Lone Star Labor: One Job Should Be Enough!

On Labor Day, workers at Houston’s Hilton Americas hotel — members of UNITE HERE Local 23 — began a nine-day strike to demand higher wages. This is the first strike of Texas hotel workers in modern history. ✊🏽

Houston’s tourism industry is booming. Last year, Hilton America’s hotel revenue increased by more than 15% to $3 BILLION, but workers are still struggling to make ends meet. Many people must juggle multiple jobs just to pay their bills and provide for their families.

Members of UNITE HERE Local 23 have been in contract negotiations with Hilton Americas since June. Their primary demand is simple: one job should be enough!

"This fight is not just for us, but for the entire hotel, so that we can all have a better life and peace of mind for ourselves and our families," said member José Luis Piedras.

The striking workers of UNITE HERE Local 23 are sacrificing their time, energy, and paychecks to stand together for a fair contract.

“Everybody should join the fight. It matters for not only Houston but all of Texas, and we're trying to make a difference and make our voices heard,” said member Brian Garcia.

Their fight is our fight. Here’s how you can help:

Follow UNITE HERE Local 23 on Facebook here for the latest updates on the strike.

AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…

Houston: Many high school graduates don't finish college. Local unions are investing in paid apprenticeships. — Houston Chronicle ($), featuring Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation (TGCALF) Executive Director Hany Khalil

Austin: Texas unions rally in Austin against 'billionaire takeover' and for workers' rights — KVUE

Corpus Christi: Coastal Bend Labor Council celebrates 76th annual Labor Day breakfast — KRIS 6

Houston: Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation holds Labor Day celebration BBQ — KPRC 2

Houston: Civil Rights Icon Linda Morales Continues Her Fight for Justice — OutSmart featuring TGCALF Organizing Coordinator Linda Morales

Houston: Pay-for-performance dispute between Houston ISD and its largest teachers union continues in court Thursday — Houston Public Media, featuring Houston Federation of Teachers (HFT) President Jackie Anderson

McAllen: 1.2 million immigrants are gone from the US labor force under Trump, preliminary data shows — Associated Press

San Antonio: Labor Day rally calls for more community benefits from Project Marvel — San Antonio Express-News featuring San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel President Alejandra Lopez, LiUNA Local 1095 Business Manager Matt Gonzales, and CWA Local 6143’s Charles Fuentes.

Tyler: Families celebrating Labor Day weekend in Tyler — KYTX

Waco: Central Texas Labor Union hosts Labor Day lunch to celebrate local workers — KWTX featuring Central Texas Labor Council President Everett Wyllie

Statewide: Texas AFL-CIO Urges Texans to Fight Back at End of Second Special Session — Texas AFL-CIO

NEWS TO USE

Unions are as popular as ever. Our labor laws haven't caught up yet. — MSNBC

Trump’s VA Union Busting Is Another Step Toward Privatizing Veteran Care — Rolling Stone, featuring a photo of United Steelworkers (USW) District 13 Staff Representative Jose Loya

Unions, community groups join forces for Labor Day protests against Trump and billionaires — USA Today

Unions fight back as Trump terminates federal workers' union rights — NPR

TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS

🏃 LABOR ON THE MOVE

Congratulations to the United Workers of Integral Care - CWA Local 6154, who secured raises for lowest-paid staff, fairer grievance and discipline processes, and tuition and car repair assistance benefits for employees! ✊🏼

Congratulations to former Alliance/AFT Executive Vice President George Rangel, who won the Hero of Labor Award, and AFT retiree Patricia Murphy who received the Linda Bridges Award. Both were honored at the Dallas AFL-CIO Labor Day Breakfast.

We’re proud of the CWA District 6 members in Texas Congressional District 15, who once again visited the office of Rep. Monica De La Cruz to hold her accountable for her votes against Texas’ working families.

🎂 UNION BIRTHDAYS

The Texas AFL-CIO wishes a happy early birthday to our union siblings of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), whose predecessor union was founded on May 5, 1888.

📜 THIS WEEK IN LABOR HISTORY…

In Hawaii, on Labor Day of 1946, more than 26,000 sugar workers began a successful 79-day strike that shut down the powerful sugar industry. Organized by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), the strike required radical inclusivity to unify the plantation workforce’s varied ethnic and racial groups, whose cultural and language differences had been capitalized upon by plantation owners to sow division and prevent worker solidarity. Learn more.

SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS

🚨 TAKE ACTION

NEW Contribute to the hardship fund for striking UNITE HERE Local 23 workers in Houston here. Workers are on a nine-day strike for fair wages. Learn more and donate HERE.

Donate to support surgery costs for Angi DeFelippo, political director for the Tarrant County Central Labor Council. Learn more and donate HERE.

Call your member of Congress and tell them to sign the discharge petition and pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act, H.R. 2550! Call your Member HERE.

Donate to the AFGE Federal Employee Defense Fund to fund legal action and other strategies to defend American public employees.

📆 EVENTS THIS WEEK

TODAY at 3pm CT - Thursday, Sep. 4 virtually: AFL-CIO Training: De-Escalation Strategies
Learn to identify escalating tensions at actions and use trauma-informed tactics for intervention. Details here.

TODAY at 6:30pm CT - Thursday, Sep. 4 in McAllen: American Agitators Screening
Join LUPE, Texas AFL-CIO, and Poder Latinx for a special screening of American Agitators, followed by a panel discussion on organizing. Details here.

TODAY through Tuesday, Sep. 9 in Houston: Join the picket line with UNITE HERE Local 23
Join community members standing in solidarity with UNITE HERE Local 23 members on strike at Houston’s Hilton Americas hotel. Details here.

Friday, Sep. 5 through Sunday, Sep. 7 in Dallas: Texas YALL’s 2025 Hot Labor Summer Summit
Join the Texas Young Active Labor Leaders (YALL) for the 2025 Hot Labor Summer Summit. Any union members 40 years old or younger are welcome to join YALL. Details & registration here.

Saturday, Sep. 6 in DFW (and every Saturday): Workers’ Beat on KNON 89.3FM
Listen to Workers’ Beat every Saturday on KNON 89.3FM from 9am to 10am to hear from workers directly, with host Gene Lantz!

Tuesday, Sep. 9 virtually: AFL-CIO Training: Know Your Rights and How to Set Up an Emergency Mobilization
Get guidance about best practice on how to use your voice and protect yourself on the streets. Learn how to prepare your safe before, during, and after a protest. Details here.

Thursday, Sep. 11 AFL-CIO Virtual Training: Transformational Organizing Conversations
Explore how to talk with union members about defending freedom, fairness and security for working people. Practice moving members to take action by participating in a mobilization. Details here.

📆 PLAN AHEAD

Wednesday, Oct. 8 in Leander: 22nd Annual Texas AFL-CIO • Walter Umphrey Golf Tournament
Support the Texas AFL-CIO Membership Education Fund and the Texas AFL-CIO Scholarship Fund at this Four-Person scramble at the Crystal Falls Golf Course. Details & registration here.

January 24-25, 2026 in Georgetown: Texas AFL-CIO 2026 COPE Convention
Save the date for our 2026 COPE Convention. More details coming soon!

📝 APPLICATIONS & PROGRAMS

Texas Construction Career Pathways MC3 Training - Travis County
This 3-week training program prepares participants for a registered apprenticeship in the building and construction trades. The October training session will run from Tuesday, October 14, through Friday, October 31, 2025. Send referrals to Chris Gomez, workforce development program coordinator, at chris@txclimatejobs.org. Interested participants must apply at texasccp.com by Friday, Sept. 12.

2026 Ruth Ellinger Leadership Academy
Applications are NOW OPEN for the 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.

📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK

On Labor Day, we came together across the state to recommit to fighting for all workers. Solidarity is a beautiful thing!

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