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It's Good to Win!

Gene Lantz, President
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The Dallas Wings closed out their season with a brilliant 97-76 win over the Phoenix Mercury in Arlington on Thursday, September 11. The Women’s National Basketball Players Association also won solidarity backing in their contract negotiations. AFL-CIO members and supporters from two counties rallied outside the stadium and led chants of “Pay the Players” during the game. The solidarity actions were covered on KERA radio, NBC News, and the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

Tevita Uhutafe and Pauline Mims of the Tarrant Central Labor Council gave rousing talks and led chants. Ana Gonzalez of Texas AFL-CIO, working with the Players’ Association, organized the event. Approximately half of the turnout came from our retiree and Young Active Labor Leaders constituency groups. 

Unprecedented solidarity is growing throughout the labor movement in America. For example, the American Federation of Teachers has become the first major union to join the civil rights movement in boycotting Target stores. Solidarity is the path to victory!

Young Active Labor Leaders Plan Statewide Victories

At September 5-7 YALL Summit, 200 enthusiastic young activists from all over Texas sharpened up their solidarity skills. They had breakout meetings by geographic area, and now they are working to build up winning coalitions all over the state. The big YALL-DFW Chapter is boosting the statewide effort.

One of the many highlights of the Summit was a presentation by the American Guild of Musical Artists about their successful fight on behalf of the Dallas Black Dancers. Organizers credited YALL with the victorious solidarity work.

AGMA credits YALL with solidarity

Winning Requires Preparation

At the Texas AFL-CIO’s on-line update about the federal unions on September 12, Dallas Principal Officer Lou Luckhardt suggested that all American unions need to follow their example on collection of union dues. The American Federation of Government Employees set up an easy way to collect their union dues on-line even before the Trump Administration started slashing the traditional dues checkoff method of letting employers gather union dues. Luckhardt warned that unions should not allow the bosses to have control over our money.

As Justin Chen, President of one of the major AFGE locals and a member of the Dallas Central Labor Council, keeps warning us: the Trump Administration targets all union members, not just the federal employees. Information about the AFGE’s dues collection program is available on their web site.

At the September 12 meeting, Shannon Faulk of AFGE told other Texas union leaders about their successful legal and legislative fight against the Trump union busting. She also indicated that her union would be participating in the next national “No Kings” demonstration October 18. Public actions are our way of adding offense to our defensive activities. In politics, like basketball, you have to fight at both ends of the court! 

WNBA Players gather solidarity

Need More Information?

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. Paste Bit.ly/DallasCLC?r=qr into your browser and join our Dallas political program. Everyone is encouraged to join the national Department of People Who Work for a Living. Please also subscribe to the Texas AFL-CIO weekly newsletter by writing to labor@texasaflcio.org. We are fighting for working families in every available arena.

MORE ACTIONS COMING UP

Sep 13, 9A: KNON.org presents "Workers Beat" radio talk show with officers from Dallas Labor Council. Call 972-647-1893 to announce your ideas and activities 

Sep 16: National Voter Registration Day

Sep 16, 7P: Gene Lantz opens on-line discussion on "Fascism." Contact genelantz19@gmail.com

Sep 17, 2P: “Tactics for Nonviolent Resistance” on line training with AFL-CIO. Register here

Sep 18, 7:30P: Dallas AFL-CIO Central Labor Council for all affiliated union members. Contact lou.luckhardt@gmail.com

Sep 18, 7P: On-line planning session for October 18 "No Kings" demonstrations. 

Sep 26. 11A: Protest rally at Congressman Jake Ellzey's Corsicana District office on Beacon Street. Contact lou.luckhardt@gmail.com

Oct 1, 12:30P: Dallas Chapter of Texas Alliance for Retired Americans meets at 334 Centre in Dallas. Contact Judy4tara@aol.com or 214-729-0063

Oct 6: Last Day to Register to Vote for the November 4 election

Oct 18, 12P: “No Kings Rally” at Pacific Plaza, 401 N Harwood in Dallas. There is an on-line map showing 6 more North Texas demonstrations (so far)

Oct 18, 8A: “Funky Town Clay Shoot” and fund raiser for Tarrant County Central Labor Council at Alpine Range, Fort Worth

Oct 20: First Day of Early Voting in person