Lone Star Labor: One for the History Books
After 40 days on strike, UNITE HERE Local 23 members ratified a new contract with Hilton Americas-Houston, ending the first-ever hotel strike in Texas history. Their fight and what they won redefined the standard for hotel workers across the state, and serves as an example of what Texas workers can accomplish when they stand together for what is right.
Their new contract delivers historic wage increases, making Hilton Americas-Houston housekeepers, laundry attendants, and stewards the first hotel workers in Texas to earn a minimum $20 hourly rate. And their minimum wage is guaranteed to increase to $22/hour by the end of the contract! Workers also secured job security protections, improved housekeeper workloads, and job safety.
This victory wasn’t won alone. Dozens of union siblings and community allies rallied on the picket line, donated to the hardship fund, and provided support to keep spirits high. Local elected leaders showed up to support the strike and amplified the call for fair wages and better working conditions for Houston’s hospitality workers.
This historic victory should inspire workers across industries to follow suit and demand better pay and working conditions! One job should be enough. Now, we’re keeping an eye on the fights of food service workers at George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Starbucks Workers United throughout the state, and Meow Wolf workers in Grapevine. Solidarity!
AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…
Dallas: ‘Not to be used as pawns in this battle’: Dallas federal employees demand end to shutdown — Dallas Morning News featuring AFGE Council 238 President Justin Chen and Tarrant County Central Labor Council President Tevita ‘Uhatafe
Dallas: Government shutdown adds strain to short-staffed air traffic controllers in Texas — Spectrum News
Denton: Letter to the Editor: Open letter to non-citizen UNT students — North Texas Daily, by American Association of University Professors (AAUP) / American Federation of Teachers (AFT) chapter at UNT
San Antonio: San Antonio defense contractor laying off 279 janitors, maintenance workers — San Antonio Express-News
San Marcos: Texas State upholds the firing of associate history professor Thomas Alter — Spectrum News
Statewide: Affordable Healthcare Hangs in the Balance in Federal Government Shutdown — Houston Press featuring Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy
NEWS TO USE
Judge temporarily blocks the Trump administration from firing workers during the government shutdown — Associated Press
AFL-CIO calls for ‘worker-centered AI’ future — The Verge
Federal workers endure financial strain and fear layoffs as the government shutdown drags on — Associated Press
The future of white-collar work may be unionized — The Washington Post ($)
Greece sees 2nd general strike this month as unions protest new labor law — ABC News
TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS
🏃 LABOR ON THE MOVE
NEW ORGANIZING ✊ - Solidarity with faculty at the Alamo Colleges District in San Antonio, who came together to launch a new chapter of the Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors and American Federation of Teachers (Texas AAUP-AFT)!
NEW ORGANIZING ✊ - Solidarity with SEIU Texas and airport and municipal building security officers who organized to form a new union in Houston!
Congratulations to brother Brandon Santana of Teamsters Local 767 (Forest Hill), who earned the October Steward Spotlight! Click through to learn how Brandon has consistently shown up for his union brothers and sisters for the past 28 years!
💐 IN MEMORY
Kent Wong, former director of the UCLA Labor Center and founder of APALA, passed away at the age of 69. A fierce labor and immigrant rights advocate, he knew global solidarity with all workers would only fortify the labor movement and worked to connect workers from throughout the world. Learn more about his life and legacy.
🎂 UNION BIRTHDAYS
The Texas AFL-CIO wishes a happy belated birthday to our union siblings of the United Association, founded Oct. 11, 1889, and the Seafarers International Union, which was formally chartered on Oct. 14, 1938.
📜 THIS WEEK IN LABOR HISTORY…
On Oct. 13, 1998, the NBA canceled its regular season for the first time ever after a player lockout. It lasted more than 6 months. Read the Monthly Labor Review’s analysis of the lockout here.
SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS
🚨 TAKE ACTION
Tell Congress to stop the Trump shutdown! The federal government has shut down because the Trump administration chose chaos and pain over responsible governing. Take two minutes to tell Congress to fund the government and put working people first. Take action here.
Tell Greg Abbott: Hands Off Our Freedom of Speech! Greg Abbott is calling for the firing of educators for opinions shared on their personal social media accounts. Take 2 minutes to tell him you won’t stand for this authoritarianism! Take action here.
📆 EVENTS THIS WEEK
Friday, Oct. 17 virtually: Refresher Course for No Kings Weekend - Best Practices for First Amendment Activity
Learn about lawful First Amendment-protected protest activities so you can be prepared and understand how to best protect yourself at No Kings events. Details here.
Saturday, Oct. 18 statewide: No Kings Rallies
Texans throughout the state will gather to show the world that America has no kings, and the power belongs to the people. Find an event near you.
Saturday, Oct. 18 in Fort Worth: Tarrant County CLC Funkytown Clay Shoot
Join the Tarrant County Central Labor Council for the Funkytown Clay Shoot. Event proceeds provide funding for apprenticeship scholarships. Details here.
Saturday, Oct. 18 in Austin: Union Block Walk: Yes on Austin's Prop Q
Join Austin union members for a block walk to urge our neighbors to vote YES on Prop Q! Details here.
Saturday, Oct. 18 in Jersey Village: Union Block Walk: Houston City Council At-Large 4 and CY-FAIR ISD Trustees
Join CY-FAIR AFT to block walk and talk to local union members to turn out for our endorsed candidates in the November 2025 election. Details here.
Monday, Oct. 20 statewide: First Day of Early Voting
Texas’ next Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th, 2025. Early voting for this election begins October 20th and runs through October 31st! Details here.
Monday, Oct. 20 in Dallas: CWA Early Voting Rally
Join CWA and Dallas TARA for an early voting rally. Details here.
Monday, Oct. 20 virtually: Union Text Bank for Taylor Rehmet for SD 9
Join the Texas AFL-CIO and Tarrant County Central Labor Council for a virtual text bank for our labor-endorsed candidate: Taylor Rehmet for Texas Senate District 9! Details here.
Monday, Oct. 20 virtually: Union Text Bank: Houston City Council At-Large 4 and ISD Races
Text union members to GOTV for labor endorsed candidates for City Council At-Large 4, HISD, CY-Fair ISD, and Aldine ISD race. Details here.
See all upcoming Texas labor events here.
📝 APPLICATIONS & PROGRAMS
2026 Ruth Ellinger Leadership Academy
This one-year training program is a skill-building and leadership development course managed by the Texas AFL-CIO to help grow and support the next generation of union leaders in Texas. Applications are due by Monday, Nov. 3. Apply here.
🇺🇸 FEDERAL WORKERS
Support For Households Affected By The Federal Shutdown
The San Antonio Food Bank has added special Federal Employee Food Distributions to support households experiencing hardship during the government shutdown. Details here.
📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK
This past weekend, the Texas AFL-CIO hosted its first-ever Labor Candidate School! Union members from across the state gained organizing, communications, and fundraising skills to take their future campaigns to the next level.
Members of our inaugural class included Caitlyn Blue (IBEW Local 60), Pierre Bordelon (USW Local 13-228), Diarmid Campbell (IBEW Local 520), Armando Escobedo (ATU Local 1338), Montserrat Garibay (former Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer), Diego Garcia (ATU Local 1338), Brinda Gurumoorthy (Alliance/AFT Local 2260), Thomas Kennedy (UA Local 286), Amethyst James (HOPE AFSCME Local 123), Warren Hobbs II (IAM Local 2930), Desiree Miles (AFGE Local 3320), Michael Moreno (TSEU - CWA Local 6186), Jocilyn Portuondo (HOPE AFSCME Local 123), Sheria Smith (AFGE Local 252), Iris Suddaby (AFSCME Local 1624), and Marco Zapata (IUEC Local 133).
We’re making sure that working class Texans don’t just have a seat at the table, but are ready to lead in the halls of power!
Did you enjoy this newsletter? Sign up now here to get it in your inbox!