Dallas Labor Joins Upsurge
While school employees and public supporters continue their strike wave in Colorado and Arizona, Dallas activists joined Communications Workers from far and wide in a rally on April 27 at the AT&T Shareholders meeting at the Moody Performance Hall downtown. Speakers said that AT&T raked in over $29 billion last year but continued to offer only “takeaways and givebacks” in union contract negotiations. They offer only layoffs instead of good new jobs.
The group had a special funeral service for “good American jobs.” The coffin was marked “Stop Killing our Jobs.” While the action was focused on CWA contracts, the action was directed to defend the living standards of all workers.
Organizer Jerrell Miller estimated the CWA crowd at 350 spirited demonstrators. The Dallas AFL-CIO Facebook page has a lot of photos. A short video is at https://www.facebook.com/gene.lantz.7/videos/10155320346956825/
Elections Matter
While early voting continues for the Dallas school board election, many seniors and others who qualify for vote-by-mail have already started voting in the primary runoff election. For Dallas School Board, labor is campaigning for Bernadette Nuttall. A big labor contingent from Alliance/AFT attended the April 26 DISD meeting to stress our right to decent education.
On Tuesday, May 22, there will be a statewide runoff for the Texas primaries. These endorsed candidates will be on the ballot:
- Governor: Lupe Valdez
- U.S. Representative District 32: Colin Allred
- State Representative District 109: Carl Sherman
- District Judge, Judicial District 68: Martin Hoffman
- District Judge, Judicial District 193: Carl Ginsberg
- Judge Court At Law No. 4: Ken Tapscott
- Judge Criminal Court of Appeals No. 2: Pamela Luther
- Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 4 Place 2: Sasha Moreno
- Constable Precinct No. 4: dual endorsement for Edward Wright and Sha Steger Knight
- Constable Precinct No. 5: Beth Villarreal
- Mesquite City Council #4: Shannon Long
Fight for Paid Sick Leave
Petitioning is under way to get paid sick leave on the November ballot. Tens of thousands of signatures are needed. Every time people assemble, our petitioners need to be on hand. Special training for petitioners takes place at 4 PM on Sunday, April 29, at 1408 N Washington. Contact Lorraine Montemayor at 214-448-1557 or lmontemayor.dallasaflcio@gmail.com to see how you can help.
International Workers Day Celebrated
The fight for the 8-hour day was centered on Chicago May 1, 1886. Since that day, Mayday has been celebrated all over the world as the International Workers Holiday. Bosses were largely able to quash it in this country until recently, but there are celebrations in Dallas on April 29, May 1, and May 5. See our list of activities below.
Remember Killed and Injured Workers
April 28 is Workers Memorial Day. It is the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The AFL-CIO says that workplace safety has increased greatly since OSHA in 1970. But Donald Trump has moved aggressively on his deregulatory agenda, repealing and delaying job safety and other rules, and proposing deep cuts to the budget and the elimination of worker safety and health training programs. 150 workers died each day from hazardous working conditions. 5,190 workers were killed on the job last year in the United States—an increase from 4,836 deaths the previous year.
More Actions Coming Up
Apr 28, 10A: UNITED STEELWORKER, LOCAL #895 at 3626 MARVIN D. LOVE FRWY in DALLAS hosts a retiree meeting to establish a new SOAR chapter for District 13. Contact; Betty Height at 214 376 6717
Apr 29, 2P: Mayday celebration at Lake Cliff (Colorado) Park, corner Colorado & Zang
Apr 29, 3:30P: Training for campaign to win paid sick time for all Dallas workers at 1408 N Washington
Apr 29, 4P: Arlington NAACP Scholarship Gala at Arlington Convention Center. https://2018arlingtontxnaacpgala.eventbrite.com/
May 1: Last day to early vote in school board election
May 1, 6P: Mayday celebration at Kidd Springs Park corner Canty & Sylvan
May 5, 10A: Oak Cliff CINCO DE MAYO Celebration & Parade starts on Jefferson & Zang
May 5, 6:30P: “MayDay in 1886 and Now” discussion with the College of Complexes at Roma's Pizza and Italian Restaurant, 7402 Greenville Avenue
May 9th 6:00pm: Legal Aid is presenting a Zoning 101 Workshop at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center, 223 W. Jefferson
May 10, 6P: Alliance/AFT showing movie “Backpack Full of Cash” with explanation of sinister efforts to undermine public education. At 334 Centre, 75208
May 12, 10:30A: Reception begins before showing of new Malcolm X movie at 7701 W Westmoreland
May 14-18: Early vote for primary run-off election