Labor unions back Washington Measure I-522 to label GMOs
Labor organizations in Washington
are endorsing a statewide ballot initia-
tive that would require labeling of ge-
netically engineered foods starting
July 1, 2015.
I-522, on the Nov. 5 ballot, would
require food offered for retail sale in
Washington be labeled “genetically
engineered” if it contains genetically
engineered foods. That’s the law in 64
other countries, but in the United
States, consumers are usually in the
dark about whether the foods they
buy contain genetically-engineered
ingredients.
“We really need to know what
we’re eating,” said Painters Local 10
President Roben White, a Vancouver
resident who is active in the campaign
to pass I-522.
Unlike traditional techniques of
plant breeding like hybridization, ge-
netic engineering involves the inser-
tion into plants of genetic material
from other plants, animals, bacteria,
and viruses — combinations that can-
not occur in nature. Most genetically
engineered crops are designed to
withstand herbicides and pesticides,
and I-522 backers say that’s resulting
in increased use of those toxic chemi-
Leavitt, Burkman, Topper,
McEnerny-Ogle get labor
backing for City Council
cals. Herbicide-resistant weeds have
emerged, infesting farms and road-
sides, and complicating weed control
for farmers and encouraging use of
increasingly toxic and more danger-
ous herbicides. Herbicides can dam-
age soil vitality, contaminate drinking
water, and pose health risks to con-
sumers and farmworkers.
Worker safety is one reason unions
have come out in favor of the labeling
initiative. At the July 2013 convention
of the Washington State Labor Coun-
cil, AFL-CIO, delegates passed a res-
olution of support for I-522 in part be-
cause farm workers and their families
are sickened by exposure. Other la-
bor organizations have endorsed the
initiative, including Inland Boatman’s
Union (IBU), Puget Sound Region;
International Brotherhood of Electri-
cal Workers (IBEW) locals 46 and 76;
International Longshore and Ware-
house Union (ILWU) Local 52 and
the ILWU Puget Sound Regional
Council; United Farm Workers; and
the Washington State Nurses Associa-
tion.
On the other side, chemical com-
panies have poured $17 million into
the campaign to defeat the measure,
including $4.2 million from Mon-
santo and $3.2 million from Dupont
Pioneer. Opponents are outspending
supporters by about four-to-one.
Ballots are scheduled to be mailed
out Oct. 18, and must be postmarked
on or before Nov. 5 to be counted.
If the initiative passes, Washington
would be the first state in the nation to
pass such a measure. California voters
narrowly rejected a similar measure
last year after a $46 million campaign
by opponents.
VANCOUVER — The Southwest
Washington Central Labor Council
and Columbia Pacific Building and
Construction Trades Council have en-
dorsed the re-election of Vancouver
Mayor Tim Leavitt in the Nov. 5 gen-
eral election. Leavitt is seeking a sec-
ond four-year term. He is being chal-
lenged by City Councilor Bill Turlay
in the nonpartisan race.
The two labor bodies also en-
dorsed the re-election of Vancouver
City Councilor Jack Burkman, as
well as the election of Alishia Topper
and Anne McEnerny-Ogle. Topper is
challenging long-time incumbent
Jeanne Stewart, and McEnerny-Ogle
is seeking the seat now held by
Jeanne Harris. Harris is not seeking
re-election.
Neither council took action on any
of the six advisory measures put on
the ballot by the Clark County Board
of Commissioners.
Three of the measures ask voters if
they favor an Interstate 5 replacement
bridge, a new bridge to the east of the
county, or a new bridge to the west of
the county.
Two of the advisory votes will ask
if commissioners should oppose light
rail and bus-rapid transit projects.
The final vote will ask voters if
they want to limit use of fireworks to
July 4.
All six advisory votes are nonbind-
ing.
Ballots are scheduled to be mailed
out Oct. 18, and must be postmarked
on or before Nov. 5 to be counted.
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NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
OCTOBER 18, 2013