Is your view of the future as dismal as the news programs? Have you thought about what you might do about it? Here are some suggestions.
The Texas AFL-CIO is our powerhouse of solidarity. Their web page tells us how we can get on the helping side. Send an email to ed@texasaflcio.org to request regular labor news updates.
At the Dallas level, stay in touch with Jason Tomlinson. Text the word "action" to 235246. Watch our web page and/or Facebook Pages. You can boost our Facebook outreach tremendously by clicking on the three dots, “***” and selecting “invite friends.”
Two of labor’s constituency groups are particularly active: Young Active Labor Leaders (YALL) and Texas Alliance for Retired Americans (TARA). You don’t have to be young to help YALL, and you don’t have to be old to help TARA. YALL is always first in North Texas solidarity. TARA has solid electoral programs with postcards, phone banking, and leadership development.
If we think our boat may be sinking, we need to start paddling!
Employment Erupting!
Even though the courts seem against us and the Congress is largely stymied, our work to elect the Biden Administration continues to pay off for working families. Today’s new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that 390,000 more people got jobs in May. Unemployment remains at the very low level of 3.6%.
Average hourly wages rose by 10 cents, or 0.3%, to $31.95 in May. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 5.2%.
Inequality is the Problem
We still see tremendous inequality in the job market. Black unemployment is 6.2%, nearly twice that of whites. The biggest problem in our economy was not in today’s BLS report, but has been explained by the Economic Policy Institute: wealth and income inequality is choking America and the world.
Working Families Have the Solution!
Most of the news has been about interest rates, but interest rates have little to do with wealth and income inequality. The President’s proposal to raise taxes on the super-rich has potential for fixing what’s really wrong. A strong labor movement is the ultimate answer.
More Actions Coming Up
Jun 5, 2PM: Gay pride “Freedom March” steps off from the Coliseum in Fair Park
Jun 7: Texas postal workers training in Ft Worth
Jun 16, 7:30: Delegates and invited guests meet at the Central Labor Council on-line AND in person at 1408 N Washington
Jun 18, 11A-4P: Juneteenth in Joppa-Joppee-Joppy at South Central Park, 4753 Fellows Ln, Dallas 75216
Jun 18: Poor People’s March in Washington DC
Jun 19: Sunday: Juneteenth
Jun 25, 9A-12P: Dallas County hiring event at 8401 S Polk, 75232
Jul 6, 12:30: Dallas Chapter of Texas Alliance for Retired Americans plans a picnic in Kidd Springs Park. Contact judy4tara@aol.com
Jul 14-16: Texas Democratic Party convention at Dallas Convention Center. Join the labor & retiree caucus.
Jul 22-24: Young Active Labor Leaders statewide meeting. https://www.facebook.com/YALLDFW
Sep 9-10: Women's Summit
Oct 28: Deadline to receive vote-by-mail applications for general election
Nov 8: General election