Lone Star Labor: Shaping the future of our movement
The Texas labor movement is under attack from anti-worker billionaires and their political puppets. As they try their hardest to divide us, we must remember to stand together and listen to one another.
That’s why a little less than a year ago, we started our statewide Listening Tour. We wanted to hear directly from Texas union members about the future of our movement. What values should guide us? What should we expect of our elected officials, and if they disappoint us, how will we pressure them to stand with workers?
By the end of 2025, we had held labor town halls in seven cities across Texas. We had powerful conversations with hundreds of union members about the future we’re building together. After a brief pause for special and primary elections, we’re heading back out on the road.
If you’re a union member in Tyler or Beaumont, we want to hear from you. Join Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar and Secretary-Treasurer Lorraine Montemayor for a conversation about what comes next, and how we’ll work together to get there.
- Tyler: Tuesday, March 17, at 4 pm. RSVP here.
- Beaumont: Wednesday, March 18, at 6 pm. RSVP here.
Everyone else: keep an eye out for future labor town halls in your city!
AS GOES TEXAS LABOR...
Austin: Austin city workers union protests IT consolidation as audit flags $201M spending gap — Austin American-Statesman featuring American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1624 (Austin AFSCME)
College Station: College Station firefighters seek voter signatures for civil service, bargaining collective ballot measures — KBTX featuring International Association of Fire Fighters 4511 (College Station) President Brian Johnson
Houston: Long airport lines highlight concerns about unpaid security officers in the shutdown — Associated Press featuring American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) TSA Council 100 Secretary-Treasurer Johnny Jones
Statewide: Texas Democrats Goodwin, Vélez hope to keep voters engaged ahead of lieutenant governor runoff — Houston Public Media featuring United Steelworkers (USW) District 13 Assistant Director Marcos Vélez
Statewide: Workplace Amputations Are on the Rise in Texas and Nationwide — Texas Observer featuring United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) International Vice President Mark Lauritsen
Statewide: Data: Majority of applicants to Texas school voucher program aren't public school students — KVUE
NEWS TO USE
One simple way to heal American politics: run more union members — The Guardian
PWHL Players Association strengthens voice by affiliating with AFL-CIO and its 15 million workers — Associated Press
USL season opens with silent players protest over CBA deadlock — ESPN
Coalition of Unions, Press Freedom Organizations, Editors and Journalists Win Major Victory As Judge Rules Kari Lake’s USAGM Appointment Illegal, Cancels Mass Firings at VOA — Government Accountability Project
AI & TECH NEWS BITE
Yesterday, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) President Sean McGarvey announced a partnership with OpenAI to make sure data center infrastructure is built with union labor. As data centers are built across the country, that should come with an investment in Department of Labor (DOL) Registered Apprenticeship Programs to build a skilled workforce!
TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS
🏃 LABOR ON THE MOVE
NEW ORGANIZING ✊🏽: Solidarity with staff at the Fort Worth Report, who voted overwhelmingly to form a union in a secret ballot election! The Fort Worth Reporters Guild is part of The NewsGuild-CWA and the Media Guild of the West.
Congratulations to Marcy Kiger, who has announced she will retire from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 66 (Pasadena) in April after more than 40 years of service!
Congratulations to Mary Mendez, who was sworn in as Shop Steward for Southwest Airlines in Austin by new International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 2210 President Lori Gazur.
Solidarity with the IBEW Local 66 Women’s History Committee members who proudly represented their local at the Women in Trades Conference in Chicago!
Congratulations to the United Association (UA) Local 142 (San Antonio) members who just reached membership milestones! 25 years: Guadalupe Castillo and Billy Jones; 30 years: Fabian Gonzales; 35 years: Bobby Joe Hughes; 40 years: Greg Carlson, Murry Hughey, and Paul Savage; 60 years: Bobby Joe Hughes Sr.
Congratulations to UA Local 211 (Deer Park) apprentice Connor Darling for receiving a letter and ring of recognition for winning at the State and District levels of the UA International Apprentice Contest held last year in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
💐 IN MEMORY
Jeff Benavidez, past president of the Labor Council of Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) San Antonio Chapter, and retired member of Iron Workers Local 66 (San Antonio), passed away on March 4 at the age of 66. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the LCLAA San Antonio Chapter.
Augie Meyers, legendary musician and longtime member of American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 433 (Austin), passed away on March 7 at the age of 85.
Our hearts go out to their friends and family.
SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS
🚨 TAKE ACTION
ADD YOUR NAME: Tell the FCC to update its VoIP oversight for the internet age! Sign this petition to tell the FCC to reclassify VoIP as a common carrier service and ensure everyone has access to high-quality phone service. Take action here.
SHARE or DONATE to GoFundMe pages for Texas union members detained by ICE:
- IBEW Local 520 (Austin) brother Brian
Brian is an asylum seeker from Colombia and a proud member of IBEW Local 520. Donate here.
- IBEW Local 60 (San Antonio) sister Keyla
Keyla came to the U.S. legally from Honduras, leaving behind an awful life marked by poverty, unsafe living conditions, and constant danger. Today, she’s a licensed electrician and proud IBEW Local 60 member. Donate here.
DELETE THE STARBUCKS APP: Stand with Starbucks Workers United! Union baristas are calling on Starbucks customers to #DeleteTheApp to show Starbucks that you stand with baristas, not billion-dollar companies. Take action here.
📆 EVENTS THIS WEEK
Information Sessions for the 3/28 Houston Citizenship Clinic
Attend ONE information session to learn more about the requirements to apply for U.S. citizenship and prepare for the Mar. 28 Houston Citizenship Clinic.
- Saturday, March 14 virtually: RSVP here.
- Tuesday, March 17 virtually: RSVP here.
Tuesday, March 17 in Tyler: Tyler Labor Town Hall
Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar and Secretary-Treasurer Lorraine Montemayor are back on the road to hear from YOU about what the future of the Texas labor movement should look like. Details here.
Wednesday, March 18 in Beaumont: Beaumont Labor Town Hall
Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar and Secretary-Treasurer Lorraine Montemayor are back on the road to hear from YOU about what the future of the Texas labor movement should look like. Details here.
📆 PLAN AHEAD
Saturday, March 28 in Pasadena: Houston Citizenship Clinic
After attending an information session and confirming you are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship, attend the Citizenship Clinic on Mar. 28! Details here.
See all upcoming Texas labor events here.
📝 APPLICATIONS, PROGRAMS, & TRAININGS
AFL-CIO Upcoming Trainings:
- Monday, Mar. 16: Recruiting Local Union Coordinators
- Tuesday, Mar. 17: Leadership and Labor History
Saturday, March 28 through Sunday, March 29 in Dallas: Texas Solidarity School
Develop skills to plan direct actions and work together to coordinate a May Day 2026 event that centers workers over billionaires. Details here.
Due 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.
Now hiring: AFSCME Texas Corrections Employees Council 907 is hiring for Organizer / Representative to build local union capacity, empower the current membership, and organize new members. This position is statewide, but will start in the Houston / Beaumont area. Details here.
Now hiring: The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 10 is hiring for a Houston Field Organizer to advocate for and support district members. Details here.
Now hiring: AFSCME Local 1624 (Austin AFSCME) is hiring for a Union Representative to serve as an advocate for our members, ensuring that they can enjoy a safe, and just work environment and be treated with respect and dignity. Details here.
📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Members of AFSCME Local 2021 (San Antonio) and Austin AFSCME are among those learning new organizing skills at this week’s AFL-CIO Organizing Institute (OI)!
Photo via AFSCME Local 2021
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