Lone Star Labor: Texans take action across the state
Whose state? Our state!
Unions across Texas are leading the way to fight for workers’ rights right now, and making news while they’re at it. Just this week, we saw dozens of actions where workers stood together in solidarity to save jobs and demand respect. Here’s just a bit of the news coverage:
- Austin: United Airlines flight attendants rally at Austin's airport for better pay — KVUE
- Dallas: Dallas vets and labor allies rally to save VA hospital from DOGE — People’s World
- Houston: Federal workers in Houston rally against job cuts at USPS, NASA, NOAA — KHOU 11
- San Antonio: San Antonio postal workers to hold rally Thursday against proposed changes for USPS — KSAT
- Statewide: Texas educators band together to challenge school vouchers, faculty 'censorship' — Austin American-Statesman ($)
It’s going to take all of us to protect and expand workers’ rights in our state. This isn’t about Democrats vs. Republicans — it’s about workers vs. big corporations and billionaires. And the only way we can win this fight is by standing in solidarity together.
We’re keeping an eye on all labor-led events and collecting them on our online calendar here. Got an event coming up? Send the details to labor@texasaflcio.org.
AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…
Beaumont: Beaumont Firefighters Union, City Manager respond to no-confidence vote in department's leadership — 12 News Now
Houston: Teachers' union in Houston concerned after Trump administration laid off half of Department of Education's workforce — ABC 13 Houston
San Antonio: How White House firings could hit San Antonio veterans — Axios
NEWS TO USE
New bill in Congress proposes banning all federal unions — The Center Square
Trump to pick union-busting attorney for key labor law position — The American Prospect
Federal workers union sues Trump Administration to preserve TSA contract — The New York Times ($)
United Football League players association files unfair labor practice charges against league — The Athletic
TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS
🏃 Labor on the Move
Congratulations to workers at Via 313 North Campus in Austin for successfully unionizing this week with Restaurant Workers United! Workers voted to unionize in October 2022, however the results were never certified due to challenged ballots and unresolved Unfair Labor Practices. In a settlement with Via 313, the company agreed to collectively pay out approximately $50,000 to terminated workers and organizers agreed to rerun the elections. The workers voted 22-16 to unionize.
Congratulations to Leslie Vazquez and Lourdes Martinez, banquet servers at the Levy-George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston and members of Unite Here! Local 23, for winning back pay after the company violated their contract. That’s the union difference!
Congratulations to these Teamsters Local 767’s new Shop Stewards for completing their steward training!
📜 This Week in Labor History…
The Cowboy Strike of 1883 began on Mar. 23. In the Texas Panhandle, 328 cowboys withheld their manual labor from seven major ranches for nearly two months. The cowboys demanded regular pay instead of annual lump sums.
The Coalition of Labor Union Women was founded on Mar. 24, 1974. The CLUW is the only national organization solely for women union members and is one of six constituency groups within the AFL–CIO.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City Mar. 25, 1911 was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city, and one of the deadliest in U.S. history. 146 garment workers were killed.
SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS
🚨 Take Action
Next week, the Texas Senate could vote on Senate Bill 925 (SB 925), which would prevent local governments from using Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) — an agreement that outlines the rules of the road, including terms of employment, for a specific construction project. We’re urging Texans across the state to send a letter to your state senator NOW.
📆 Events
Sunday, Mar. 23: National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Day of Action: “Hell no!” to Dismantling the Postal Service
Join NALC members across the state to rally to safeguard the USPS — one of our nation’s most trusted public agencies. Texas events at this time include:
- Austin: 1PM at 1100 Congress Ave. with Branch 181
- Corpus Christi: 12PM at 5217 South Padre Island with Branch 1259
- El Paso: 11AM at NW Corner of N. Mesa St. & Sunland Park Dr. with Branch 505
- Flower Mound: 2PM at 2001 Lakeside Pkwy with Branches 132, 493, 4240, 266, 4784, 950, 4065, and 226
- Galveston: 12PM at 5826 Broadway with Branch 23
- Houston: 1PM at 4600 Aldine Bender with Branches 283, 842, and 23
- New Braunfels: 10AM at Main Plaza with Branch 2805
- San Antonio: 1PM at 615 E. Houston St. with Branch 421
- Waco: 3PM at 424 Clay Ave. with Branches 5734 and 404
- Wichita Falls: 5PM at 5310 Southwest Pkwy with Branch 1227
Monday, Mar. 24 in Austin: Workers Defense Lobby Day and Rally
Texas is the most dangerous and deadly state for construction workers in the nation. Workers Defense is fighting to change that, but we need your help! The rally will be at the South Steps at 3:45PM – Registration and details HERE.
Wednesday, Mar. 26 in Austin: Infrastructure Academy Launch & Career Fair
Join Workforce Solutions Capital Area and partners (including the Texas AFL-CIO) for the official launch of Austin’s Infrastructure Academy. This event will bring together Austin’s mobility and infrastructure employers, training organizations. and community leaders to offer job seekers a path to work on mobility and infrastructure projects in Central Texas. Details HERE.
📝 Applications & Programs:
- Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Leonard C. Ball & James H. Bell Scholarship for undergraduate students, application due Friday, Apr. 11.
- Labor Notes Contest: Songs and Chants for the Strike Line for songwriters, due Saturday, Apr. 12.
- 2025 Strategic Corporate Research Summer School for folks interested in working in the labor movement at the Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations, applications due Thursday, May 1.
- Texas AFL-CIO Career-Building Scholarship for affiliated union members furthering their career, application due Friday, May 2.
🇺🇸 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
⭐ Texas AFL-CIO 2025 Constitutional Convention
Local unions affiliated with the Texas AFL-CIO should have received registration packets in the mail for the 2025 Constitutional Convention, happening June 26-28 at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk.
- Nominate your union or someone you know for a Community Service Award or Publications Award! Details HERE.
- Sponsorship opportunities are now available! Details HERE.
📸 Photo of the Week
This week, Texas firefighter leaders and union members made the most of Firefighter Day at the state Capitol, raising awareness of pending bills related to public and firefighter safety and state regulation of fire and EMS services. Photo courtesy of the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters.
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