Lone Star Labor: Our movement’s Fair Shot Principles
Every day, we show up, work hard, and keep the Lone Star State moving. But lately, we are all feeling the squeeze. From groceries to rent, the cost of daily life in Texas just keeps climbing.
Over the past year, we hit the road. We heard from over 600 union members at 11 town halls across the state, and the message was clear. We’re tired of the corrupt politicians and billionaires rigging the system against us, and we’re ready to make our voices heard this election season.
Your feedback helped us officially launch our Fair Shot Principles—a bold, ten-point commitment to the fundamental rights every Texas worker deserves.
- You have the right to organize.
- You have the right to a living wage.
- You have the right to a quality education.
- You have the right to retire with dignity.
- You have the right to fairness and safety on the job.
- You have the right to high quality training.
- You have the right to unemployment benefits and workers’ compensation.
- You have the right to a clean energy future.
- You have the right to work-life balance.
- You have the right to equal protection, regardless of status.
These principles will guide us when endorsing pro-labor candidates and creating our legislative goals for the upcoming season.
AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…
Amarillo: Amarillo Labor Day picnic celebrates labor workers — KFDA, featuring West Texas Building and Construction Trades Council and the Amarillo Central Labor Council
Austin: New coalition opposes state takeover: 'We are fighting to keep Austin's schools independent' — Community Impact, featuring Education Austin Vice President Trasell Underwood
Beaumont: Labor leader proposes apprenticeship path for Beaumont students — Beaumont Enterprise, featuring Sabine Area Central Labor Council President and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 479 Business Manager Justin Cooper, Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar, and Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Lorraine Montemayor
Katy: KISD board approves new Kelsey Seybold option for employee health plan for 2026-2027 school year — Katy Times, featuring Katy American Federation of Teachers (Katy AFT)
Midland: Permian Basin Central Labor Union holds 70th annual Labor Day luncheon — First Alert 7, featuring Permian Basin Central Labor Union Former President Dan Holbrook
Tyler: Tyler historian discusses Labor Day history and the fight for workers’ rights in East Texas — Tyler Morning Telegraph, featuring United Steelworkers Union and Teamsters Local 767
Tyler: Labor Day picnic brings Tyler workers, families together — CBS 19, featuring Smith County Regional Labor Council President Claretta Allen
Waco: Texas labor unions mark Labor Day, election season kickoff — KWTX, featuring Central Texas Labor Council President Everett Wyllie
Statewide: Heat risk increases for outdoor workers in Texas, while shots at state or federal protections fade — Courier Texas, featuring Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar and Houston Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Executive Secretary Paul Puente
NEWS TO USE
🏆 Blizzard union workers ratify historic contract covering 1,900 employees — Game Developer
‘Who is going to fight for you?’: AFL-CIO Pres. on why people trust unions OVER political parties — MS Now
‘The most anti-union president’: how Trump turned his back on US workers — The Guardian
🤖 AI & TECH NEWS BITE
Center workers when implementing artificial intelligence.
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and Microsoft established a first-of-its-kind contract to enforce 10 privacy and safety protections for AI usage in schools. After months of negotiations, Microsoft agreed to:
- Ban its AI from making decisions in schools without human oversight,
- Be transparent with educators and parents with how its tools work, and
- Not use student or teacher data to train AI models.
AFT is currently in talks with Open AI and Anthropic to adopt respective safety agreements.
TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS
🏃 ON THE MOVE
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) recently appointed ATU Local 1091 (Austin) President/Business Agent Brent Payne as an International Vice President.
El Paso Central Labor Council awarded three El Paso Fire Fighters Local 51 families with $1,250 scholarships at its Labor Day Breakfast.
SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS
🚨 TAKE ACTION
SIGN UP: Volunteer with the Texas AFL-CIO
Our pro-worker candidates have proven to us that they have the backs of working people, and the Texas labor movement will have their backs in November. We have plenty of different ways to get involved with our member to member program. Pledge to volunteer.
BOYCOTT STARBUCKS: Sign the Pledge with Starbucks Workers United
Workers are demanding that Starbucks finalize a fair union contract with better pay and staffing, and to stop violating U.S. labor law. Sign the boycott pledge.
DONATE: Support the Texas AFL-CIO Scholarship Fund
The 23rd annual Texas AFL-CIO • Walter Umphrey Golf Tournament Fundraiser is less than a month away, and we need your support to stay on track. Can your union or organization commit to a donation sponsorship today?
📆 EVENTS THIS WEEK
Thursday, Sep. 10 online: ☎️ AFSCME Texas Phone Bank
Join the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) in phone banking for our labor-endorsed U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico. Log on early for a phone bank training. Details.
Saturday, Sep. 12 in Pasadena: 👟 Harris County Union Block Walk
Join the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation for a block walk for our labor-endorsed candidates that will fight for us! Bring comfortable walking shoes, water, and a cell phone. Details.
Saturday, Sep. 12 in Austin: 🦋 Free Citizenship Clinic
The Texas AFL-CIO is partnering with community organizations to host a free citizenship clinic. Details.
Saturday, Sep. 12 in San Antonio: 💪 Solidarity School - The Road to November 2026
Join labor and community organizations as we build the skills we need to organize our workplaces and neighborhoods, defend each other's rights, demand what we deserve, and stand up to the billionaire agenda together. Details.
Wednesday Sep. 16 in Houston & online: ☎️ Harris County Union Phone Bank
Join the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation in phone banking for our labor-endorsed candidates. This will be a hybrid phone bank, both in person and virtual participation will be encouraged. Details.
See all upcoming Texas labor events here.
📝 APPLICATIONS & PROGRAMS
In These Times magazine is offering free, one-year magazine subscriptions for union members. Details.
📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Amarillo’s Canyon & Hollywood Starbucks location just became the first Starbucks to unionize in West Texas, joining Starbucks Workers United to secure a fair contract!
Photo courtesy Starbucks Workers United
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