Today Is the Last Day to Early Vote

Let's make a simple plan in case you haven't voted yet.

1. Check Out Our Labor Endorsements

2. Find Your Polling Location

3. Don't Forget to Bring Your I.D.

4. Watch a Quick Video on Why Voting Matters.

Labor Continues to Knock Thousands of Doors. Find a Block Walk!

Find a block walk in your area. There are several taking place this weekend.  

For labor activists, voting and making sure family and friends vote are second nature. The next step is to participate in Get Out the Vote work with folks we might not know personally.

That's where block-walking comes in. Several locations in Texas are going to hold union block-walks this weekend, after the conclusion of early voting and ahead of the Primary Election Day vote next Tuesday, March 3.

If you are thinking of diving in for the first time, Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Montserrat Garibay passes along a couple quotations from participants in the Ruth Ellinger Labor Leaders School who recently did door-to-door work on behalf of COPE-backed Congressional District 28 candidate Jessica Cisneros. 

"The personal touch of canvassing the pavement for a candidate lends to the humanizing of the person running for the position," Renda Marsh of Transport Workers Union Local 556 said. "It allows the community to feel that the connection is real."

Andrew Espinoza of the International Association of Machinists Local 2340 states, "Block walking was a nerve-racking experience for me, especially it being my first time. I didn't know what to expect, who to expect, or when to expect it. I was nervous about the reaction of the person(s) whose door we were knocking on, even though it was to spread knowledge about the importance of voting and presenting options in different candidates. But now that I've had time to think about it, it did so much more than made me nervous. It prepares that young Union mind for things not considered before. When I walk up to a stranger and just start speaking to them about a certain topic; whether it be political, community based, or about my Union, I am looking at it the same way of walking into a board room with strangers on the company's side ready to negotiate for the betterment of my membership, or sitting with a congressman or senator whom I don't know, and to speak to them about a topic that sits heavy on the hearts of fellow Union members or my community. That nervousness, that uncomfortable feeling, builds up my confidence to speak to anyone, and helps me adapt better to adverse situations."

Castro Visit to Striking ASARCO Workers Draws Appreciation

Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro visited striking ASARCO workers in Arizona, drawing a thank-you tweet from the Pima Area Labor Federation. The strike against Grupo Mexico, which also involves unions in Amarillo, is in its fifth month:

America’s Bad Paid Sick Leave Policy Could Make the Coronavirus Outbreak Worse

America’s failure to guarantee paid sick leave for its workers could combine with the coronavirus to pose a serious danger to public health in the coming weeks.

The Covid-19 illness, caused by the coronavirus, is here and likely here to stay for a while. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning people to be prepared for major disruptions in their daily lives. That could mean staying home for days if they get sick.

But that is easier said than done for millions of American workers. Employees in the service industry especially, like food workers or personal care assistants, are much less likely than their peers in more lucrative fields to have paid time off if they get sick. But they also make less money in general, meaning a lost day of work hurts their families’ budgets more. That gives them a strong motivation to go into work — even if they’re not feeling well.

And because these workers come in close contact with the rest of humanity, they are a potent vector for spreading contagions, particularly those as infectious as coronaviruses. It’s a recipe for making a bad outbreak even worse, all because America hasn’t decided to guarantee paid sick leave for all workers.

Black Women in the Labor Movement Have Long Defended American Workers

Black leaders, activists, and organizers formed the backbone of the U.S. labor movement. Even when the forces of structural racism and segregation sought to stifle their contributions, their resolve to fight for workers' rights alongside the cause of civil rights remained unshakable. Black women, in particular, have played an enormous role in the movement's legacy and development.

The Washerwomen of Jackson formed Mississippi's first labor union in 1866. Lucy Parsons, the anarchist firebrand, cofounded three influential radical unions in 20th-century Chicago. More recently, United Auto Workers (UAW) organizer Sanchioni Butler battled Nissan in a years-long campaign to organize Southern auto-plant workers. Along with so many others, these Black women have long been the bedrock of a workers' rights movement that has often tried to shut them out.

Corpus Christi Union Members Hold Citizenship Drive 

Union members worked with the Texas AFL-CIO citizenship campaign to sponsor an amazing citizenship drive at the CWA union hall.

Attaining citizenship is a journey. You have to earn it. But for too many citizenship hopefuls, that journey is much harder than it should be. Many people who live, work, create jobs, and pay taxes in this country are eligible for citizenship, yet lack of knowledge about how the process works, compounded by costly legal fees, can put the dream out of reach. That's where the Texas AFL-CIO Citizenship Campaign comes in to help. We explain the process, assist with completing the application, and help those who qualify.

Song of the Week - "Letter to My Countrymen" - Brother Ali

This is a letter to my countrymen

Not from a Democrat or a Republican

But one among you that's why you call me brother

Ain't scared to tell you we're in trouble 'cause I love you

Have A Great Weekend...After All, We Fought For It.