The Washington State Labor Council is the Washington branch of the AFL-CIO. It represents all AFL-CIO affiliates in state politics, and is major interest group, particularly for Democratic politicians. The organization was split when several national unions broke from the AFL-CIO and formed the Change to Win Coalition, taking their state and local affiliates with them. Rick Bender has been the President of the State Labor Council since 1993. Other prominent leaders have included the late Lou Stewart and Alan Link, the organization's current Secretary-Treasurer (equivalent to Executive Director).