YOU COULD SAY that union involvement runs in the family of Rick Larsen. The US congressional representative for the second district outlined some of his family affiliations with unions when he spoke at a people breakfast during Council 2’s convention in Wenatchee in June.

Rick Larsen speaks at PEOPLE breakfast

Ryan Larsen

Among them:

• His brother Ryan, who introduced Larsen at the breakfast, is a Senior Planner for Snohomish County and is a member of Local 109E.
• Their father, who is now retired, was an active union member for the 33 years in which he worked for the Snohomish County PUD. Larsen is one of eight children.

“Having the wage and benefit package you can get as a member of a union helped put us through school and college and put clothes on our back and food on our table,” Larsen said. His father, and their family, also benefited from one of the major successes of the labor movement — worker safety, he added.

• His two sisters are teachers and, as such, members of unions.
• His uncle was a meat cutter and member of ufcw Local 44.

"When you go to a family reunion, you better have a good story to tell about the benefits of unions," Larsen said.

Discussing political issues, Larsen said, "We are a little behind in terms of fighting for working families. But with the Senate in Democratic control, we have an opportunity to take advantage of that and push an agenda that will support working families."

He added that the House of Representatives Republican majority would continue to push an agenda to oppose bargaining rights for workers and the ability to strike.

"That’s why it is critical you stay involved next year and in 2004.

"Your campaign helps make your candidates win."