News

Threats, Victories, and More Challenges

Gene Lantz, President
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Almost any labor meeting includes reports of perilous times for American workers. The Dallas Central Labor Council delegates on August 21 heard grave warnings, union victories, and upcoming challenges.

Grave Warnings

President Justin Chen of AFGE 238 said that the Trump Administration was tearing up the union contracts of 70% of all federal employees. “It’s very clearly union busting…. They are coming after everybody, not just federal employees,” he warned.

Justin Chen, federal employees leader

In the Young Active Labor Leaders Report, state Vice Chair Arash Farasat read their statement against the arrest and beating of American labor leader Chris Smalls by the Israeli military. The statement demanded, “Take Action: tag, email, and call your elected officials. We demand Secretary Rubio and the State Department speak out and act NOW. We demand an end to the blockade and the genocide in Gaza NOW.” It ended, “Chris, we remember well what you told us – ‘Build. Towards. A. General Strike.’” More information is on-line. 

Unions Are the Path to Victory

Rena Honea of Alliance/AFT and Gabriel Garcia of ATU 1338 announced important victories in negotiations. Both credited membership solidarity and public support for getting raises for school employees and continued public transit availability. Gabriel Garcia talked about fending off attempts to cut mass transit: “We put the pressure on them and it definitely worked.” Unions rarely get everything we want in negotiations, but we get a whole lot more than people who don’t have a union!

YALL members announced another union victory at a Starbucks store. YALL's coming statewide convention looks like a grand success. A $500 scholarship donation came in during the Council meeting! Contact state@txyall.org

Our council grew when we swore in two new delegates. Earnest Tilley supplied a video.

Opportunities and Challenges

We must continue supporting public transit. Brinda Gurumoorthy of AFT and DSA supplied this information: “Here is a link to send an email to the DART board; it goes to all the members and board admin.”

The UFCW is getting ready for a fight. Organizer Tyler DeLuca asked people to attend a planning meeting for a week of actions at the Hampton Inn in Grapevine (closest to the airport) at 1 pm this Saturday the 23rd. 

UFCW report at CLC

Retiree organizer Judy Bryant announced 12 successful actions for health care and Social Security in August. She asked delegates to support another one at 10AM on August 27th at the CWA Hall, 1408 N Washington. Retirees will watch the nationwide address by AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, then, at 11AM, hold their own news conference on retiree rights. The worst and latest attack from the Trump Administration on democracy is his effort to end vote-by-mail. 

The Shuler streamed report on AFL-CIO TV  and social media gives everyone an opportunity for holding organizing meetings associated with Labor Day week.

During the weeks before and after Labor Day, unionists across the nation are putting on a record number of militant events. North Texas labor spokespersons will be in five religious services this year. Tarrant County will hold its Labor Fest and Dallas is working on the biggest and best Labor Day Breakfast ever. Make contributions and buy tickets at this link.

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

Aug 23, 1-2P: UFCW Planning Meeting at 1750 State Hwy 121. Solidarity volunteers needed. View details & RSVP 

Aug 27, 10AM: Nationwide labor report streamed by President Liz Shuler on AFL-CIO TV and social media

Aug 27, 10AM: Dallas retirees gather at 1408 N Washington to watch the Shuler labor report. At 11AM they will hold their own news conference on the fight for retiree rights. Contact judy4tara@aol.com 214-729-0063

Aug 27, 12:30PM: Retiree rally at Fort Worth Machinists’ Hall, 7711 Clifford, White Settlement. Contact mabens13@yahoo.com or 817-372-7497

Aug 31, 10:30A: Justin Chen speaks for labor at Oak Cliff Unitarian Church, 3839 W Kiest Blvd in Dallas

Aug 31, 10:30A: Gene Lantz speaks for labor at Pathways Unitarian Church, 481 W Harwood Rd in Hurst. Tevita Uhutafe, Rose Curts, and a YALL activist will also speak about Labor Day at religious services

Sep 1, 8:30A: Labor Day Breakfast at Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas. Contact jtomlinson.dallasaflcio@gmail.com

Sep 1, 11A: Tarrant County Labor Fest at The Shack Panther, 395 Purcey, Fort Worth. Contact 
angi.defelippo@tcclc.org

Sep 3, 12:30P: Dallas Chapter of Texas Alliance for Retired Americans meets at 334 Centre in Dallas. Contact Judy4tara@aol.com or 214-729-0063

Sep 5-7: YALL state convention at Dallas Convention Center. Contact state@txyall.org

Sep 6: Labor Day Parade in New York City

Sep 7: Grandparents Day. Contact judy4tara@aol.com