Lone Star Labor: Standing with construction workers
ONE BIG THING: SENATE BILL 925 TARGETS PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS
This week, the Texas Senate Committee on Business and Commerce heard Senate Bill (SB) 925, which seeks to bar local governments from adopting Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). It’s a misguided bill that wrongly claims PLAs allow local governments to discriminate against non-union contractors by requiring union-only labor – and we staunchly oppose it.
PLAs are agreements that outline the rules of the road, including terms of employment, for a specific construction project. Decades of research show that PLAs improve worker safety, ensure projects are completed on time or ahead of schedule, and do not increase project costs.
SB 925 tries to address a problem that does not exist. Both union and non-union contractors have always been able to bid on local government projects, and PLAs cover all workers on a project whether they’re union members or not.
Removing this tool from publicly funded public work contracts will increase costs and delays, and jeopardize federal funding that is essential to the completion of critical infrastructure projects!
Our taxpayer money should go toward the creation of good paying and safe jobs. We proudly stand with Texas construction workers who rely on PLAs to keep them safe on the job. Take action for Texas construction workers!]
SB 925 has not been voted out of committee, so keep an eye out for an update on its movement. In the meantime, we’ll be back at the Capitol next Tuesday, Mar. 11 at 8am for the Texas House Committee on Public Education hearing, when they’ll hear House Bill (HB) 3 – Greg Abbott’s private school voucher scam.
AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…
Austin: Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Aguilar testifies against anti-PLA bill in Texas Senate
Corpus Christi: Corpus Christi teachers, union supporters march for public education
Houston: UNITE HERE Local 23 worker wins back her job and benefits plus a year of back pay
San Antonio: San Antonio hospitality workers rally for livable wages ahead of Final Four
Statewide: Communication Workers of America (CWA) District 6 begins bargaining with AT&T Southwest
NEWS TO USE
House votes to censure Rep. Al Green for disrupting Trump speech – The Texas Tribune (see our Texas AFL-CIO statement here)
Texas House DOGE committee preps for first hearing on government spending, waste – Fort Worth Report
Union drive for Volkswagen workers goes national as New Jersey VW workers file to join UAW – UAW
Sesame Street non-profit to be hit with layoffs after staff announce union – The Guardian
GOP must cut Medicaid or Medicare to achieve budget goals, CBO finds – The Washington Post ($)
TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS
🏃 Labor on the Move
The Texas AFL-CIO congratulates Mark Lyle of Teamsters Local 767 on his retirement! Mark is retiring after 34 years with UPS and decades of service as a Business Agent and Union Steward with the local.
The Texas AFL-CIO congratulates Emma Stamps, also of Teamsters Local 767, on becoming the local’s Communications Director!
Congratulations to the recently elected leadership of the Austin, Coastal Bend, and Texarkana Central Labor Councils!
Austin
Joe Cooper, President
Traci Dunlap, Vice President
Rachel McGee, Secretary-Treasurer
Coastal Bend
David Carranco, President
Zavier Myles, Vice President
Dr. Nancy Vera, Secretary-Treasurer
Texarkana
David Beard, President
LaRay D. Williams, Vice President
Shayla LaTonya Flemons, Secretary-Treasurer
🎂 Union Birthdays
Happy Birthday to our union family of International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 970 in Brownsville, who incorporated on March 1, 1948! Here’s to another 77 years of keeping your community safe.
🌹 Women’s History Month
For Women’s History Month, we’ll be highlighting some of the trailblazing women who forged Texas labor! We’re kicking things off with our very own Becky Moeller, the first woman to be elected Texas AFL-CIO President!
💐 In Memory
With our members at the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, the Texas AFL-CIO mourns the passing of Congressman Sylvester Turner, who dedicated his life to public service. Our thoughts are with his friends and family. Read the full statement here.
SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS
Saturday, Mar. 8: DFW International Women’s Day March with the Dallas AFL-CIO Council
Sunday, Mar. 9: Houston Professional Musicians Association International Women’s Month Concert
Monday, Mar. 10 in Austin: Texas AFT Legislative Advocacy Day
Tuesday, Mar. 11 in Austin: Private school voucher scam to be heard in Texas House Public Education Committee
Labor Notes Contest: Songs and Chants for the Strike Line
Got a special picket line chant or song the rest of the labor movement needs to hear? Submit it to Labor Notes’ contest by Saturday, Apr. 12! Submission details HERE.
Federal Workers: Stay Informed
Trump’s attacks on federal workers are moving at a breakneck speed. If you’re an AFGE member or federal worker, you can stay up to date and get critical questions answered at AFGE’s new one stop shop: afge.org/AFGEStrong
Applications Open: Texas AFL-CIO Career-Building Scholarship
Union members: Are you planning on going back to school to build your career? We can help! Apply for our 2025 Career Building Scholarship to receive a $1,500 grant or share with your networks to get the word out. Applications close May 2nd. Details and application HERE.
Applications Open: AFL-CIO Organizing Apprenticeship Application
Want to become an organizer? Apply for the national AFL-CIO Organizing Institute Organizer Apprenticeship training! Applications are open for the next training in Washington, D.C. from April 23-25. Details HERE.
Applications Open: Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Leonard C. Ball & James H. Bell Scholarship
Soon-to-be and current undergraduate students of CBTU families can apply to receive a $2,000 scholarship! Applications are due April 11, 2025. Details HERE.
📸 Photo of the Week
Thank you to Corpus Christi AFT members for rallying to protect public funding for public schools! [Photo by Angela Piazza, Corpus Christi Caller-Times]
Did you enjoy this newsletter? Let us know and submit photos, events, and other Texas labor news at labor@texasaflcio.org!
In Solidarity,
Team Texas AFL-CIO
P.S. We’re hiring! Do you know someone who’d make a good RGV Field Organizer or Digital Organizer? See our open positions here.