Resolution on Using Union Cast, Crew, and Services in Political Advertising Campaigns

June 18, 2026

WHEREAS, all union workers deserve to be paid fairly for the work they perform; and

WHEREAS, all MLK Labor Council delegates pledge to patronize and utilize union services whenever and wherever possible; and

WHEREAS, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 488 (Local 488) represent workers in the State of Washington engaged in the production of traditional advertising campaigns and materials, including but not limited to radio, television, and digital commercials; and

WHEREAS, political campaigns traditionally utilize services similar to those listed above as part of their campaign materials; and

WHEREAS, endorsements from the MLK Labor Council and its union affiliates are highly sought after by political candidates, campaigns, and initiatives; and

WHEREAS, the MLK Labor Council has already made its 2026 political endorsements; and

WHEREAS, the MLK Labor Council believes that political campaigns which seek labor endorsements should “walk the walk” instead of just “talk the talk;” and

WHEREAS, in 2024 the Washington State Labor Council adopted Resolution 2024.19 which encouraged the state Central Labor Councils to adopt policies similar to this resolution as conditions for their future political endorsements;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that MLK Labor will ask in its future candidate questionnaires whether the interested party will use union labor for their campaign events, media, political advertising, and published materials, including actors, musicians, dancers, singers, stagehands, A/V workers, lighting, sound, staging, motion picture technicians, writers, and printers; and be it further

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that MLK Labor will provide information supplied by its affiliate media-production unions on how to utilize their contracts to the candidates and initiatives endorsed for the 2026 cycle and to all future campaigns and ballot initiatives seeking an endorsement from the MLK Labor Council; and be it finally

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, MLK Labor will encourage its union affiliates to adopt similar questions as part of their candidate questionnaires.