Lone Star Labor: First-of-its-kind Infrastructure Academy launches in Austin
This week, the Texas AFL-CIO helped launch the Austin Infrastructure Academy, a new career hub that integrates recruitment, comprehensive training, and wraparound service support for job seekers in Austin’s growing mobility and infrastructure sector.
Working with Workforce Solutions Capital Area, the City of Austin, Travis County, Austin Community College, this new program will include Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3), preparing the students for careers and placing many of them in good, union jobs. Austin has over 222,000 mobility and infrastructure workers and $25 billion slated for capital improvement projects, making mobility and infrastructure the second-largest industry sector in the region.
"The curriculum itself was built, and this is something that we should all be proud of, it was built with specific individuals in mind," said Leonard Aguilar, secretary-treasurer for the Texas AFL-CIO, in an interview with the Austin American-Statesman. "It was built for veterans, it was built for women, it was built for people of color, to bring those folks into this space that typically don't have an opportunity."
The collaboration has been months in the making, and we’re excited to see if it can be replicated across the state to promote union jobs in the trades!
AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…
Statewide: Sheria Smith, leader in the fight to save the Education Department — People’s World, featuring Sheria Smith, president of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 252
Austin: NLRB Official nixes unfair labor practice (ULP) claims against Google, Cognizant — Law360, charges were brought by Alphabet Workers Union-Communications Workers of America (AWU-CWA) Local 9009
Austin & Houston: Starbucks violated labor law in Texas cafés, NLRB judge says — Bloomberg Law ($), charges were brought by Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) members
Corpus Christi: An electrical workers union sued Corpus Christi ISD. Here's where the lawsuit stands. — Corpus Christi Caller Times, featuring David Carranco, business manager & finance secretary for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 278
Gulf Coast: Harris County could raise minimum wage for all employees and contractors. Here's what to know — Houston Chronicle ($)
Killeen: Trump, Musk and other D.C. leaders blasted at local town hall — Killeen Daily Herald, featuring AFGE members
NEWS TO USE
Trump's threatened abolition of the Inflation Reduction Act would toss more than 115,000 Texans out of work in the next decade — San Antonio Express-News ($)
Texas Senate passes bill to fund safer railroad crossings after Houston ISD student’s death — Houston Public Media (the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, BLET, supports this bill)
What to know about Cesar Chavez Day — The Dallas Morning News
Social Security backs off plan to cut phone services after backlash — The Washington Post ($)
TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS
🎉 New Unions
In Austin, Slaughter Lane Alamo Drafthouse employees are unionizing with United Auto Workers (UAW) to form SlaughterHouse United! Welcome to the union family, y’all!
Nearly 90 drivers at United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) across drop yards in Texas and Louisiana are seeking voluntary recognition after unionizing with Teamsters!
🏃 Labor on the Move
Congratulations to new National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 505 (El Paso) stewards Nathan Akers (Airport), Fernando Avila (Ysleta), Ricardo Correa (Pebble Hills), Hugo Dominguez (Northgate), Donald Fagan (Coronado), Jesse Gutierrez (Alt. Ysleta), and Angel Torres (Pebble Hills).
💐 In Memory
Dorothy St. Clair, 90, passed away on Mar. 23. She is survived by her loving husband of 69 years, Jackie St. Clair, a UA Local 286 retiree and Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer from 1989-1993. Our thoughts go out to the St. Clair family.
SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS
🚨 Take Action
Greg Abbott’s private school voucher scheme, House Bill 3 (HB 3), isn’t just bad for Texas public schools — it’s bad for kids, bad for teachers and school staff, and bad for taxpayers. Can you call your state representative today to tell them that Texans don’t want vouchers - vote NO on HB 3!
📆 Events
Saturday, Mar. 29 in Houston: Educational Forum Celebrating the Legacy of César Chávez & Dolores Huerta
Join the Gulf Coast AFL-CIO, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), and the Houston Building & Construction Trades Council for this educational forum on labor, justice, and organizing. Details HERE.
Saturday, Mar. 29 in Corpus Christi: 24th Annual César Chávez Marcha
The Coastal Bend Labor Council, in cooperation with the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Antonio E. Garcia Arts and Education Center, is hosting this march and rally. Bring your organization’s banners and flags! Details HERE.
Saturday, Mar. 29 in Austin: Austin Citizenship Clinic Information Session #3
Ahead of the Texas AFL-CIO’s Austin Citizenship Clinic on Apr. 12, participants must attend one of four information sessions to learn more about the requirements to apply for U.S. citizenship. Attorneys from American Gateways will be present to answer questions about eligibility. Details HERE.
Sunday, Mar. 30 in Dallas: Mega Marcha 2025
This march for bipartisan immigration reform is supported by the Dallas AFL-CIO and begins at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dallas. Details HERE.
Tuesday, Apr. 1 in San Antonio: San Antonio Labor Town Hall
Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy and Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Aguilar are hitting the road to hear from Texan union members about what the future of the Texas labor movement should look like. NOTE: This is a union member only event. Details HERE.
📝 Applications & Programs:
- Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Leonard C. Ball & James H. Bell Scholarship for undergraduate students, application due Friday, Apr. 11.
- Labor Notes Contest: Songs and Chants for the Strike Line for songwriters, due Saturday, Apr. 12.
- 2025 Strategic Corporate Research Summer School for folks interested in working in the labor movement at the Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations, applications due Thursday, May 1.
- Texas AFL-CIO Career-Building Scholarship for affiliated union members furthering their career, application due Friday, May 2.
🇺🇸 Federal Workers: Stay Informed
Trump’s attacks on federal workers are moving at a breakneck speed. If you’re an AFGE member or federal worker, you can stay up to date and get critical questions answered at AFGE’s new one stop shop: afge.org/AFGEStrong
⭐ Texas AFL-CIO 2025 Constitutional Convention
Registration is NOW OPEN for the Texas AFL-CIO 2025 Constitutional Convention, happening June 26-28 at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk.
- Purchase your early registration tickets HERE.
- Nominate your union or someone you know for a Community Service Award or Publications Award! Details HERE.
- Sponsorship opportunities are now available! Details HERE.
📸 Photo of the Week
Members of the United Labor Legislative Committee (ULLCO) gathered this week for a mini Lobby Day at the state legislature. Participants included: Back Row (L-R): Robert “Chap” Thornton (UA Local 286), Joshua Worthey (IBEW Local 220), Jeremy Hendricks (LIUNA SWLDC), Riley Drake (Ironworkers Local 482), Jerrick “JD” Drayden (UAW Local 219), Philip Cole (USW), Kenneth Daniels (ATU Local 1091), James Monks (Austin EMS Association), Greg Talley (ATU Local 1091). Middle Row (L-R): Leonard Aguilar (Texas AFL-CIO), Joe Cooper (UA Local 286), Joe Montemayor (AFL-CIO), Jeannettea Flores (UAW), Amanda Posson (Every Texan), Krissy O’Brien (AFSCME Texas), Daniela Hernandez (Workers Defense Action Fund), Houston Tower (Austin EMS Association), Ryan Pollock (IBEW Local 520), Ben Wright (BLET). Bottom Row (L-R): Amber Jones (Texas AFL-CIO), Kristie Veit (CWA District 6), Pauline Mims (UAW), Jennifer Hernandez (IUPAT), Desiree Cooper (ATU Local 1091), Emily Amps (Texas AFL-CIO), Avchinthya Sivalingam (Texas Climate Jobs Project), and Sandra Bustillos (Texas Climate Jobs Project).
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