Lone Star Labor: Solidarity is our superpower
It doesn’t matter what union you’re a member of, what town you grew up in, or whether you’re black, brown, or white — if you work for a living, our Texas labor movement has your back. Just look at the events of this past week:
1️⃣ In Texas City, dozens of workers showed up last week to walk the picket line with our Texas City Metal Trades Council brothers and sisters at Ashland Specialty Chemicals (pictured above). It was a beautiful example of solidarity in action — giving workers the boost they needed to keep going and sending a strong message to company management. If you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us!
The 70 skilled workers there just entered week two of their Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike and continue to hold the line, but they need our continued support. This strike is about safety for both workers and the community. Sign up for a shift NOW to join them on the picket line.
2️⃣ In Austin, unions from all industries are sharing their solidarity publicly to support Amalgamated Transit Workers (ATU) Local 1091. Keolis/CapMetro workers voted 99.5% to authorize a strike, if necessary, over stalling negotiations. After hearing their calls for a fair contract, our movement responded in full force with posts from: Austin Central Labor Council, AFSCME Local 1624, Austin Nurses United (NNU), Central Texas Building Trades, CWA District 6, Education Austin, LIUNA Local 1095, OPEIU Local 277, Texas State Building and Construction Trades Council, and more! Keep up the solidarity by sharing your support on social media today.
3️⃣ And in Houston, unions are banding with the community to demand answers in the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during an ICE operation in Houston’s Magnolia Park neighborhood. Our labor movement insists on fairness, due process, and respect for the dignity of all workers, regardless of nationality or citizenship status. We join together in solidarity because every worker deserves to come home safe at the end of the day.
Federal agents pursuing Trump’s deportation agenda have repeatedly engaged in lawless and unconstitutional behavior. We call for ICE out of all communities and affirm our unwavering solidarity with immigrant communities of all backgrounds. Join local unions for a community vigil to honor Lorenzo on Saturday.
Our solidarity is our strength. Our solidarity is our superpower. We can build real power for Texas workers — but only if we fight together.
AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…
Dallas: Texas workers build strength together, organize with SMART Local 68 — SMART, featuring SMART Organizers Ralph Gomez, Yadriel Carrasquillo, and others
Lubbock: Faculty groups sue to block Texas Tech rules limiting instruction on race, gender, sexual orientation — The Texas Tribune, featuring the Texas American Association of University Professors (AAUP-AFT)
San Antonio: TPR and San Antonio Report join forces to make largest nonprofit newsroom San Antonio has ever seen — San Antonio Report, featuring Media Guild of the West and Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)
Texas City: Workers at Texas City Ashland plant hold line as strike enters second week — Galveston County Daily News featuring various Texas City Metal Trades Council members
Tyler: UPS investigates safety concerns after Tyler driver collapses, union calls for change — KETK featuring Teamsters Local 767 President Dave Reeves
Statewide: OPINION: Texas doesn't have a Bible problem. It has a literacy problem — Austin American-Statesman by former Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer and Democratic nominee for Texas House District 49 Montserrat Garibay
Statewide: Texas launches Classroom Commission to shape future of public education in the state — KXAN, featuring Education Austin President Ken Zarifis
Statewide: Hundreds of Texas Teachers Were Investigated for Posting About Charlie Kirk. Here’s What Happened Next. — Texas Monthly, featuring Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Zeph Capo
NEWS TO USE
AI Leads US Job Cuts for Record 4th Month as Tech Claims 31% of H1 Layoffs — Tech Times
How unions can save higher education—and democracy — The New Republic
DOGE is officially over. The debate over government cuts isn’t. — The Washington Post
‘Becoming a Plumber Completely Changed My Life’ — The Cut
AI & TECH NEWS BITE
AFL-CIO Worker-Centered AI Principle #7: Model best practices for AI use with government procurement
Public tax dollars should not be spent on purchasing AI systems that are unsafe, harm public sector workers, or reduce the quality of government services. Public agencies must set the gold standard for responsible AI use, and require that AI systems uphold the public interest and respect workers’ rights, including transparency, privacy, intellectual property rights, and civil rights.
They also must engage with unions beforehand to protect jobs and vital services, enlist workers’ experience in evaluating what works and what doesn’t and overall, center humans in the work.
TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS
🏃 ON THE MOVE
Brother Diarmid Campbell, San Angelo-based International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 520 assistant business agent, successfully completed Wayne State University’s Labor School! Diarmid was a 2025 recipient of the Texas AFL-CIO Career-Building Scholarship.
The Texas Building and Construction Trades Council has launched an email newsletter! Subscribe here.
💐 IN MEMORY
Brother John L. Defee, a member of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 848 and a proud aviation hydraulic technician, passed away at the age of 79.
Brother Robert Hawkins, a Texas Labor Hall of Fame member and jack of all trades, passed away on Jul. 8 at the age of 87. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Robert held delegate and leadership positions in the United Rubber Workers (URW), the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders and Bindery Workers (IBB), the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), the International Association of Machinists (IAM), and the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA). Texas Governor Ann Richards appointed Robert to the Texas Workforce Investment Council, one of many appointments he garnered from six different Texas governors. He was inducted into the Texas Labor Hall of Fame in 2011.
Our hearts go out to their union families and all who loved them.
📜 THIS WEEK IN TEXAS LABOR HISTORY…
On July 5, 1966, farm workers in Rio Grande City began a 380-mile march to the Texas Capitol to raise awareness of their struggle for a $1.25/hour minimum wage and improved working conditions. Learn more.
SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS
🚨 TAKE ACTION
ADD YOUR NAME: Fair contract for the Fort Worth NewsGuild
Union members at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram have been bargaining for more than six months with McClatchy to obtain a fair contract, but have received unacceptable proposals on wages, AI, and successorship from the company. Stand with the Fort Worth NewsGuild! Take action.
ADD YOUR NAME: Tell Harris Center: Give employees a raise & stop union busting
Support United Workers of Harris Center (UWHC - CWA Local 6154) to call on the Harris Center to get the CEO’s pay raise back, give employees a raise, and stop union busting! Take action.
ADD YOUR NAME: Stop the closure of FCI Big Spring
Support American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3809! The clock is ticking on the economic future of Howard County. The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ recent announcement that the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI/FPC) Big Spring will permanently close by Mar. 31, 2027, is not a distant corporate restructuring—it is an immediate economic emergency for our communities. Take action.
📆 EVENTS THIS WEEK
Friday, Jul. 10 in Texas City: ✊ Picket with Texas City Metal Trades Council at Ashland Specialty Chemicals
Workers at Ashland Specialty Chemicals in Texas City — represented by four unions with the Texas City Metal Trades Council, AFL-CIO — are on an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike. Join them every Friday from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Details.
Saturday, Jul. 11 in Houston: 🕯️ Community Vigil for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo
SEIU Texas, the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, and New Houston will come together with the community to remember beloved father Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was shot and killed during an ICE operation while on his way to work. Details.
Monday, Jul. 13 online: 👩🏻🏫 AFL-CIO Training: History of Voting Rights
In this interactive training, we will look at the history of voting rights in the U.S. and discuss the relationship to today. Details.
See all upcoming Texas labor events here.
📝 APPLICATIONS & PROGRAMS
Registration is NOW OPEN for the 23rd annual Texas AFL-CIO • Walter Umphrey Golf Tournament, which will take place on Oct. 1. This is one of our largest fundraisers of the year to support both our Texas AFL-CIO Scholarship Fund (tax-deductible) and Texas AFL-CIO Membership Education Fund. Details & sponsorships.
Registration is NOW OPEN for the 2026 Tradeswomen Build Nations (TWBN) conference! This year’s largest annual gathering of unionized tradeswomen in the world will be held in Houston from Oct. 9–11. Details.
💪 TEXAS UNION STAFF JOBS
- ⭐ Digital Organizer — Texas AFL-CIO
- Field Communications & Campaign Support Specialist – Communications — AFL-CIO
📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK
The North Texas Area Labor Federation joined the Arlington Fourth of July parade over the weekend to celebrate the union members who build America!
Photo courtesy Texas Alliance for Retired Americans (TARA)
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