Yes on I-1631

In November, Washington voters will determine the fate of ballot initiative 1631, a policy designed to protect our health and environment by pricing carbon and using the revenue to invest in clean energy, first nations, frontline communities, and workers.  Initiative 1631 is the culmination of over three years of grassroots efforts with communities and stakeholders all across the state.

The union’s role in this initiative:
For over two years, we have been a leader in a Climate Caucus within the King County Labor Council – a space where workers from many industries and trades talk about issues relating to climate change and jobs from a worker-centric perspective. In August 2017, UAW 4121 joined the steering committee of the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy, the coalition that wrote initiative 1631.

Under the leadership of women and people of color, the alliance for jobs and clean energy is a coalition of racial justice organizations, faith communities, physicians and public health advocates, labor unions, immigrant rights groups, science-policy advocates, businesses, farmworker rights advocates, and environmental organizations.  Because environmental justice cannot be achieved without racial justice, the alliance, has been intentional in having honest conversations centering the needs of black and brown communities in the policy-making process.

Now the initiative is on the ballot, and we’re racing against the clock to make sure all voters know that this policy will protect our air, water, forests, and communities by charging a fee on carbon to large corporate polluters.

Meanwhile, the opposition campaign is pumped with millions of dollars from out-of-state oil and gas corporations, and the consultants they hired have won 90% of their campaigns.

This is why we are writing. We encourage every one of our members to:
1. Register to vote in WA state – the online deadline is October 8, in person deadline is is October 29.

2.  Learn more about the policy, here.
3.  Make time to volunteer. Join other UAW 4121 members for phone-banking or on-the-ground canvassing.  So far members will be canvassing on October 13 @ 1pm and October 27 @ 1pm.  To find out more information, email the climate justice workgroup at climatejustice@uaw4121.org.

4.  And, if you can vote in WA, vote YES on 1631!

In Solidarity,

Theresa Aliwarga
Douglas Avella-Castro
Dianne Baumann
Andrea Canini
Anthony Castanza
Monica Cortes Viharo
Meg Drouhard
Kristen Garofali
Katya Kolesova
Dylan Mayer
Mandy McCourt
Kristin McCowan
Elizabeth Mills
David Parsons
Shua Sanchez
Maddie Smith
Sam Sumpter
Arash Tarkhan
Judy Twedt