Lorraine Birabil gained labor’s endorsement at the Cental Labor Council meeting on September 19. The discussion capped the end of a very thorough candidate screening process. After the questionnaires and in-person interview, numerical scores were tabulated. Birabil scored highest by far. Delegates voted for Birabil unanimously. Many of them had known her for years because of her history of supporting labor’s issues. Most recently, for example, she had publicly taken a stand in favor of the union strike at General Motors.
Labor’s endorsement is increasingly important in local elections because of our tough screening process and because we back up our endorsement with a powerful get-out-the-vote effort. Political director Lorraine Montemayor, who has guided our success so far, has called for our first mobilization at 10 AM on October 5th at 1408 N Washington.
Montemayor also told the Central Labor Council delegates that screening candidates for the 2020 elections will be more important and more complicated than ever. She is preparing special screening training for November of this year.
The rest of the Dallas AFL-CIO meeting reflected labor’s powerful response to today’s challenges.
Solidarity with UAW
The AFL-CIO’s policy of broad solidarity involving all unions and our broader community is paying off on the picket lines at General Motors, where Dallas Central Labor Council members have encountered many other volunteers helping the UAW members. The national UAW gathers contact information on supporters by asking them to write letters to General Motors.
Our AFL-CIO siblings in Tarrant County, where the large UAW 276 local and the smaller UAW 816 local are located, are also greatly involved. They are raising money to buy food and water for strikers. Credit card donations can be made on-line by clicking “donate” at http://tcclc.org/.
Volunteers have been flocking to 2505 W.E. Roberts in Grand Prairie, where they take shuttles to the picket lines. Union leaders caution them to follow the strict rules that are necessary to protect the strike. Our videos on Facebook are being widely shared. Find them also on YouTube:
- Mark York: https://youtu.be/SsxLQYj5To4
- Gary Livingston: https://youtu.be/gFvpTYLcJ6U
- Picket lines: https://youtu.be/SdvEL52PXuA
- One Picketing shift: https://youtu.be/6C6u0bZhIP4
- Volunteers: https://youtu.be/TH9wZySQGYQ
Union efforts to protect standards for working families are receiving unprecedented support from the American public!
Much More Is Happening
Principal officer Mark York returned from high-level meetings in Washington DC just before our labor council meeting. He began, “All across the country, everybody wants to know what Dallas is doing.” Part of the answer came during the meeting.
As this is written, high school students across the world are striking over climate change. Herb Keener of Communications Workers Local 6215 asked our labor council delegates to look for ways to help during the week of action that begins locally at 7 PM tonight, Friday September 20, on the Singleton Bridge.
Rena Honea, President of Alliance/AFT called for support at a special rally at 5:30 PM on September 26 at 5151 Samuel Blvd in Dallas for fairness for teachers. We posted a short video on our Facebook page and YouTube. https://youtu.be/xxwlEyyXh3M.
Edward Turner asked for labor’s help in getting an honest census count. He said that Dallas County should gain three new congressional seats if the count is accurate. He asked for volunteers for this critical political effort. http://dallascensus.com.
A long list of candidates asked for labor’s support in the 2020 elections. Lewis Fulbright reported on labor’s critical fund raising efforts. Ray Oliver Edmondson asked for help in creating a fund-raising golf tournament for next April 20. Graduates of the Texas AFL-CIO’s Ruth Ellinger School were congratulated and two new students received thanks and best wishes.
Even more activities are listed below:
More Actions Coming Up
Sep 20, 7P: First local global climate strike action at 2901 N Beckley in Dallas . Other events will follow through the week.
Sep 21, 10:15A: “Money in Politics” information session at Frisco Public Librarty, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd, Frisco 75034
Sep 21, 4-6P: Anti-war rally at Dealey Plaza, 400 Main in Dallas
Sep 24, 10:30A: Strike solidarity meeting hosted by North Texas UAW Retirees Council at 2218 E Main in Grand Prairie (near General Motors). It will be followed by the Labor Action Group at 11:30 AM. Everyone invited.
Sep 26, 5:30P Dallas educators rally for a fair system of teacher evaluation at 5151 Samuel Blvd, Dallas 75228
Sep 28, 10:30A: Tarrant County informational meeting on electoral reform at North Richland Hills Library, 9015 Grand Av, North Richland Hills
Oct 1: International Day of Seniors
Oct 5, 10A: First get-out-the-vote mobilization for the District 100 special election on November 5. Contact lmontemayor.dallasaflcio@gmail.com or 214-826-4808
Oct 10, 6:30P: Dallas Democrats present a candidate forum for Texas District 100 at 1408 N Washington. Info: 214-821-8331
