Lone Star Labor: Make a plan to vote
This election cycle, corrupt politicians and their billionaire friends are spending millions of dollars to jam the airwaves with lies and distractions.
But working people know the reality. We feel it every time we buy groceries, fill up our tanks, or pay a medical bill. Despite working harder and longer than ever, the daily struggle to get by has become even more difficult.
We need elected officials who will actually go to bat for us, rather than jingle keys to try to distract us from an economy that favors the few at the expense of the many.
Corrupt officials want to make it harder to vote, so they can keep their power. They’ve shuttered polling locations statewide, passed the most restrictive preregistration laws in any U.S. state, and made mail-in ballots available only to a few groups.
These barriers exist because our voice matters more than ever before. They’re scared to see what will happen when we rise up in numbers to take back our state.
That’s why every union member needs to make a plan to vote and bring every person they can with them. We cannot afford for anyone to sit this election out. Let’s show up to the polls together, elect our pro-worker candidates, and make sure every vote is counted.
AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…
Austin: UT workers and students march against changes to academic programs — Austin Chronicle, featuring Texas State Employees Union (TSEU - CWA Local 6186) President Ilesa Daniels Ross
Austin: What will it take to ‘Get ICE the fuck out of Austin’? — Texas Observer, featuring former Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer and Education Austin member Montserrat Garibay
Austin: Opposing political groups go head-to-head on Austin’s Prop I — KXAN, featuring American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1672 Vice President Cynthia Simons
Fort Worth: 100+ Dallas/Fort Worth Union Members Rally With NFL Legend Everson Walls and Election Candidates, Calling For a Texas All Working People Can Afford — IAM, featuring IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) President Brian Bryant and IAM Local 776B and Texas IAM State Council President Taylor Rehmet
🏆 Gainesville: Safran, employees come to contract agreement — Gainesville Daily Register, featuring Teamsters Local 767 President Dave Reeves
Houston: Workers vs. billionaires rally pushes voter turnout in Houston — Courier Texas, featuring Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar and Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation Executive Director Hany Khalil
Statewide: Texas districts using state-developed Bluebonnet curriculum saw slight STAAR gains — Community Impact, featuring Texas American Federation of Teachers President Zeph Capo
Statewide: The Rick Smith Show— Political Voices Network, featuring Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar
NEWS TO USE
Trump officials ramp up investigations into voter registration groups — New York Times
New lawsuit challenges Trump-Vance administration policies threatening green card applicants with family separation — Democracy Forward
Senate confirms Keith Sonderling, a business ally, as labor secretary — Washington Post
🤖 AI & TECH NEWS BITE
Unions are protecting workers’ rights from AI intrusion through collective bargaining.
Creative workers behind Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gatherings, Duel Masters, and other games joined the United Wizards of the Coast, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), to fight for fair wages, job security, and strong protections against AI intrusion. The union claimed that management continued to force writers and designers to use generative AI tools in their work.
UWC is joining unions across the nation that are using contract negotiations to ban or restrict invasive AI practices, preserve their intellectual property, and protect their jobs from AI outsourcing.
TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS
🏃 ON THE MOVE
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 716 President Mitch Mayon received the A. Philip Randolph Institute Tidelands Chapter Hero award.
💐 IN MEMORY
Brother Johnathan Juarez, a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 716 (Houston), passed away on Sept. 22 at age 28.
Our hearts go out to their union families and all who loved them.
SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS
🚨 TAKE ACTION
PLAN AHEAD: 🗳️ Protect your vote and make a plan to vote
Making a plan to vote is a critical part of ensuring your voice is heard in this election. Find our slate of union-recommended candidates, early voting information, and find your early or day of voting location. Make your plan.
DEADLINE APPROACHING: ✊ 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. Early bird registration is ending on Oct. 14.Can we count on you or your members to join us?
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.
📆 EVENTS THIS WEEK
Friday, Oct. 9 - Sunday, Oct. 11 in Houston: 🛠️ Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference
Join this year’s Tradeswomen Build Nations, the largest gathering of unionized tradeswomen in the world. Details.
Saturday, Oct. 10 👟 Union Block Walks:
Tuesday, Oct. 13 online: ☎️ San Antonio Union Phone Bank
Join the Texas AFL-CIO and San Antonio AFL-CIO for a San Antonio-focused virtual phone bank for our labor-endorsed candidates. Details.
Tuesday, Oct. 13 in Houston: 🚂 Rail Labor Solidarity Rally
Railroad workers, retirees, labor organizations, and supporters are rallying to promote safety, job security, and workers’ rights. Details.
Wednesday, Oct. 14 in Dallas: 📣 TARA Rally for James Talarico & Saving Social Security
Join the Texas Alliance for Retired Americans (TARA) for a rally to scrap the cap on social security and support James Talarico for U.S. Senate. Details.
Thursday, Oct. 15 online: ☎️ San Antonio Union Phone Bank
Join the Texas AFL-CIO and San Antonio AFL-CIO for a San Antonio-focused virtual phone bank for our labor-endorsed candidates. Details.
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.
See all upcoming Texas labor events here.
📸 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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