Lone Star Labor: How we're prepping for November

We’re 102 days away from the November election. And this week, our Texas AFL-CIO COPE board announced our full list of endorsements!

Our labor endorsements are more meaningful and powerful than ever. And our work to get out the union vote will be the same.

Because if we want to make sure corporations and billionaires pay what they owe, we need to elect pro-worker candidates. If we want to lower costs and raise wages, we need to elect pro-worker candidates. If we want to fully fund every public school, we need to elect pro-worker candidates.

We need leaders who know how to fight. These candidates have proven to us that they have the backs of working people, and the Texas labor movement will have their backs in November. Now, can you sign up to help with our Member to Member Program?

AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…

Austin: As state takeover pressure mounts, Austin ISD will close another middle school — Austin Current, featuring Education Austin President Ken Zarifis

Austin / Dallas: Union slams Microsoft for "unfair labor practice", alleging Xbox "unlawfully" laid off staff — Games Industry, featuring Communications Workers of America (CWA)

Fort Worth: Firefighters union claims contract impasse, Fort Worth cites commitment to fair negotiations — Fort Worth Report, featuring Fort Worth Professional Firefighters Association President Zac Shaffer

Houston: Heatwave Heroes: Veteran surprised with new AC unit — FOX 26 Houston, featuring Houston Gulf Coast Building & Construction Trades Council MC3 Career Coach Juan Granados and United Association (UA) Pipefitters Local 211 Business Agent Kenneth Waybright

Little Elm: Little Elm residents shaken after postal worker dies, USPS investigating — CBS Texas, featuring National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 132 President Kimetra Lewis

Texas City: Texas City worker strike enters fifth week — HoustonPress, featuring International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 564 Business Agent Lewis Crawford

Statewide: IAM Texas State Council Charts Course for Organizing and Political Action — Airline Industry Today, featuring multiple leaders and members

Statewide: Telecom Win: Decommission work returns to CWA District 6 — CWA

NEWS TO USE

Texas’ longstanding “Robin Hood” school finance system will face a new legal challenge — The Texas Tribune

Workers could get a 14.5% raise if union membership tripled — Fast Company

Deportations hurt American workers and shrink economic growth, studies show — The Houston Chronicle

Op-Ed: Congress can end the shutdown cycle for good — The Hill, by American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) President Everett B. Kelley

AI & TECH NEWS BITE

How labor unions are tackling AI and midterm elections — Marketplace
“We want to be on the cutting edge… But at the same time, if we have companies who are going to be reckless and irresponsible, we're going to fight them,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler

TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS

🏃 ON THE MOVE

This week, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) and Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) signed a historic agreement to coordinate strategy, strengthen organizing, and build worker power together.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has reached its highest membership ever at 1.875 million members strong.

💐 IN MEMORY

Brother Umeshkumar Thakkar, a member of the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA), passed away on Jul. 20 at the age of 58 while on duty.

Brother William Roy Ward, a more than 60-year member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 301 (Texarkana), passed away on Jul. 14 at the age of 88.

Our hearts go out to their union families and all who loved them.

🎂 UNION BIRTHDAYS

On Jul. 22, 1893, IBEW Local 60 (San Antonio) was founded.

SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS

🚨 TAKE ACTION

STRIKE SUPPORT: Support Texas City Metal Trades Council members on ULP strike at Ashland Specialty Chemicals

ADD YOUR NAME:

Austin: Tell CapMetro board members to stand with workers, supporting Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1091
Fort Worth: Fair contract for the Fort Worth NewsGuild
Harris County: Give Harris Center employees a raise & stop union busting, supporting United Workers of Harris Center (UWHC - CWA Local 6154)

DONATE:

Support Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 556 (Dallas) member Lorenzo "Enzo" Thompson, who was detained by ICE on July 14, despite having no criminal record.
Support IBEW Local 60 (San Antonio) member Charles Arnold, whose wife was diagnosed with cancer.

📆 EVENTS THIS WEEK

Friday, Jul. 24 in Texas City: ✊ Picket with Texas City Metal Trades Council at Ashland Specialty Chemicals
Workers at Ashland Specialty Chemicals in Texas City are on an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike. Join them every Friday from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Details.

Friday, Jul. 24 in Lubbock: 🏆 SMART HVAC Apprenticeship Training Facility Grand Opening
Join this event to learn how the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 49 is investing in the next generation of skilled sheet metal workers with hands-on, industry-leading equipment and instruction. Details.

Saturday, Jul. 25 in Houston: ✊ ICE OUT of Texas - Marchamos por Lorenzo
Join labor unions and community advocates for a rally and march to demand justice for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, for the witnesses to be released, and action from elected officials. Details.

Saturday, Jul. 25 in San Antonio: 👩🏻‍🏫 Constitutional Observer Training with San Antonio Alliance
Help ensure constitutional rights are respected in the service of ICE accountability, community safety, and our shared democratic values. Details.

Saturday, Jul. 25 in San Antonio: 🎤 Northside AFT Community Conversations on Public Education
Join Northside AFT for a community conversation on public education with Northside ISD President Dr. Sonia Jasso, City Councilman Ric Galvan, and Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) Deputy Director of Policy Dr. Chloe Sikes. Details.

Saturday, Jul. 25 in Austin: ✊ AFSCME Local 1624 Enhanced Library Card Sign Up Event
Join American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) for this solidarity event to mingle with other union members and to try out the application process using alternative forms of ID Anyone that lives in Austin city limits is eligible. Details.

Monday, Jul. 27 online: 👩🏻‍🏫 AFL-CIO Training - Know Your Rights: Constitutional Protections & Immigration Enforcement
This session will cover the rights and protections we all have when it comes to interacting with law enforcement, including immigration agents, so we are prepared to exercise our constitutional rights at home, at work, and in the community. Details.

NEW: Monday, Aug. 3 in Grand Prairie: 🎤 North Texas Labor Town Hall
Join the Texas AFL-CIO for the next stop on our statewide listening tour! We want to talk with North Texas members about the future of the labor movement and our state. Details.

See all upcoming Texas labor events here.

📝 APPLICATIONS & PROGRAMS

👩🏻‍🏫 Texas AFL-CIO Solidarity School: Immigration Training Program
Registration deadline: Monday, Aug. 3
This four-part series will provide labor leaders with information on the political landscape in Texas that created the conditions for anti-union, anti-immigrant policies to pass, as well as actionable skills for unions to assess their rapid-response capabilities. Details.

💪 TEXAS UNION STAFF JOBS

Campaign Field Coordinator – Political and Field Mobilization Hub — AFL-CIO
Lead Organizer — Southern Workers Assembly
Part-Time Organizer (Houston) — Starbucks Workers United

📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK

The Texas AFL-CIO coordinated a tour of the IBEW Local 20’s North Texas Electrical Training Center with elected officials and candidates. When our representatives know more about our work, they’re more likely to fight for good policies like U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Programs.

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