Principal officer Mark York bragged on the Dallas AFL-CIO leadership team at the beginning of the Central Labor Council meeting on September 15. A standing ovation followed. As different union leaders made their reports, one could see why.
SUPPORT THE MUSICIANS STRIKE
The leadoff speaker was Stewart Williams, President of the Fort Worth local of the American Federation of Musicians. On September 8, they took the courageous step of going on strike rather than lying down for continuous wage cuts from the Fort Worth Symphony. "It's not about just wages anymore, it's about dignity," he said.
[caption caption="Musicians President Stewart Williams was well received in Dallas"]
A quick passing of the hat and a match from the AFL-CIO netted $644 for the strikers' cause. That amount pushed them over $17,000 toward their initial $25,000 fund raising goal. The first question asked from the floor was "How can we help?"
What can you do?
- Listen to the musicians' stories on youtube
- Make a donation on-line
- Sign the petition to support FWSO musicians.
- Tweet your support @FWSOMusicians
- Show your support on their facebook page.
HELP KEEP YOUTH FROM PRISON
Elaine Adkison reported, "Project Phoenix took wings this week!" She is placing young first-time offenders into union apprenticeships to keep them from joining the school-to-prison pipeline. Trained in jurisprudence, Adkison brings Dallas judges and union leaders together to give young people a chance in life.[caption caption="Part of the Dallas AFL-CIO team: Kym Grant, Mark York, Lorraine Montemayor, and Elaine Adkison"]
ELECTIONS MATTER
Lorraine Montemayor, the AFL-CIO Political Director, announced that door-to-door canvassing begins on September 24th. Twice-weekly phone banking will begin that week as well. Everyone is asked to mobilize because working people have everything at stake in the November elections. Besides, Montemayor said with a twinkle in her eye, "We're going to make it fun!"Ron Smitherman of the Ironworkers told about his union's recent convention. It was addressed by a long-term ironworker who had gone into politics, but kept his devotion to working people in the forefront. His voting record is 100% for labor, Smitherman said, and the ironworker who spoke at the convention is Tim Kaine, Vice Presidential candidate!OUR LABOR DAY EVENT RECEIVED GREAT RATINGS
Mark York announced that surveys at the Labor Day breakfast revealed over 90% approval. Next year, he said, we are planning a much bigger venue with better parking. York credited Jennifer Fulbright of the Postal Employees union for having organized and carried out the event. Fulbright received the monthly award for outstanding contributions to the labor movement. Mark York spoke for the feelings of the entire council when he said, "The ship of labor has turned around, and we are sailing in the right direction!"[caption caption="Nirav Sanghani Is Building the Labor/Community Coalition"]