Don’t Mourn, Organize
There were few bright spots in recent news, but there were some.
- Boeing strikers and East Coast Dockworkers won record gains.
- Missourians voted to raise their minimum wage!
- Paid leave measures passed in Alaska and Nebraska.
- School voucher measures were rejected in Colorado, Nebraska and Kentucky.
- Reproductive health care protection measures passed in seven states.
- Irving Firefighters won the right to collective bargaining.
We can also be proud of the many who went beyond simple campaign work to strengthen the labor movement through contact with our union members. There were over 1,000 union volunteers who reached over 495,000 families. Among the many outstanding contributors was the President of the Texas labor federation, Rick Levy, who could be seen at the CWA 6215 hall making phone calls into western states even after the polls closed here.
At the very next table was our own schoolteacher, Stu Becker, who began campaign contact work at least two weeks before labor launched our programs, and was still at it after the polls closed. Dallas Political Director Earnest Tilley is being applauded for a great job.
In a final effort, stalwart union activists used Lou Luckhardt’s passenger van to visit candidates’ watch parties and remind them how much they owed to the Dallas AFL-CIO.
When the Going Gets Tough…
The Texas AFL-CIO put it this way:
“… our solidarity and resolve remain unshakeable. We will be there for each other, and we will fight every step of the way for every worker in this country, no matter who sits in the Oval Office. Most importantly, we know how to organize and fight back when anyone comes after our freedoms.”
Elections Are Only One Part of Union Struggle
Unions have always had to fight. Throughout American history, there were very few friendly governments. We were outlaws before the Roosevelt Administration, and we’ve faced down many a hostile government since then.
Our main efforts were never in the legislative arena, but in the sphere of collective action. Strikes, boycotts, marches, rallies, and picket lines are labor’s main strength. The national Women's March on January 18 might be an opportunity. Come to think of it, we have a chance to start exercising some of our strength on picket lines when the weather clears on Saturday…
Please Join Our Solidarity Brigade
Click here to get updates whenever activists are needed. For text alerts, send the word "action" to the phone number 235246. For the best Texas labor news, write ed@texasaflcio.org. Paste Bit.ly/DallasCLC?r=qr into your browser and join our political program.
Contact List
- Political Committee Earnest Tilley etilley2006@yahoo.com
- Pride at Work Shayla Nguyen shaylan3912@gmail.com
- Texas Alliance for Retired Americans Judy Bryant judy4tara@aol.com
- Young Active Labor Leaders Stu Becker stubecker89@gmail.com
MORE ACTIONS COMING UP
Nov 8, 6:30P: Picket with the Fired Black Dancers at 2400 Flora. Cancelled due to rain
Nov 8: General strike against the government of Italy
Nov 8: Anniversary of forming of the CIO, 1935
Nov 9, 6:30P: Picket with the Fired Black Dancers at 2400 Flora. Register here
Nov 13, 9A-4P: National Symposium on Retirement Security. Register for on-line participation
Nov 14, 11A: Covered dish luncheon at 2218 E Main in Grand Prairie
Nov 21, 6:30P: Dallas Peace and Justice Center Awards Dinner at Unitarian Church, 3839 W Kiest Blvd.
Nov 21, 7:30P: Central Labor Council meeting for all affiliated members at 1408 N Washington
Dec 3: The Quality of Life, Arts and Culture committee will meet on Dec. 3 to discuss the advisory group’s feedback. The recommendation would then go to a vote in the next Dallas City Council meeting.
Dec 4, 12:30A: Dallas Chapter of Texas Alliance for Retired Americans meets at 334 Centre. To participate on-line, register here
Dec 31: Possible government shutdown
Jan 3: New Congress sworn in
Jan 18: Women’s march “DC and Everywhere” Donations
Jan 20: New President sworn in