The Path to Victory is Clear
"Working folks around this world are getting organized. You're bound to lose, you fascists, bound to lose."
-- Woody Guthrie
The Texas AFL-CIO’s handling of unfair redistricting sets a standard of fightback pointing the way to ultimate victory over autocracy. The third of their major rallies was in Arlington on July 28. The best of many excellent news articles is on their web page.
Note the broad, diverse, and powerful coalition involved. Labor, civil rights, environmentalists, and community activists were together. Our diversity, the main target of the racist authoritarians, is our strength. As we add more activists and more organizations, our victory over autocracy will be assured.
Keep Up the Fight on Unfair Redistricting
As this is written, buses are proceeding from Dallas and other metropolitan centers to Austin for a massive rally and lobby day against undemocratic undertakings. The Texas AFL-CIO is masterfully co-ordinating the effort of unions and our many allies.
President Rick Levy sends this: “If you're unable to attend in person, send a letter to your state representative: https://bit.ly/txredistrictingletter. Submit an online public comment to make sure your voice is on record: https://bit.ly/txredistrictingcomment
Protest Movement Grows and Matures
Activists are bringing the people’s movement into focus. Only the largest demonstrations may receive news coverage, but a lot of smaller activities are going on.
For example, the Dallas Peace and Justice Center monitors ICE activities at the downtown courthouse. Activists in Smith County (East Texas) report that they were able to get their Democratic Party to condemn the genocide in Gaza. Groups are planning “banner drops” around area highways. Churches, synagogues, and mosques are being asked to host labor speakers, and some events are already established. The “sit in” tactic has already been employed. Workers Defense Project was able to postpone a protest since they are making progress on worker safety issues. A labor singalong was held. Reverend Eric Folkerth has posted that he and others from the faith-based community are in their third month of vigils at Dallas ICE offices.
This is the best time to get involved!
Their Economy and Ours
The bosses’ economy seems to be doing well since they voted their giant “big beautiful” handout. Stocks are at record highs and their 2nd quarter growth rate was 3%.
Our economy, not so great. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported only 78,000 new jobs created in July. Far worse, they downgraded their own job creation figures for June and May by a quarter million! Texas’ economy shed 16K jobs in June. General U.S. unemployment ticked up to 4.2% and Black unemployment went to 7.2%! Average hourly earnings rose by 12 cents, but inflation for June went up to 2.7% from 2.4%.
Republicans now say that bosses can declare more workers “independent contractors.”
National AFL-CIO Emphasizes Labor Day
Our national labor leaders are consulting with experts on how to defeat autocracy. They are building the biggest and best Labor Day ever. Their buses are holding rallies across the country. Their information outreach is being refined and built up. At present, most plans point toward coming together as never before on the first Monday of September, Labor Day.
Need More Information?
- Political Committee Earnest Tilley keeps track of all Dallas labor activities: etilley2006@yahoo.com
- Texas Alliance for Retired Americans: Judy Bryant judy4tara@aol.com
- Young Active Labor Leaders: Stu Becker stubecker89@gmail.com
- Donnie Jolly of ATU: donniejolly@yahoo.com
- Katina Range of APWU: katinarange@dallasapwu.org
- Rena Honea of Alliance/AFT: rena@alliance-aft.org
- Dallas AFL-CIO web site: http://texasaflcio.org/dallas
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
Aug 1: Remember lynching of union organizer Frank Little, 1917
Aug 6, 12:30P: Dallas Chapter of Texas Alliance for Retired Americans meets at 334 Centre in Dallas. Contact Judy4tara@aol.com or 214-729-0063
Aug 14, 9:30A: Solidarity for Social Security rally at Social Security Office, 2530 S Malcolm X Blvd. Contact judy4tara@aol.com
Aug 14, 2nd Thursday, 11A: Retiree on-line update. Contact Genelantz19@gmail.com. If you haven't registered already, register here
Aug 18, 1P: Rally for fair contract with PSA AFA-CWA flight attendants at DFW Terminal E Upper Level, South Entrance Sidewalk. Details and RSVP Here! https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/afa-psa-august-18-day-of-action. Info: danasweat@afapsa.org
Aug 31, 10:30A: Gene Lantz speaks for labor at Pathways Unitarian Church, 481 W Harwood Rd in Hurst
Sep 1, 8:30A: Labor Day Breakfast at Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas
Sep 1, 11A: Tarrant County Labor Fest at The Shack Panther, 395 Purcey, Fort Worth
Sep 5-7: YALL state convention at Dallas Convention Center
Sep 6: Labor Day Parade in New York City
Sep 7: Grandparents Day