Dallas Labor Takes On More
Dallas labor’s list of ongoing actions and campaigns continued to grow during our February 21 Central Labor Council meeting. Upcoming actions are listed below. Campaigns include saving jobs, raising wages, improving health care, and fighting cancer.
We will join the Communications Workers in a national call-in day to save call center jobs. We’ll back the Transport workers in their “American Airlines Should Care” campaign where employees and customers can register their complaints and suggestions about the airline at www.AAShouldCare.com. Along with the national federation, we will support the movement for Medicare for All. The Tarrant County Council and our chapter of Young Active Labor Leaders had already endorsed a town hall meeting on March 2. TSA workers at DFW Airport need help in getting their low-paying jobs upgraded. A special effort is underway to stop the Texas Legislature from blocking all efforts to get paid sick time for local government employees.
The council wished Nirav Sanghani, masterful leader of Texas New Era/Jobs with Justice, the best of luck as he leaves Dallas for Philadelphia. His replacement, Kara Sheehan, is committed to more even more community outreach.
Rick Levy, President of the Texas AFL-CIO, attended the meeting. He has expressed his gratitude for the smooth relations between the state federation and our Dallas council. Our work has been noted far beyond the county and the state. Dallas labor leader Mark York will be attending the National AFL-CIO Advisory Council meeting March 8-10 in Washington DC. He received a “thank you” letter and commemorative union flag from striking workers in Australia. We posted many photos on our Facebook page.
Election Action Begins
The Dallas AFL-CIO, under the direction of Political Director Lorraine Montemayor, is broadly acknowledged as an election powerhouse. The February meeting was jammed with candidates seeking labor’s help in the 2019 and 2020 elections. There were so many that they had to be limited to three minutes each.
Sister Montemayor announced that our rigorous screening process is set for March 2. Unionists volunteering to help are asked to come at 8 AM for the all-day process. Questionnaires have already gone out. Working families rely on labor’s careful screening process.
More Actions Coming Up
Keep up with the Oakland Teachers’ Strike on Facebook.
Feb 23: Congressional recess ending. Visit your congressperson!
Feb 23, 12:30P: “Hands Off Venezuela” rally on the grassy knoll, corner Commerce & Houston
Feb 23, 2P: Forum on Impact of Charter Schools at El Centro West Campus, 3330 N Hampton
Feb 23, 6P: Kenneth Williams speaks on “"Why the Republican Party is Determined to Rule as a Minority" at Roma's Pizza and Italian Restaurant 7033 Greenville Ave in Dallas
Feb 27: Communications Workers Day of Action. Feb 27 Statewide Day of Action. Call representatives at 1-888-701-5344 to support HB701 to end outsourcing of call center Jobs
Feb 27, 9A: Action group forming at 2218 E Main in Grand Prairie. 214-942-4236
March 2, 9A-3P: Working Families Candidate screening at 1408 N Washington. Contact Lmontemayor.dallasaflcio@gmail.com
Mar 2, 6P: Town Hall meeting on Medicare for All at Greenland Hills United Methodist Church 5835 Penrose Ave, Dallas, Texas 75206
Mar 3, 2P: 2019 Labor’s float in Mardi Gras Oak Cliff Parade on West Davis. RSVP to lmontemayor.dallasaflcio@gmail.com
Mar 8: International Women’s Day
Mar 11, 6A: Buses leave 334 Centre Street for Texas AFT Lobby Day
Apr 5: Texas Labor Against Cancer “Shoot for a Cure” at Greystone Castle Sporting Club in Mingus, TX. Contact mark@shootforacure.us
May 4, 7:30: Registration for “USA’s l8th Annual Dallas/Ft Worth Sporting Clays Shoot” at Elm Fork Shooting Sports, 10751 Luna Road, Dallas 75220. Contact Chris Piltz at 203-767-0745 or chris@unionsportsmen.org