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Lone Star Labor: Mourn the dead. Fight like hell for the living.

TEXAS AFL-CIO
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This May Day, we’re celebrating workers in hard times. The latest AFL-CIO Death on the Jobs report shows that Texas workers are still dying and getting hurt on the job at rates higher than the national average. 

In 2024, 557 Texas workers died on the job. And since then, Donald Trump and Greg Abbott have cut essential funding and staffing. They diverted resources and blocked policies that protect workers. 

And it’s part of a bigger pattern. Our rights are under attack. Billionaires are only getting richer, and their bought-and-paid-for politicians keep finding ways to profit off our labor. 

But we’re fighting back together, building working power and protecting our rights. Solidarity is our strength, and standing together is how we make it through. 

Join us this May Day weekend to stand up for workers and a better Texas. We’ll reflect, reconnect, and get ready for the fights ahead.

AS GOES TEXAS LABOR...

Abilene: Data center boom strains Texas homebuilders’ need for electricians — The Texas Tribune featuring International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 520 (Austin) Political Director Cameron Dodd

Austin: Austin ISD educators rally against proposed cuts to classrooms, jobs — Austin Current featuring Education Austin President Ken Zarifis

Austin: CapMetro bus drivers union pushes for more training —  KXAN featuring Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1091 President Brent Payne

Austin: Op-Ed: Labor Solidarity Needed for a Safer Austin — The Austin Chronicle featuring American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 1624 (Austin AFSCME) member Seon-Ju Seung-Bickley

Dallas: 2 high-profile Texas Democrats try to keep their careers alive after GOP gerrymander — featuring Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6215 (Dallas) and Colin Allred, our labor-endorsed candidate for TX-33

Houston: Concessions workers at Houston’s Bush Airport secure hourly wage increase through labor union — Houston Public Media featuring UNITE HERE Local 23 member Kia Howard

NEWS TO USE

‘Death on the Job’ Report Details Workplace Safety Decline Under Trump — Common Dreams

Inflation is sucking the life out of teacher pay raises, report says — NPR

6 Policies Proved To Increase Union Membership — Center for American Progress

How the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Ruling Could Affect the Midterms — The New York Times ($)

AI & TECH NEWS BITE

Bipartisan Momentum: Lawmakers Urge White House to Adopt Worker-Centered AI
“The AFL-CIO looks forward to partnering with members of Congress—Republicans and Democrats alike—who are committed to prioritizing working families over tech billionaires.” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said in response to a bipartisan letter sent by Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) urging the White House to include workers' voices in federal AI policy.

TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS

🏃 LABOR ON THE MOVE

✊ Solidarity with UNITE HERE Local 23 airport concessions workers in Houston who ratified a new contract with OTG at George Bush Intercontinental Airport! Workers won significant pay increases, decreased healthcare costs, additional paid time off, and job protections.

🏆 Congratulations to United Association (UA) Local 286 (Austin) Training Director Joe Cooper and Business Manager Chap Thornton and, who received the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Mark H. Ayers Community Achievement Award for their work leading the Central Texas Apprenticeship Readiness Program. Watch video from NABTU Legislative Conference 2026 here.

Congratulations to International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 51 (El Paso) Fire Paramedic Michael Mendez, who is retiring after 33 years of service.

Congratulations to brother Tim Wilson of UA Local 142 (San Antonio) on receiving his 45-year membership certificate.

Congratulations to brother Drew Henry of IBEW Local 66 (Houston) who topped out to the classification of journeyman Substation Tech.

💐 IN MEMORY

Charles G. Harris, member of UA Local 211 (Houston), passed away on Apr. 18 at the age of 83.

Tony Sorrells, member of ATU Local 1091 (Austin), passed away on Apr. 26 at the age of 59.

Our hearts go out to their friends and family.

🎂 UNION BIRTHDAYS

Happy belated birthday to IBEW Local 278 (Corpus Christi), who celebrated their 100th year on Apr. 24!

Happy birthday to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 2930 (Dallas), who will celebrate their 2-year anniversary on May 7!

SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS

🚨 TAKE ACTION

SHARE or DONATE to GoFundMe pages for Texas union members:

ADD YOUR NAME: Tell Austin ISD to put students and educators first.
Education Austin is fighting against proposed harmful schedule changes and budget cuts. Add your name to show you oppose these threats to the very foundation of student success, teacher retention, and special education compliance. Take action here.

CALL YOUR SENATORS: Tell Your Senators: Don’t Make Voting Harder for Working People! The SAVE America Act would make it harder for millions of Americans to vote. Call your senators and tell them to stop this voter suppression bill. Take action here.

📆 EVENTS THIS WEEK

This Weekend, statewide: ✊ May Day

Friday, May 1: 

Saturday, May 2

Sunday, May 3

Tuesday, May 5 in Killeen: 🎤 AFGE District 10 Town Hall for Fort Hood Federal Employees
Join AFGE National Vice President Cheryl Eliano and national staff from Washington, D.C. for information regarding employee rights, job security, and future outlooks within the federal workforce. Details here.

Tuesday, May 5, virtual: 📱Union Text Bank for Pro-Worker Primary Runoff Candidates
Join the Texas AFL-CIO for a virtual text bank for our labor-endorsed candidates in the May 26 Primary Runoff, including: Lieutenant Governor: Marcos Vélez (D), Assistant Director of United Steelworkers (USW) District 13! Details here.

Tuesday, May 5, virtual: 👩🏻‍🏫 Training: AFL-CIO's Volunteer Recruitment
This workshop will support anyone responsible for building a deep volunteer base for their union or federation. Details here.

Wednesday, May 6 for Central Texas: 📚 Virtual Briefing for State Board of Education District 5: What Is At Stake
Join Texas AFT for a one-hour briefing on the SBOE, what is at stake, and hear directly from SBOE District 5 candidate, Allison Bush. Details here.

📆 PLAN AHEAD

Tuesday, May 12 in Amarillo: 🎤 Amarillo Labor Town Hall 
Join us for our next Labor Town Hall to talk about the future of the labor movement and our state. Details.

See all upcoming Texas labor events here.

📝 APPLICATIONS, PROGRAMS, & TRAININGS

DUE TOMORROW, May 1: Apply for a 2026 Texas AFL-CIO Career-Building Scholarship! Each year, the Texas AFL-CIO awards $1,500 scholarships to affiliated union members who have returned to school to advance their careers. Learn more and apply here.

Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation is hiring for a Digital Organizer in Houston. This role provides digital communications, graphic design, data analytics, and comms infrastructure support for multiple Federation programs. Apply here.

📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK

On Workers Memorial Day, San Antonio union leaders gathered at Labor Plaza to honor workers who have lost their lives and to commit to holding the line ‘til every worker is safe on the job.

Every family deserves to know their loved ones will walk through the door at the end of the day. 🕊️

San Antonio Workers Memorial Day

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