to raise general taxes.
He supports a House bill that would create a citizen commission to review exemptions, credits, deductions and other ways of paying lower taxes.
"We need to look into closing outdated tax exemptions and loopholes to increase revenues," Locke said.
Prominent Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Lisa Brown, House Speaker Frank Chopp and House Appropriations Chairwoman Helen Sommers, all called for some new source of money to offset cuts to state services.
But they stopped short of calling for a specific tax increase.
Diane McDaniel, the labor council's political coordinator, said more than 600,000 workers belong to unions in the state, making labor a political force to be reckoned with.
"We are no longer a paper tiger, we are no longer a sleeping giant," McDaniel said.
McDaniel applauded Locke's signing several pro-labor bills into law, including one that gives state employees collective bargaining power and one that lets workers use leave time to care for ill family members.
But she disagreed with Locke's backing what she called an "all-cuts" budget in which the shortfall is covered by slashing jobs, programs and services without generating new tax revenue.
"Too many people get hurt," McDaniel said.
McDaniel implored the audience to vote against what she deemed anti-labor bills moving through the Legislature, including the effort to repeal ergonomics rules and cap the minimum wage.
Keiser bemoaned how the state Senate shifted from being a one-Democrat majority to a one-Republican majority.
"We got some good stuff through last year," Keiser said. "This year, I'll tell you, we're on the dark side."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
www.wslc.org
www.governor.wa.gov