The Dallas Labor Council swore in five new delegates and one Executive Board member at our January 25 meeting.
The nation’s unions grew by 262,000 members last year, to 14.817 million, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced, using data from the Current Population Survey. Union density in the private sector edged up 0.1 percent, to 6.5 percent. There were 7.216 million public sector unionists last year, up 96,000 from the year before, and 7.601 million private sector unionists, up 166,00. The median wage for unionists was $1,041, compared to $829 for non-unionists, according to People’s World.
Ed Sills, Communications Director for the Texas AFL-CIO, reported 462,000 union members in Texas, making union density 4 percent in 2016. In 2017, those numbers rose to 543,000 and 4.7 percent.
It Isn't Just Numbers
The Dallas AFL-CIO is a good example of increased unity within the labor movement, increased unity in the broader community, and increased effectiveness in politics. At the January 25 meeting, three important candidates came to ask for labor's help: Chris Hamilton for Dallas County Democratic Party Chair, Symone Redwine for Judge, and Jana Lynne Sanchez for Congress.
The Council approved the broadest and most ambitious political program in recent history. Labor's long list of endorsed candidates is listed on our web site.
Dallas Labor Talks with O'Rourke
The Texas AFL-CIO created a media stir when they skipped over endorsing the top of the Democratic Party ticket, Senate Candidate Beto O'Rourke. The only reason given was that he had failed to attend labor's political conference January 20-21. Dallas leader Mark York took advantage of O'Rourke's visit to Dallas to give our labor leaders a chance to talk with him at the Independent Bar in Deep Ellum on January 26.
With no argument at all, O'Rourke signed our candidate's pledge.
O'Rourke makes a very strong presentation with close alignment to labor's positions. The Dallas union leaders did not spare him in their questioning. He had to answer as to why he had voted "yes" for fast track of the Trans Pacific Partnership. Labor was completely against the trade bill and against fast tracking it. O'Rourke responded that, like a lot of loyal Democrats, he had voted "yes" in order to give President Obama a free hand in negotiating the best possible trade alliances.
After a grueling question and answer session, Mark York said, "I see that you've won over this crowd, so I'm going to ask for a straw poll as to whether or not Dallas labor would recommend an endorsement." The hands in favor went up, and there were no votes against.
Before the candidate left, AFT/Alliance President Rena Honea asked for clarification on his attitude toward charter schools. O'Rourke had said that he thinks "charters can work as a laboratory for innovation." In response to Sister Honea, he clarified that he did not mean for-profit charter schools but only nonprofit ones. Honea insisted, though, that the teachers' union specifically opposes all charter schools that are not run by public school districts, which she calls "in-district" charter schools. The candidate had not been aware of this distinction and said that he would have to get back to the Dallas labor leader.
Dallas Labor Looks at the Democratic Chairperson Race
About 30 union leaders attended a special meeting with Chris Hamilton, their endorsed candidate for Democratic Party Chair, on January 26. Recent newspaper articles have painted the Dallas Democrats as divided to the point of chaos as they respond to a lawsuit by the Republican Party to throw 128 Democratic Party candidates off the ballot.
Hamilton had immediately given a strong message of solidarity with all Democrats against the Republican "divide and rule" tactic. He refused to use the issue to his electoral advantage. But columnist Gomer Jeffries of the anti-worker Dallas Morning News has done his level best to discredit the Democrats. At the January 26 meeting, Hamilton again stayed on the "high ground" and did not fall for the Republican's ruse. He called the Republican maneuver, "The most brazen anti-democratic attack in the nation!"
He did, however, talk about a wide range of improvements that he would like to see among progressive candidates and officeholders. He was introduced by County Judge Clay Jenkins, who has the strongest possible approval of Dallas working people. If he hadn't already won the hearts of the labor audience, Hamilton raised his ratings even higher when he said that he would make sure that no Democratic candidate in Dallas County could get away with not knowing what the anti-labor "right to work" law is all about.
Hamilton's grasp of local and even of national political circumstances was impressive. Added together, his program is one of unity among all Democrats, and especially inter-racial unity. In addition to the Dallas AFL-CIO, he is endorsed by African American leaders such as Reverend Frederick Haynes, Senator Royce West, Congressman Marc Veasey, and Commissioner John Wiley Price.
Voting Has Already Begun
Seniors and disabled Dallasites began receiving their vote-by-mail ballots during the past week. By signing up once with the County Election Office, they will be able to vote by mail in every 2018 election. They will receive their ballots several weeks before regular early voting begins. Instructions are on the Texas Allliance for Retired Americans web site. There are two ballots for the March 6 primary, and both are long.
Dallas labor plans to begin block walking at 10 AM on February 10 from 1408 N Washington. Phone Banking is expected to start on at 5 PM on February 20. Early voting will begin with our rally at 10:30 AM on February 20 at the George Allen Court House downtown. After that, expect a tidal wave of labor activities!
Texas is Mobilizing
The entire state is gearing up for a big election year. The Dallas delegation had a big role in the Texas AFL-CIO Committee on Political Action conference January 20-21 in Austin. Photos on our Facebook Page and on Texas AFL-CIO.
More Actions Coming Up
Feb 4, 11A: Our Revolution NTX Membership Meeting at 1408 N Washington
Feb 10, 10A: Labor's block walking begins from 1408 N Washington
Feb 20, 10:30A: Early voting rally at George Allen Court House downtown Dallas
Feb 20, 5P: Labor's phone banking begins from 1408 N Washington
Mar 3, 11A: "Impeach Trump Solidarity March Dallas - Nationwide Party 2" at Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla