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Lone Star Labor: #ICEout of our communities, protect workers now

Texas AFL-CIO
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Our labor movement isn’t wavering: We need #ICEOUT of our communities!

This week, El Paso and Minnesota union leaders came together in New Mexico to advocate for our union brother’s release from ICE detention. American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) retiree Barbara Wilson and Texas State Employees Union (TSEU - CWA 6186) retiree Judy Lugo were able to make the trip. 

Brother Eustaquio “Paco” Orozco Verdusco spent the last several months detained at the Cibola County Detention Center in New Mexico. A member of NewsGuild-CWA, he was on his way to work on Jan. 9, 2026 in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, when immigration officers began following him shortly after leaving his house. He was arrested and sent across the country.

But Paco isn’t the only union member who’s been unlawfully targeted. Across the country, our fellow members are still being kidnapped and unlawfully held by ICE. And during the World Cup, those threats are even greater.

That’s why the AFL-CIO is calling on ICE to stay out of FIFA host cities. And that’s why unions have joined with community organizations to create Frontline FC: host city information and practical resources for fans, residents, and workers.​

Keep sharing resources, keep demanding #ICEOUT, and keep up the fight! Here are three actions to take this week: 

  1. Share online: Frontline FC resources
  2. Learn more: Online Know Your Rights Training: Constitutional Protections and Immigration Enforcement
  3. Print & share: Know Your Rights palm cards

From north to south and coast to coast, our union movement will continue fighting for our members in ICE detention, and won’t stop ‘til ICE is out of our communities! ✊🏽

AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…

Austin: Austin ISD reduces budget by $205 million for next school year, but keeps librarians on campuses — KUT News, featuring Education Austin (AFT Local 2048) member Traci Dunlap and others

Bryan: Public vigil planned by nurses over patient safety concerns — Bryan College Station Eagle, featuring National Nurses Union (NNU) members

Denton: ‘What happens in Texas does not stay in Texas’: Professors’ group to investigate UNT, other universities — Denton Record-Chronicle, featuring American Association of University Professors (AAUP) members Jennifer Ruth, Rana Jaleel, Hank Reichman, and President Todd Wolfson

La Joya: La Joya teacher’s union protesting district’s plan to close two elementary schools — KRGV, La Joya American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Brenda Lee Salinas and Texas AFT President Zeph Capo

Statewide: Texas AFL-CIO COPE Endorses Vikki Goodwin for Lt. Governor

Statewide: State Board of Education holds decisive votes on adding biblical lessons to public school curriculum — Spectrum News featuring Texas AFT President Zeph Capo

NEWS TO USE

AFL-CIO Condemns Supreme Court Decision to End TPS for Immigrant Workers — AFL-CIO

Big Companies Aim to Ease A.I. Transition for American Workers — The New York Times, featuring AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler

Spirit layoff suit puts spotlight on labor rights in bankruptcy — Bloomberg Law

VA Benefits: Labor Group Issues Warning About Cuts Impacting 1.5 Million — Newsweek

AI & TECH NEWS BITE 

AFL-CIO Worker-Centered AI Principle #5: Institutionalize worker voice within AI Research & Development

Workers are often left out of the technology development process, despite their expertise and the fact that they’re often the end-users. When governments use taxpayer dollars to fund AI research, workers and unions should be part of the process; including them from the beginning helps to create more effective, safer technology and can help to avoid bad decisions around AI development and implementation.

TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS

🏃 ON THE MOVE

Today marks the internationally recognized Day of the Seafarer, recognizing the contributions of maritime workers like our brothers and sisters in the Seafarers International Union (SIU). This year’s theme is “Carrying world trade. Carrying the risks,” highlighting the hardship, pressure, and risks of life at sea, especially in high‑risk and conflict‑affected areas, while underscoring seafarers’ essential role in keeping global trade moving. 

🪧 UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE (ULP) STRIKE IN TEXAS CITY: 70 skilled workers represented by the Texas City Metal Trades Council, AFL-CIO, including:

  • International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 564, 
  • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 527, 
  • United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry (UA) Local 211, and 
  • International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 776 

members at Ashland Specialty Chemicals in Texas City voted to reject the company's contract and authorize a ULP strike. Follow IUOE Local 564 on Facebook for the latest.

🪧 UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE (ULP) STRIKE IN CONROE & HOUSTON AREA: Dozens of skilled workers represented by International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 10, Glaziers Local 1778 are still on a ULP strike against Spring Glass & Mirror. Follow IUPAT District Council 10 on Facebook for the latest.

Congratulations to the newly elected officers of the Central Texas Building Trades (CTBT): President Jeremy Hendricks (Laborers' International Union of North America - LIUNA Local 1095) and Treasurer Cameron Dodd (IBEW Local 520).

SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS

🚨 TAKE ACTION

SUPPORT Glaziers Local 1778’s strike against Spring Glass
IUPAT District Council 10, Glaziers Local 1778 members are on an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike against Spring Glass & Mirror across Houston. Take action today: 

SUBMIT FEEDBACK to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)

  • Support IBEW members: Texas electricians are urged to speak up about TDLR’s Journeyman Electrician Education Program (JEEP) passage. Learn more and take action.
  • Support UA members: Texas HVAC technicians are urged to submit public comments on Air Conditioning and Refrigeration rules (deadline is Jul. 20). Learn more and take action.

ADD YOUR NAME: Tell the State Board of Education: No unfunded curriculum changes!
Our school districts are facing a financial crisis - from Houston to El Paso, ISDs are closing schools, freezing hiring, and are forced to do more with less. This week, the State Board of Education is voting on controversial changes to the social studies TEKS, which will, by some estimates, necessitate more than $1 billion in spending to train teachers without new funding from the legislature. Take action.

ADD YOUR NAME: Tell Congress to make the wealthy pay their fair share
The average monthly Social Security benefit for a retired worker is $2,071. Meanwhile, millionaires and billionaires are paying a smaller portion of their income into Social Security than working Americans. Join with the Alliance for Retired Americans and take action. 

📆 EVENTS THIS WEEK

Friday, Jun. 26 in Houston: ✊ Workers Deserve Better! World Cup Fan Fest
Join Houston unions to get pledge cards supporting our labor movement platform at the World Cup Fan Fest. Details.

Sunday, Jun. 28 in Austin: ✊ 12-Hour Vigil Commemorating Anniversary of Grants Pass Supreme Court Case
Join the Austin Central Labor Council and allies to mark two years since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Johnson v. Grants Pass — a decision that gave cities the green light to ticket and arrest people for sleeping outside, even when no shelter or housing is available. Details.

Tuesday, Jun. 30 online: 👩🏻‍🏫 AFL-CIO Training: AI: Election Protection and Deepfakes
Join the AFL-CIO for this training session as we explore these important topics and equip you with the skills to spot election deepfakes and uncover who's behind these tactics. Details.

Tuesday, Jun. 30 online: 👩🏻‍🏫 AFL-CIO Training: Know Your Rights: Constitutional Protections and 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.

See all upcoming Texas labor events here.

📆 APPLICATIONS & PROGRAMS

DEADLINE EXTENDED - Jun. 30: Apply for the next Texas-based AFL-CIO Organizing Institute (OI) 
This training is designed to provide union organizers with the tools to empower working people to WIN respect and dignity on the job! OI is open to all national and local AFL-CIO affiliated unions with staff or members. Union members must be in good standing and sponsored by their unions. Details.

💪 TEXAS UNION JOBS

📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK

United Workers of Harris Center (UWHC - CWA Local 6154) rallied this week to call on the Harris Center to protect employees’ rights to talk to workers about the union, restore meaningful consultation meetings with the CEO, provide pay raises, and more! 

United Workers of Harris Center (UWHC - CWA Local 6154) rallied this week to call on the Harris Center to protect employees’ rights to talk to workers about the union, restore meaningful consultation meetings with the CEO, provide pay raises, and more!

Photo courtesy UWHC - CWA Local 6154

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