Lone Star Labor: Early vote together
What’s motivating you to vote this election?
From Amarillo to Brownsville and El Paso to Houston, working people on our statewide Listening Tour said the same thing: we are tired of a corrupt system that favors billionaires while we work harder than ever just to pay for groceries and bills.
We deserve communities where families can thrive—with strong neighborhood public schools, accessible healthcare, and a secure retirement. But we can only win these things if we stand together, mobilize for our pro-labor candidates, and vote.
We’re counting on every single union member to show up and bring someone with them to the polls.
Don’t leave your voice to chance, and make a plan today. Know your local polling place and the hours it’s open. Make a list of what you’ll need to bring with you, including a photo ID. And don’t forget to bring a printed or written list of our endorsed candidates!
2️⃣ Share your plans
Talk to your network today. Share your voting plan on social media, engage with your family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors, and invite them to join you!
3️⃣ Vote early
Early voting starts Oct. 19 through Oct. 31. Voting as early as possible helps you beat the lines and make sure your voice is counted.
This election is critical for working people, and every single vote will make the difference. Let’s show the power of Texas labor!
AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…
Austin: Austin’s Prop I puts city spending audits at center of political fight — Austin American-Statesmen, featuring American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1624 President Brydan Summers and AFSCME Local 1624 member Ben Suddaby
Austin: Can Gina Hinojosa flip Texas? — The Austin Chronicle, featuring Education Austin President Ken Zarifis
Dallas/Fort Worth: ‘People are pissed’: union decries TSA’s removal of chairs for checkpoint staff — Guardian, featuring American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) TSA Council 100 Secretary-Treasurer and AFGE Local 1040 President Johnny Jones
Dallas: A Texas mail carrier died in extreme heat. What his widow found raised questions about USPS safety. — CBS News Texas, featuring National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 132 President Kimetra Lewis
🏆 Houston: Houston Symphony & AFM Reach Four-Year Agreement — Opera Wire, featuring American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 65-699
San Antonio: America mobilizing to protect midterms — American Prospect, featuring San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel President Alejandra Lopez
Statewide: Texas teachers' union volunteers needed to monitor elections — Public News Service, featuring Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
NEWS TO USE
Unions are the key to America’s cost of living crisis — Time
They came to Washington to dismantle government. Now, they’re profiting from it. — Washington Post
Nine ways the Trump administration could interfere with the midterms — Reuters
🤖 AI & TECH NEWS BITE
Human bosses must stay in charge of important workplace decisions.
A new study shows that artificial intelligence cannot be left to make hiring decisions alone.
Researchers from Princeton and the University of Chicago tested 15 AI hiring systems from corporations like OpenAI, Google, and Meta. They found that these AI tools actually create their own new social biases the more they are used, not just mimic historical or human bias.
Because AI algorithms can make mistakes, human managers must always hold the power to override AI and get the final say in who gets hired! #WorkersDoItBetter
TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS
🏃 ON THE MOVE
International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 54 first-year apprentice Marissa “Missy” Almodovar spoke in front of 6,000 tradeswomen and allies at the Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference this past week.
💐 IN MEMORY
Brother Juan Ramon Ubias, a 53-year member of United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry (UA) Local 286, passed away on Sept. 29 at age 75.
Brother Floyd Simmons, a long-time member of Lone Star District Lodge Boilermakers Local 132, recently passed away.
Our hearts go out to their union families and all who loved them.
SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS
🚨 TAKE ACTION
SIGN UP: 👟 Block walk and make calls for our pro-labor candidates
If each one of us signed up for one volunteer shift, we would have what we need to win this election. We have plenty of different ways to get involved with our member to member program. Sign up now.
REGISTER: ✊ Join us at the Texas AFL-CIO Women’s Summit
Registration is NOW OPEN for the 2026 Texas AFL-CIO Women’s Summit from Nov. 20-22 in San Marcos, TX. Can we count on you or your members to join us?
📆 EVENTS THIS WEEK
Thursday, Oct. 15 online: ☎️ RGV Union Phone Bank
Join the Texas AFL-CIO and Rio Grande Valley Central Labor Council for an RGV-focused virtual phone bank for our labor-endorsed candidates. Details.
Saturday, Oct. 17 👟 Union Block Walks:
Saturday, Oct. 17 in Burleson: 👩🏻🏫 Get to Know Your Rights Training
Join the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) Local 111 for a Know Your Rights rights training with snacks and refreshments provided. Details.
Saturday, Oct. 17 online: ☎️ Union Phone Bank (statewide)
Join the Texas AFL-CIO for a statewide virtual phone bank for our labor-endorsed candidates. Details.
Monday, Oct. 19 statewide: 🗳️ In-Person Early Voting Begins (statewide)
Find a polling location near you and bring a friend with you to vote for our pro-labor candidates. Details.
Monday, Oct. 19 online: 📱Union Text Bank (statewide)
Join the Texas AFL-CIO for a statewide virtual text bank for our labor-endorsed candidates. Details.
Wednesday, Oct. 21 online: ☎️ Union Phone Bank (statewide)
Join the Texas AFL-CIO for a virtual phone bank for our labor-endorsed candidates. Details.
See all upcoming Texas labor events here.
📝APPLICATIONS & PROGRAMS
DUE JAN. 31, 2026: Apply for a Union Plus Scholarship
Current or retired union members and their dependents can apply for award amounts up to $4,000 for study. Students may re-apply each year. Apply.
💪 TEXAS UNION STAFF JOBS
Organizer / Representative (Gatesville) — AFSCME Texas Corrections Employees Council 907
📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Nearly 150 union members, labor leaders and allies gathered for a Workers vs. Billionaires rally and block walk in Houston last Saturday. The event brought together different unions to challenge billionaire influence in elections and support pro-worker candidates.
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