The Seattle Times
by Elise Takahama
June 17, 2020
King County’s largest labor council voted Wednesday evening to expel the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG) from the organization, a decision pushed for by many protesters who have been demonstrating against police brutality and racism in recent weeks.
In an hourslong roll call vote, 45,435 Martin Luther King, Jr. County Labor Council delegates voted in favor of passing a motion approved May 20 by the executive board, effectively removing the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG) from the council — while 36,760 delegates voted against. SPOG had joined the labor council in 2014.
“It’s our responsibility to fight for all forms of justice,” labor council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Nicole Grant said in a statement. “In the Martin Luther King County Labor Council, we believe that there can be no justice without racial justice. Any union that is part of our labor council needs to be actively working to dismantle racism in their institution and society at large. Unfortunately, the Seattle Police Officer’s Guild has failed to do that work and are no longer welcome in our council.”