Dallas Labor Is a Social Movement

Speaking at the monthly AFL-CIO Central Labor Council on October 19, Kevin Tinker of the American Federation of Government Employees said, “The labor movement is a social movement!” The many and diverse activities announced that evening demonstrated that Tinker was right.

Here are some of those activities: 

• Door-to-door election canvassing
• Phone banking
• Wearing red every Thursday
• Street rally for early voting
• Picketing for Justice at American Air Lines
• Standing up for civil rights laws
• Training for Public Actions
• Standing up for Workers Without Papers

Canvassing Saturday

Political Director Lorraine Montemayor announced a full schedule of activities leading up to election day. Central to the program are door-to-door canvassing on Saturdays and phone banking on Mondays. On October 20th at 10AM, union and other activists will gather at 1934 Pendleton Drive in Garland to speak directly to voters.

On October 22 from 6 to 8 PM, we’ll be reaching voters by phone. The Communications Workers Local 6215 will have another phone bank at 6P on October 23. In honor of Lorraine Montemayor's birthday, her friends will supply free margaritas. Election activities will be hot and heavy through November 6th. Special volunteers will plant election signs and push election materials at the polls on election day. Contact Lorraine Montemayor at 214-448-1557 and make yourself “part of the solution.” 

Monday: Show the Voters How

Congressional candidate Colin Allred will lead other candidates and supporters in a public show of voting power at 10 AM Monday, October 22, at the George Allen Courthouse, 600 Commerce in downtown Dallas.

A car caravan will begin at 9:30AM at 1408 N Washington. Craig McDaniel of Rideshare2Vote.com will provide transportation. Contact him at craig@rideshare2vote.com or  888-977-2250. This free ride service will continue through election day.

Fence-sitting voters are motivated to go to the polls in several ways, but few of them are as powerful as seeing everybody else voting. The action is endorsed by CWA 6215, Dallas AFL-CIO, Texas AFL-CIO, Young Active Labor Leaders DFW, and the Texas Alliance for Retired Americans. Contact Herb Keener at hwkjr54@sbcglobal.net  or 214-543-3078.

Wear Red on Thursdays for Solidarity

The October 18 Central Labor Council delegates voted unanimously to ask all North Texans to wear red on Thursdays to show our working families solidarity. The motion was motivated by Mark York of the Dallas AFL-CIO and Brian Golden of Tarrant County.

Unions often ask their members to wear red on special days, but the most successful program has come from the Communications Workers. Their members wear red every Thursday. Those who are required to wear uniforms of other colors look for red scarves, hats, wristbands or other accessors to show their colors.

Picket Against Outsourcing at American Airlines

Brian Parker of Transport Workers Union Local 513 invited the October labor council delegates to a special picket at DFW Terminal D on October 23rd. Participants may join together at the Leon Hogg Pavilion, 1951 Bear Creek Parkway in Euless for shuttling to the airport. Two pickets will run 11A-1P and 3P-5P with lunch at the Leon Hogg Center in between.

The issue is outsourcing. American Airlines proposes to outsource maintenance jobs to low bidders in Mexico, South America and China.

"The flying public in the U.S. has flown millions of miles safely on American Airlines because of the unsung work of the mechanics of the Transport Workers Union," Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy said. "American Airlines is now taking a position in contract talks that will jeopardize that safety record."

Fight for Justice

The October AFL-CIO meeting honored Candice Oglesby and Tammy Taylor for outstanding work. The Workers Dense Project asked for support for three actions in support of workers without documents. Lewis Fulbright laid out plans for the annual union Christmas Party. Judy Bryant of the Alliance for Retired Americans provided information about the critical concerns of seniors in the elections. Her group has given the national endorsement to congressional candidates Beto O’Rourke and Colin Allred.

More Actions Coming Up

Oct 20, 10A: Canvas voters with AFL-CIO. Meet at 1934 Pendleton Dr, Garland 75041. Contact Lorraine Montemayor at lmontemayor.dallasaflcio@gmail.com or 214-448-1557 

Oct 21, 4P: “Bird Dogging Training” for public actions against policy makers and candidates at 11001 Midway Rd, Dallas. Call 469-657-3926

Oct 22, 10A: First day of early voting. Rally at George Allen Court House,600 Commerce, Dallas 75202  Contact Herb Keener  at hwkjr54@sbcglobal.net or  (214) 543-3078

Oct 22, 6P: Phone banking at 1408 N Washington

Oct 22-28: International week of fighting against privatization

Oct 23, 11A-1P and 3-5P: Picket against outsourcing at American Airlines DFW Terminal 4. Contact Brian Parker at twustrategicaction@gmail.com or 817-991-2001

Oct 26: Last day to request to vote by mail 

Oct 26, 6:30A: Solidarity Breakfast with Workers Defense Project at 11001 Midway Rd, Dallas. 8 AM action at ICE office in defense of an important undocumented activist, 8101 N Stemmons Fwy. Call 469-657-3926

Nov 1, 11am – 2pm Take a Stand for a Living Wage with Envoy workers at Terminal D, Dallas, TX 75261