This newsletter is a 4-minute read.
|
Hi john, here's your weekly Texas labor update:
|
ONE BIG THING: KIDS & TEACHERS OVER BILLIONAIRES (AND THOSE THAT CAVE TO THEM)
ONE BIG THING: UNION MEMBERS HIT THE TEXAS CAPITOL
|
This past Saturday, the Texas AFL-CIO, Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT), teachers, public school supporters, and anti-voucher elected officials gathered to unveil a giant banner directly across from the Governor’s Mansion right before he signed the private school voucher scam.
“The governor bought himself a Legislature and it’s our kids and our educators who’ll pay the bill — as always,” said Zeph Capo, president of Texas AFT. “Every laid-off educator and shuttered neighborhood school is Greg Abbott’s handiwork, and the only way back from this self-made disaster is for the millions of Texans who oppose this voucher scam to give him his pink slip at the ballot box.”
Despite signing the voucher scam, NO public school funding package has made it through both chambers of the Legislature. While Texas public schools are laying off educators, closing campuses, and cutting vital services, charter schools and elite private schools stand to cash in from vouchers
Ask your Senator: Where is the public education funding you promised?
Greg Abbott may think he’s won — that he’s finally paid off his campaign donors. But Texas parents, educators, students, and communities will not give up!
Texas union members across industries have been hitting the Capitol this session, making sure that workers’ voices are heard from our lawmakers. Just this week:
-
Donnie Jolly, president of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1338 (Dallas), will testify today against House Bill 3187 (HB 3187), which would gut funding for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).
-
Donny Mayo, business representative for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 66 (Houston), testified in support of Senate Bill 482 (SB 482), which would help protect utility workers on the job. The bill passed out of committee!
-
Aloki Shah, president of Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 6154, testified against Senate Bill 2446 (SB 2446), which would tie the hands of our local mental health authorities. The bill was left pending in committee.
-
Multiple union members and retirees testified in support of House Bill 886 (HB 886), which would give a 13th check to retirees under the Employees Retirement System (ERS). Some of them included: Jerome Wald, retiree and member of the Texas State Employees Union (TSEU) since 1987, Joan Barash, retiree and member of TSEU, and Richard “Rick” Farias, member of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Retirees Chapter 12.
-
And many more!
We fight for a fair shot for Texas workers, and we expect our lawmakers to as well. Stay tuned for more legislative updates as we head into the tail end of session.
|
📜 This Week in Labor History…
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) was chartered on May 9, 1916 by the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Learn more.
🏃 Labor on the Move
Congratulations to these labor union members who won their elections in Nederland on May 3! Jeff Darby, member of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and Texas AFL-CIO Executive Board for District 2, was elected as Mayor, and Britton Jones, member of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 13-423, won for Councilmember in Ward II. Labor wins!
💐 In Memory
Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 277 mourns the tragic passing of our union sister, Nicole Moncrief. As a beloved and passionate member of the IRC Abilene SAS team, she helped refugees get connected to critical services and find a place in the Abilene community.
National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 505 (El Paso) mourns the loss of two retired Letter Carriers:
-
Maury Feinstein, 85, beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, great grandfather and decorated military veteran passed away on March 18.
-
Dora Carrillo, a devoted servant, veteran, and beloved member of the El Paso community, passed away on March 25. Dora proudly served in the United States Navy as a Radioman Third Class and retired on October 1, 1993. She continued her commitment to public service through her work with the United States Postal Service until her retirement.
Our hearts go out to their friends and family.
🏃 Labor on the Move
Eddie Hall is retiring as National President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) effective May 1. In accordance with BLET bylaws, First Vice President Mark Wallace will become National President, and VP Gary Best was elected First Vice President.
Jose Jimenez has joined the Texas AFL-CIO team as our new Rio Grande Valley Field Organizer. Jose most recently worked as an organizer for the San Antonio Alliance. Welcome, Jose!
Nimrod Funk and Michael Buchanan, members of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 181 in Austin, recently retired. Congratulations on your years of service!
💐 In Memory
Rex Pope, a member of UA Local 100, passed away on Apr. 17 at the age of 83. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Plumbers & Steamfitters UA Local Union 100 Scholarship Program.
|
SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS
|
🚨 Take Action
Send an email to the Texas Senate and tell them to pass the public school funding package they promised! We can’t let our public schools be forgotten. Time is running out! Email your legislator HERE.
Call your Member of Congress and tell them to co-sponsor the Protect America’s Workforce Act, H.R.2550! All Texas Democrats have co-sponsored the bill. Call your Member HERE.
Donate to support legal representation for a member of International Rescue Committee Workers Unite Texas, OPEIU Local 277 who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and abruptly ripped away from their home, family, livelihood, and community.
Donate to the AFGE Federal Employee Defense Fund to fund legal action and other strategies to defend American public employees.
Donate to the Support Drafthouse Workers' Strike Fund to help participants of a one-day strike recoup their lost wages.
🚨 Take Action
Call your Member of Congress and tell them to co-sponsor the Protect America’s Workforce Act, H.R.2550! Texas members who are already co-sponsors include Reps. Greg Casar (TX-35), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Al Green (TX-09), Julie Johnson (TX-32), and Marc Veasey (TX-33). Call your Member HERE.
Send an email to State Representatives and tell them to end the attacks on Texas construction workers! Texas lawmakers shouldn't be trying to take a tool out of our toolbox — leave Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) alone. Send your message HERE.
Donate to support legal representation for a member of International Rescue Committee Workers Unite Texas, Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 277 who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and abruptly ripped away from their home, family, livelihood, and community.
Donate to the AFGE Federal Employee Defense Fund to fund legal action and other strategies to defend American public employees.
|
📆 Events
Friday, May 10: Stamp Out Hunger with NALC
Join the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) on May 10 for the 2025 Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive! Simply leave your donation of nonperishable food in a bag near your mailbox on the second Saturday in May, and your letter carrier will do the rest. Details here.
Tuesday, May 13: SMART Women's Committee webinar on work-life balance
Sheet Metal Air Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) members: Register for the Women’s Committee for a webinar on work-life balance, featuring licensed professional counselor Jamie White! Participants will discuss the concept of work/life balance and learn tools that SMART leaders and members can use to manage a busy life. Details here.
Wednesday, May 14, 21, 28: Labor Notes Race and Labor Online Workshops
Labor Notes is hosting a three-part workshop to build solidarity by exploring how our differences are used to divide us. Registration for this three-part workshop costs from $10 to $25. Details here.
🇺🇸 Federal Workers: Stay Informed
Trump’s attacks on federal workers are moving at a breakneck speed. If you’re an AFGE member or federal worker, you can stay up to date and get critical questions answered at AFGE’s new one stop shop: afge.org/AFGEStrong
⭐ Texas AFL-CIO 2025 Constitutional Convention: A Labor Movement as Big as Texas!
Registration is open for the Texas AFL-CIO 2025 Constitutional Convention, happening June 26-28 at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk.
Sponsorship opportunities are available! Details HERE.
📆 Events
Friday, Apr. 25 in Florence: 9th Annual Chad Young Memorial Shoot
Hosted by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 540, OPEIU Local 277, and International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 21, join the annual Shoot for a Cure benefitting March of Dimes. Details HERE.
Saturday, Apr. 26 in Houston: IUEC Local 31 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Mobile Welding Facility
Celebrate IUEC Local 31’s new mobile welding facility with a BBQ lunch. A National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) Fair will also take place. Details HERE.
Saturday, Apr. 26 in Waco: Hands Off Our Heroes, Save Our Civil Servants Rally
Join AFGE Local 1822 for a rally to oppose the Trump/Musk cuts to veterans’ care and defend VA workers! Details HERE.
Monday, Apr. 28: Workers Memorial Day
Each day, more than 340 workers are killed and more than 6,000 suffer injury and illness because of dangerous working conditions that are preventable. Together on this Workers Memorial Day, we fight for our lives and confront attacks on safety and health agencies that keep our workplaces safe.
Tuesday, Apr. 29 in El Paso: El Paso Labor Town Hall
Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy and Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Aguilar are hitting the road to hear from Texans about what the future of the Texas labor movement should look like. Details HERE.
Wednesday, Apr. 30: National Apprenticeship Day
A national day to showcase the success and value of Registered Apprenticeship programs, which develops a highly-skilled workforce to meet industry needs and creates pathways for career seekers to catapult into in-demand jobs.
Wednesday, Apr. 30 virtually: Virtual Public Video Relay Service (VRS) Interpreter Town Hall
A town hall for Video Relay Service (VRS) interpreters to discuss deteriorating working conditions. Details HERE.
Thursday, May 1: May Day
May Day, also called Workers' Day or International Workers' Day, is the day that commemorates the struggles and gains made by workers and the labor movement across the world.
📝 Applications & Programs:
🇺🇸 Federal Workers: Stay Informed
Trump’s attacks on federal workers are moving at a breakneck speed. If you’re an AFGE member or federal worker, you can stay up to date and get critical questions answered at AFGE’s new one stop shop: afge.org/AFGEStrong
⭐ Texas AFL-CIO 2025 Constitutional Convention: A Labor Movement as Big as Texas!
Registration is open for the Texas AFL-CIO 2025 Constitutional Convention, happening June 26-28 at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk.
|
Teamsters Local 767 members are coming together all week in DFW for their DRIVE Fight Club! They are collecting donations that will be used to push for pro-labor policies and support candidates who truly stand with working people! Photo courtesy Teamsters Local 767
Hospitality workers with UNITE HERE Local 23 met with Houston city leaders on Wednesday to push for a minimum wage increase. Most hospitality workers in the Houston area currently earn about $16 to $17 an hour. They’re advocating for a $23 minimum wage for hotel, airport, and convention center workers. Solidarity, y’all!
|
Did you enjoy this newsletter? Let us know and submit photos, events, and other Texas labor news to [email protected]!
|
In Solidarity,
Team Texas AFL-CIO
|
|
