AFL-CIO president Liz Schuler urges mass organizing, worker-centered AI rules and election protection at WSLC convention
July 21, 2026 | General Interest TVW, Washington
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AFL-CIO President Liz Schuler delivered a keynote at the Washington State Labor Council convention in Wenatchee on July 11, urging union leaders to prioritize organizing, set rules for workplace technology and mobilize to protect the vote in 2026.
Schuler, who the AFL-CIO executive council elected president in 2021, told delegates the federation had met a prior goal to organize 1 million new members in three years and had reset an ambitious target: "Organize, organize, organize," she said, urging members to recruit in growing industries such as tech, clean energy and care work.
Why it matters: Schuler argued that union growth is the main lever for boosting worker pay and influence, and she said the federation has begun to "rewrite the rules of the economy" by pushing for worker-centered policy and bargaining language. She also framed the federation as a national hub for negotiating protections as technology and artificial intelligence reshape jobs.
On technology, Schuler emphasized worker privacy and bargaining protections and urged unions to insist on a seat at implementation tables. "No, you can't surveil us in the bathroom," she said, summarizing a set of minimum demands the AFL-CIO has put forward around AI and workplace surveillance. She said the federation has created a Technology Institute and model bargaining language to help local unions negotiate protections and avoid being replaced or unfairly disciplined by algorithmic systems.
Schuler also described political work as central to labor's agenda. She called on unions to train election protectors and engage members at the grassroots level: the federation set a goal to train 50,000 election protectors to guard polling places and defend ballots. "If we can't make sure that our votes are counted, then everything is at risk," she said.
The speech included a presentation of the Elsie Schrader Women in Leadership Award. Schuler presented the 2026 award to Jane Hopkins of SEIU Healthcare 1199 Northwest for her work expanding apprenticeship pathways in health and behavioral health.
What happens next: Schuler's remarks set the tone for WSLC committees later in the week — including a legislative committee debate on AI principles noted by the convention chair — and underscore the federation's push to link organizing campaigns with bargaining language and political protection efforts.
(Quotes and attributions are taken from keynote remarks and the convention introduction.)
Schuler, who the AFL-CIO executive council elected president in 2021, told delegates the federation had met a prior goal to organize 1 million new members in three years and had reset an ambitious target: "Organize, organize, organize," she said, urging members to recruit in growing industries such as tech, clean energy and care work.
Why it matters: Schuler argued that union growth is the main lever for boosting worker pay and influence, and she said the federation has begun to "rewrite the rules of the economy" by pushing for worker-centered policy and bargaining language. She also framed the federation as a national hub for negotiating protections as technology and artificial intelligence reshape jobs.
On technology, Schuler emphasized worker privacy and bargaining protections and urged unions to insist on a seat at implementation tables. "No, you can't surveil us in the bathroom," she said, summarizing a set of minimum demands the AFL-CIO has put forward around AI and workplace surveillance. She said the federation has created a Technology Institute and model bargaining language to help local unions negotiate protections and avoid being replaced or unfairly disciplined by algorithmic systems.
Schuler also described political work as central to labor's agenda. She called on unions to train election protectors and engage members at the grassroots level: the federation set a goal to train 50,000 election protectors to guard polling places and defend ballots. "If we can't make sure that our votes are counted, then everything is at risk," she said.
The speech included a presentation of the Elsie Schrader Women in Leadership Award. Schuler presented the 2026 award to Jane Hopkins of SEIU Healthcare 1199 Northwest for her work expanding apprenticeship pathways in health and behavioral health.
What happens next: Schuler's remarks set the tone for WSLC committees later in the week — including a legislative committee debate on AI principles noted by the convention chair — and underscore the federation's push to link organizing campaigns with bargaining language and political protection efforts.
(Quotes and attributions are taken from keynote remarks and the convention introduction.)
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