john,
Here is your weekly news from the Texas Labor Movement.
|
Leonard Aguilar Elected as Next Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer
|
We’re proud and happy to welcome Leonard Aguilar as the next Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas AFL-CIO, following his unanimous election by the state federation’s Executive Board.
Aguilar will begin his new job Monday. He succeeds Montserrat Garibay, whom we know is up to great things already in the U.S. Department of Education.
The Texas AFL-CIO has worked with Brother Aguilar for years on matters involving plumbing, the larger Building Trades movement, and our broader legislative work. We have always counted him as a friend and we look forward to working with him.
The state labor federation sent out this news release.
|
Art Display Celebrates Women ‘Putting It All on the Line’
|
On International Women’s Day in 2021, the Texas AFL-CIO building sported something new — giant portraits of two outstanding union women, representing many, many more who have shown courage, know-how and persistence in disaster after disaster.
In a vibrant display of public art, the state federation headquarters at 1106 Lavaca St. is featuring 13-foot-tall artistic renderings of two union women who have worked heroically through the COVID-19 pandemic. The works at our south and east doors by Austin artist Sarah Wilson are part of her project called Essentials that honors women who have risked their lives to keep communities safe.
The larger-than-life portraits are of Selena Xie, President of the Austin EMS Association, and Marilyn Holmes-Alvarado, Executive Board Officer for Paratransit North of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1091. They are among 15 women set to appear on Austin buildings under a program sponsored by the Dougherty Arts Center.
|
Huge Wins for Working People! American Rescue Plan Passed, PRO Act Goes to Senate
|
Passage of the $1.9 trillion poverty-attacking stimulus legislation and U.S. House approval of the PRO Act mark mammoth wins for working families.
The relief includes $1,400 payments to tens of millions of Americans who need another financial boost after a year of the pandemic and will extend payments of $300 a week to working people who have lost jobs through no fault of their own into early September. It will accelerate vaccinations, make the Affordable Care Act even more affordable for those who need to buy their own insurance, and help schools, states and other governmental entities cope with the economic travails brought on by closures and suspensions.
All Texas Democrats voted for the measure while all Republicans opposed it.
U.S. House passage of the PRO Act, which would remove one-sided barriers to workers who want to speak up together through a labor union, was bipartisan.
All Texas Republicans voted “no”; the only Texas Democrat — in fact, the only Democrat in the nation — to vote against the PRO Act was U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo. Cuellar has opposed the measure in the past, so his vote came as no surprise, but that doesn’t make it any less profoundly disappointing. Cuellar represents CD 28, where nearly one-quarter of his constituents and one-third of the children live in poverty. Unions could be a lifeline for many families looking for better lives, but Cuellar chose the side of monied interests who despise organized workforces.
|
Essential Workers Postponed Again on Texas Vaccine Priorities; Their Risks Not Rewarded
|
The decision by Texas to expand the groups eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations to anyone over age 50 rather than essential workers goes against federal recommendations and leaves younger workers in the lurch, the Dallas Morning News reports.
Essential workers interact with the public on a regular basis — think supermarket workers, bus drivers, airline workers and others who make your life go — and have taken on additional risks to serve Texas during the pandemic. The group of Texans over age 50 seems like more of a mixed bag in terms of risk. From the start of the pandemic a year ago, the data have shown that by far the largest health risks involve people 65 or over, a group already eligible for vaccines.
The Dallas Morning News quotes Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy on the decision:
Texas has offered early shots to frontline health care workers, nursing home residents, elderly people and adults with chronic health conditions. The state is one of several that has bucked federal recommendations to prioritize worker in the food service, manufacturing and transit sectors, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Industry groups and unions have pushed to prioritize workers at heightened risk of exposure to the virus on the job.
“There’s really big swaths of people who haven’t been included in vaccination and they are still going to work every day so that we can have groceries, so that we can travel,” Texas AFL-CIO president Rick Levy said. “Our rhetoric that these folks are heroes is not matching with the state’s actions, which is leaving them to fend for themselves.”
|
Texas AFL-CIO Shares Infographic - What Has Texas Leadership Done?
|
The U.S. Congress in Washington D.C. acted: Millions of Texans will soon get cash relief, stronger Unemployment Insurance, accelerated vaccine delivery, help for struggling families with children, and even a long-overdue fix for multi-employer pension plans. By and large, your local government acted: Local officials continue to provide good information and hands-on service to their communities.
But our state leadership in Austin? Zilch! Bupkis! Nada!
The state legislature has its first chance since the pandemic began to act, but so far the leadership bills leave workers out.
|
SEIU Texas Holds Vigil - 1 Year Anniversary
|
Healthcare workers in El Paso and Corpus held a vigil to mark the one-year anniversary of COVID-19 and honor the lives lost on the frontlines.
via SEIU TX:
"Many of our healthcare workers have paid the ultimate price and sacrificed so much to help our communities during this pandemic. We CANNOT forget their efforts and we MUST pay, respect and protect them adequately! "
|
Texas AFT - Day of Action on March 15th
|
Across the state on March 15, educators and school employees will take part in a Day of Action, drawing attention to school funding and the Texas Legislature.
Normally, public school employees from across the state would gather at the Texas Capitol to advocate for our schools, ourselves, and our students. Given our pandemic reality, that's not an option this year.
Instead, Texas AFT is asking you to join events in your area to raise your voice and make sure lawmakers hear from educators and school staff on the need for prioritized, fully funded public education.
Enter your ZIP code to find an event near you >>
|
AFL-CIO Signals Support to Nix Senate Filibuster
|
AFL-CIO on Thursday called for the Senate to abolish the filibuster if it prevents Democrats from moving forward with a pro-worker agenda.
“For decades, working people have paid the price for corporate-first government,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “Time and again, the Senate’s arcane rules have been used to keep working people from claiming the basic rights and dignities that we’ve earned.
The labor group’s executive council wrote in a statement that the House-passed PRO Act gives Senate Republicans the chance to show if they are ready to work for workers. But, they noted, the filibuster could get in the way of enacting a "Workers First Agenda."
|
Song of the Week - "Finest Worksong" - R.E.M.
|
Have a great weekend...After all, we fought for it.
|
|
