While the biggest challenges remain, your union leaders are grateful for ongoing successes
Dallas schools to open safely
At the August 20 Dallas AFL-CIO Central Labor Council Meeting, the President of the school employees' union, Rena Honea, announced that DISD has listened to Alliance/AFT and its many supporters. Instead of risking everyone's lives, the September 8 opening day will be on-line.
Teacher Andrew Kirk wrote on Facebook, "Alliance/AFT played a significant role in this outcome. We mobilized our members for board briefings and meetings, a car caravan, and to lobby the county commissioners. We worked hard to ensure that media outlets relayed our asks to the broader community. This is a victory for student and teacher safety, but also for teachers unionism and our local in particular."
Post Office Destruction Halted
The new Postmaster General, a major Trump supporter, cut overtime and began decommissioning important mail-sorting machines. Then he sent out word that the post office might not be able to deliver vote-by-mail ballots in time! President Trump disparaged the post office and vote-by-mail in several related public statements. The AFL-CIO, post office unions, and our many supporters set up a mighty roar. Phone lines were hot with calls to Congress, especially to the Senate. The Alliance for Retired Americans, for example, created a toll-free number for callers: 866-828-4162.
AFL-CIO President Trumka, on his weekly call to union communicators, said that our mobilizations were effective. The President's spokesperson said that he would sign a bill containing funds for the post office, and the Postmaster General announced that he would stop his destructions until after the election. House Democrats cut their recess short to rush back to Washington to consider a $25 billion bill to save our post office!
Save the Post Office!
There is no guarantee that help for the post office will get past Congress, especially given the hostility of the Senate. Even though the Postmaster General says he will stop destroying, the damage he has already done has not been rectified. At the August 20 Central Labor Council meeting, Sister Katina Range reviewed the situation and asked everyone to join the American Postal Workers Union on their Day of Action, August 25, to rally at North Texas post offices. Join them at 10 AM at the Main Post Office, Highway 30 at the Sylvan Exit, or at a local post office as listed in "More Actions Coming Up" below. MoveOn and other organizations are also sponsoring actions at 11 AM on August 22.
The number one legislative campaign for labor remains trying to get the Senate to consider the HEROES Act, which contains help for the post office as well as many other institutions and individuals in danger. Even though the Senate callously ignored the need, President Trump is trying a legally questionable route to get $300 per month to the 28 million unemployed Americans who were getting $600 last month.
November 3 is the big hurdle
The Dallas AFL-CIO Political Committee is up and running. Volunteers are being lined up for a massive effort to win for working families. Labor-endorsed candidates of special interests to North Texans are listed on our web site. The Texas AFL-CIO has a larger listing. One of the highlighted candidates is Candace Valenzuela in Congressional District 24. She spoke to the August 20 labor meeting and will be at our Labor Day Virtual Breakfast on September 7.
Communications Workers Local 6215 activists are registering voters on August 24, 9am - 2pm, at the Texas Department of Public Safety Driver License Center, 39025 LBJ E. Service Road in Dallas.
“This is the most important election in the life of our country,” said AFL-CIO Vice President Liz Shuler during the Labor Caucus at the Democratic Party Convention.
More Actions Coming Up
Aug 22, 9A: "Workers Beat" talk show on 89.3FM and http://knon.org
Aug 22, 11A: National day of action with MoveOn to save the Post office. Rally and take photos at a local post office: Oak Lawn Post Office: 2825 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas, TX 75219; Lakewood: 6120 Swiss Ave, Dallas, TX 75214; Casa Linda: 1351 N Buckner Blvd, Dallas, TX 75218; Preston Royal: 5959 Royal Ln #539, Dallas, TX 75230. Contact Ann at 214-675-0040 #savethepostofficedallas
Aug 22, 7:30p: Dallas AFL-CIO virtual meeting for all affiliated union members. Contact genelantz19@gmail.com
Aug 22: National day of action with United Electrical Workers for Medicare for All
Aug 22: National day of action with National Nurses United for Medicare for All
Aug 24, (and every Monday) 5p: Texas AFL-CIO “Live at 5” on Facebook
Aug 24, 9am - 2pm: CWA 6215 will be registering people to vote at the Texas Department of Public Safety Driver License Center 39025 LBJ E. Service Road. They ask people to become deputy voter registrars in advance. Contact etilley@cwa6215.org
Aug 24, 8A-4P: “Tent Drive” at 409 S Beckley Av, Dallas sponsored by Party for Socialism and Liberation. They say the eviction courts open that day. Facebook event
Aug 25, 10-11A: Rally at the Dallas Main Post Office with the American Postal Workers Union. Hiway 30 at Singleton exit. OR rally at a local post office: DE SOTO Post Office, 229 S HAMPTON RD, DESOTO, TX 75115; Oak Lawn Post Office, 2825 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas, TX 75219
Aug 25, Noon: Labor Action Group and UAW Area Retiree Council meet. Contact genelantz19@gmail.com
Aug 28: National Civil Rights March on Washington
Aug 29, 6:30P: "Labor is the Very Core of the Progressive Movement," discussion at the College of Complexes virtual free speech forum. For invitation contact genelantz19@gmail.com
Sep 7, 9:30A: Dallas Virtual Labor Day Breakfast
Sep 8: Dallas schools scheduled to reopen in virtual mode
Oct 13: Early voting until Oct 30
Nov 3 - Election Day
