Dallas Labor Fights the Shutdown
Government employees asked the Dallas AFL-CIO for help with the first anti-shutdown rally in Texas, and they got it! Jeanne Schulze, President of AFGE Local 1003, and Mark York, principal officer of Dallas AFL-CIO put together a dramatic public rally downtown on January 10. They organized major speakers and media coverage reaching hundreds of thousands.
Reverend Frederick D. Haynes of Friendship West Church, often called the best speaker in Dallas County, came forward as soon as he was asked. Rick Levy, President of the state labor federation, drove up from Austin to speak. Two outstanding U.S. Congressmen, Marc Veasey and Colin Allred, sent messages from Washington DC, where other government employees were marching on the White House in the biggest anti-shutdown demonstration in the nation so far.
The night before the rally, television news coverage began. The rally itself received favorable coverage by CBS and Fox 4. The Dallas Morning News ran on-line and print news stories. Dozens of pictures and videos are posted on social media. See our facebook page for more visuals.
Rick Levy posted this: “It is outrageous, way beyond normal and totally unacceptable for the president to hold hundreds of thousands of employees and their families hostage to the demands of his divisive political agenda. Spent the day with AFGE District 10 and affected federal employees to say #StoptheShutdown and put the government back to work. Thanks to AFGE for leading the fight, and thanks to Mark York and the Dallas AFL CIO for showing what real solidarity means!”
The statement from Congressman Veasey sets out the issues: “I’m proud to join forces with the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1003 chapter in Dallas to ensure the president is held accountable for holding federal workers hostage over a wall we don’t need and a majority of Americans don’t want. I support the AFGE’s efforts to demand the president and Senate Republicans do their jobs and support American people over political self-interest. Federal workers and their families have been enduring economic insecurity with no idea when their next paycheck will arrive for too long. These are real people who are struggling to afford rent and groceries for their families. This should weigh on the President each and every day of the shutdown, and motivate him to collaborate with Democrats to find a bipartisan pathway to reopen the government instead of shirking the blame.”
About 100 North Texas protesters chanted “What do we want? Work! When do we want it? Now!” and “Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Trumps’shutdown has to go!” while passing cars honked their approval. In the war for the hearts and minds of all Americans, our side clearly won this battle. But much more action is needed, and it is sure to come!
March with Labor
Working families will be marching throughout the weekend of January 19-21. The Dallas AFL-CIO banner will be at the women's march that begins at 2 PM on Sunday, January 20, at 1816 Routh Street in Dallas. The very next day we'll form our contingent at 8 AM at Holmes Street and MLK Jr Blvd. Step-off is at 10:00 AM. Organizations that want to bring a vehicle must hurry to contact the Community Center at 214-671-1505 and give the driver's license number and proof of insurance. A $10 payment can be taken over the phone. Mark York says to be sure to tell them to add you to the Dallas AFL-CIO contingent. All signs must be appropriate for working people and for the occasion.
Labor Promotes Citizenship
The Dallas AFL-CIO is working with Alliance/AFT to help our brothers and sisters obtain citizenship. The next forum is at 11:30 AM on January 12 at 334 Centre Street in Oak Cliff. Volunteers will be needed when applications are processed on January 19.
Labor Lawyer Falls
The following obituary came from the Dallas Morning News on January 4:
MENAKER, Marvin Marvin Menaker, 91, died peacefully in his sleep at home on Sunday, December 30, 2018. Marvin was born July 16, 1927 in Philadelphia, PA. The son of immigrants, he came to Texas in 1952 where he married his loving wife of 65 years Mollyann Romick Menaker. He is survived by Mollyann, his three children, Marta Puchalla, Howard Menaker, Stuart Menaker and their partners and grandchildren Sasha Puchalla, Ryan Puchalla and Mason Menaker. Marvin was always happiest when surrounded by his large extended family, kids, grandkids and nieces and nephews of all generations. Marvin retired at the age of 75 years after a long career as an attorney. Specializing in labor law, he represented local, national and international unions including the Retail Clerks, many building trade unions, the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association and several other airline employee unions. He was passionate about civil rights and a champion of all whose rights were not well respected by society at large. He was especially proud that many of his cases resulted in the writing of new laws to protect the liberties of those he represented. Marvin enjoyed teaching and mentoring the next generation of attorneys, but also took great pleasure in teaching English as a second language to new Americans.
Unions Help Students
Mark York received the following from the Transport Workers Union:
The national organization, "Union Plus" and several other unions offer scholarships. The CWA Joe Beirne Foundation offers sixteen partial college scholarships of $4,000 each for the 2019-2020 school year. Texas AFL-CIO scholarship applications are now available.
The 2019 Michael J. Quill Scholarship application is here. The deadline to apply is April 26.
The Michael J. Quill scholarship offers 15 college-bound dependents of TWU members with a scholarship worth $4,800. This scholarship is paid out per year in the amount of $1,200 to winners who continue to be eligible over their four-year course of study.
The union has been honoring our founder with these scholarships since 1969. Quill Scholarship awards have benefited hundreds of TWU families. Children of our members in transit, railroad and air transportation, utilities, public employment, space installations, and allied industries are among those who began their college educations with the help of the TWU’s signature scholarship. Click here to read about the 2018 Scholarship Winners.
This year, we are honored to have four additional scholarship sponsors, which will add another 21 scholarships: Union Benefit Planners, M3 Technology, Pitta LLP and Pitta, and Bishop & Del Giorno LLC. All of the above sponsored scholarships will be paid out in the first year, as a single scholarship.
The 2019 application can be found here.
Click here for the official rules and additional information, including eligibility requirements.
Remember, the deadline to apply is April 26, 2019.
More Actions Coming Up
Jan 12, 11:30A: Citizenship forum at 334 Centre Street in Oak Cliff
Jan 17, 7:30P: Dallas AFL-CIO meeting for all affiliated members in the CWA Hall, 1408 N. Washington
Jan 19, 10A-Noon: Labor activists will help with citizenship applications at 334 Centre in Oak Cliff
Jan 19,10:30A: Women’s march meets at Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square, Denton, Texas 76201
Jan 20, 10A: Gather at Tarrant County Courthouse, 100 E Weatherford in Ft Worth to participate in national Women’s Marches
Jan 20, 2A: Gather at 1816 Routh Street,Dallas75201, to participate in national Women’s March
Jan 21, 8A: Begin forming labor's contingent for the Dallas MLK March and Parade at Holmes Street and MLK Jr Blvd
Jan 31: Postmark deadline for applications to be sent to Texas AFL-CIO for college scholarships for union members families
Feb 1: second statewide Summit, a labor conference developing young workers as unionists, to be held in Austin, February 1st-3rd, YALL Contact Angi d at Angela.m.defelippo86@gmail.com or Travis Cantwell at cantwelltravis22@hotmail.com
