In a major victory for working people, Washington state lawmakers have passed groundbreaking legislation that helps protect private-sector collective bargaining rights if federal labor protections are weakened.
The new law comes amid growing uncertainty surrounding federal labor rights and safeguards those rights at the state level. It was passed by the Washington State Senate and signed into law in March 2026.
HB 2471 creates a contingency system that would go into effect if the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) becomes unable to function and federal preemption is no longer in place. Under the law, the Washington Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) is authorized to oversee union elections and adjudicate unfair labor practice claims for private-sector workers.
The passage of this bill represents the culmination of a year-long grassroots effort, driven in part by IAM Local 289 member Matt Hanson, who helped champion the idea from concept to passage.
“I have been pushing this idea of state-level protection of our federal labor rights for a year,” said Hanson. “I didn’t know how to turn an idea into law, but others in our IAM Union and at the Washington State Labor Council gave me the pieces when I needed them. Ultimately, we got the bill drafted, sponsored and passed—and it only took a year in a short session. Truly teamwork from the labor movement.”
The coordinated advocacy of labor allies and IAM members, including the Washington State Council of Machinists delegates who lobbied lawmakers in Olympia at their last meeting, moved the bill forward.
“A big thanks to the delegates of the Washington Machinists Council for lobbying for our bill,” said Hanson. “And a huge thanks to IAM District 751 Legislative and Political Director Donny Donovan for his invaluable guidance, District 160 Assistant and Directing Business Representative Luke Ackerson for his critical input on the details of the bill drafts, and District 160 Organizer Emery Wood for his crucial testimony in the house and senate labor committees.”
The precautionary legislation ensures that workers retain the right to organize, bargain collectively, and hold employers accountable if federal preemption is removed or ruled unconstitutional.
“I hope more states follow suit and enact legislation to protect workers in the event that the NLRB is unable to do its job,” said IAM District 751 Legislative and Political Director Donny Donovan. “We’ve seen our labor rights tested at the federal level, and this is the most proactive thing we could advocate for, to protect our members and our rights as workers.”
“It was absolutely vital to get this bill passed,” said IAM Union Washington State Council President Steve Miller. “We can’t be sure that the labor laws in place at the federal level will always be enforced or even exist. This law safeguards the laws that workers depend on to stay safe and have a voice in their workplace. This is a huge win for working families in Washington, because our labor rights will not be at the mercy of federal politics.”
“IAM members across Washington state played a vital role in advancing this legislation,” said IAM Union Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez. “When working people stand together, they can turn ideas into action and deliver meaningful change. This is a proactive layer of protection and a powerful example of what union activism can achieve.”
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