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Lone Star Labor: Texas highlights from the AFL-CIO Convention

Texas AFL-CIO
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From Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar & Secretary-Treasurer Lorraine Montemayor:

We’re leaving the 30th AFL-CIO Convention hopeful, energized, and proud.

Over the last four days, we were reminded that the Labor Movement will continue to lead the resistance, build worker power, and welcome every activist into the fight. But what made us especially proud was seeing Texas highlighted throughout the convention.

From panelists recognizing the fights being led by Texas workers to powerful keynote speakers lifting up the work happening in our state, campaigns from folks like UNITE HERE Local 23, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Texas, and Communications Workers of America (CWA) District 6 were spotlighted throughout the week.

American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) President Everett Kelley gave District 10 National Vice President Cheryl Eliano her flowers for mobilizing members to e-dues and ensuring federal workers remain strong in the face of attacks on their unions. Sister Alejandra Lopez, president of San Antonio AFL-CIO and San Antonio Alliance (AFT Local 67), reminded us that resilience is one of the labor movement’s greatest strengths. And Dolores Huerta challenged us to continue organizing to repeal racist laws like “right-to-work”.

Texas voices were also heard from the convention floor as delegates spoke in support of resolutions that will help shape the future of our movement:

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler set the goal to organize 2 million workers over the next five years, and we know that our state and the South are critical to that work! Texans will continue showing up, leading, organizing, fighting, and building worker power! 

In solidarity,
Leonard Aguilar & Lorraine Montemayor

AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…

Austin: Austin ISD parents and teachers protest deep cuts that will reshape schools — KUT News featuring Education Austin (AFT Local 2048) President Ken Zarifis and members

Dallas: Citing poor working conditions and pay, DART paratransit workers vote to authorize strike — Dallas Observer featuring Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1338 Vice President Bernard Wade

Dallas: Dallas Black Dance Theatre gets new leader after labor dispute — KERA News featuring American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA)

Fort Worth & Amarillo: Bell lays off 285 employees in Texas and Kansas — Fort Worth Report — featuring United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 218

🏆 Houston: Marriott Marquis Houston workers secure increased wages through union contract — Houston Public Media featuring UNITE HERE Local 23 Secretary-Treasurer Willy Gonzalez

Houston: New IAFF analysis finds call volume, resource gaps straining HFD — Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association (IAFF Local 341)

Statewide: Has Texas ‘Death Star law’ gone too far? Lawmakers weigh changes — KXAN

NEWS TO USE

Op-Ed: America’s Workers Are Fighting Back — and Winning — The Contrarian written by AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler

20 House Republicans Break Ranks to Join Democrats in Passing Pro-Union Bill — TIME Magazine 

Stadium workers near LA say they have a tentative deal, averting strike ahead of World Cup — Houston Chronicle

Inside one labor union’s push to make AI improve work — not replace it — Technically

AI & TECH NEWS BITE 

More than 90% of working people favor AI guardrails to protect their jobs and privacy rights. That’s why the AFL-CIO built the first-of-its-kind Workers First AI Agenda, grounded in principles that bind the interests of all people, no matter what they do, where they live, who they voted for or how they feel about new technology. 

At the 2026 Convention, delegates recommitted to these principles and called for industry and government leaders to:

  • Strengthen labor rights and broaden opportunities for collective bargaining.
  • Advance guardrails against harmful uses of AI at work.
  • Support and promote copyright and intellectual property protections.
  • Develop a worker-centered workforce development and training system. 
  • Institutionalize “worker voice” within AI research and development.
  • Require transparency and accountability in AI applications.
  • Model best practices for AI use with government procurement.
  • Protect workers’ civil rights and uphold democratic integrity.

The decisions that politicians make on AI right now are going to shape the next decades for working people. AI should work for us!

TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS

🏃 ON THE MOVE

UNITE HERE Local 23 and workers at the Marriott Marquis in Downtown Houston just won a new contract with higher wages, lower health care costs, and more!

United Association (UA) just reached 400,000 members! 

UA Local 211 (Houston) apprentices made history at the UA District 3 Apprentice Contest: Dawson Atkinson (first place in HVACR) and Angel Platas (third place in Pipefitting) are moving on to the UA National Apprentice Contest. 

International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 49 (Lubbock) and UA Local 142 (San Antonio) are building new training facilities for the next generation of apprentices! 

Congratulations to International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 66’s Devayne Darling and IBEW Local 716’s Taylor Channing (a Ruth Ellinger alum) for topping out to the classification of journeyman lineman in Houston. 

💐 IN MEMORY

Brother Starkey C. “Butch” Grizzle, retired member of SMART Local 67 (San Antonio), passed away on May 30 at the age of 82.

Brother Christopher “Rena” Joseph Huff, a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 66 (Houston) known as “Shorty” to his co-workers, passed away on Jun. 5 at the age of 54.

Brother Tim Mahoney, member of Texas State Employees Union (TSEU - CWA Local 6186) passed away on May 27 at the age of 74.

Brother Trenton McBride, a 10-year member of Teamsters Local 767 at Molson Coors, passed away recently.

UAW Local 276 (Arlington) mourns the passing of members and co-workers Brother Rev. Ellis Ford Jr., Sister Shirlona E. Henley, and Brother Kojo Simmons. 

Brother Dominique Jarmain Wrice, a 23-year member of Teamsters Local 767 at UPS, passed away on Jun. 2 at the age of 42. 

Our hearts go out to their friends, family, and union siblings.

SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS

🚨 TAKE ACTION

SUPPORT Glaziers Local 1778’s strike against Spring Glass
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 10, Glaziers Local 1778 members are on an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike against Spring Glass & Mirror across Houston. Take action today: 

ADD YOUR NAME: Tell Transdev / DART — FAIR CONTRACT NOW!
After months of bargaining for a fair contract for paratransit workers employed by Transdev (a contractor for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)) represented by ATU Local 1338, workers voted 99% to strike and shut down the property! Add your name NOW to tell Transdev leadership: FAIR CONTRACT NOW! Take action here.

CALL: Tell Congress: No Blank Checks for ICE! 
It’s time for Congress to do their job and refuse to use taxpayer dollars to fund agencies that are accountable to no one. Workers want affordability and stability, not fear and chaos! Take action here.

📆 EVENTS THIS WEEK

Thursday, Jun. 11 in Conroe: ✊ IUPAT Local 1778 ULP Picket at Spring Glass
Join members of IUPAT Glaziers Local 1778, who are on strike over Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) as they continue fighting for a fair contract after nearly two years of negotiations. Details.

Thursday, Jun. 11 in Houston: ✊ UNITE HERE Local 23 Stadium Concessions Workers Speak Out
Ahead of the World Cup, Houston stadium workers will hold a press conference and speak to the Harris County Commissioner’s Court to demand respect on the job. Details.  

Thursday, Jun. 11 in Austin: ✊ Education Rally at Austin ISD Headquarters
Join Education Austin members to rally for transparency and the protection of our schools ahead of proposed budget cuts and layoffs. Details.

Sunday, Jun. 14 in Canyon: 💙 Amarillo Construction Hike for Hope
Join IBEW Local 602 for a day of fellowship in the beauty of Palo Duro Canyon. Your participation supports mental health awareness in the construction industry. Details.

Sunday, Jun. 14 online: 👩🏻‍🏫 Texas AFL-CIO Training: Social Media Organizing for Retirees
Join Texas Alliance for Retired Americans (TARA) members and the Texas AFL-CIO to dive into social media, focusing on how we can organize Texas retirees online. Details.

Tuesday, Jun. 16 online: 👩🏻‍🏫 AFL-CIO Training: Volunteer Recruitment
This workshop will support anyone responsible for building a deep volunteer base for their union or federation. Details.

Wednesday, Jun. 17 in San Marcos: ✊ TSEU Court Support Public Demonstration for Dr. Tom Alter
Join Texas State Employees Union and allies to offer support to Dr. Tom Alter during his public plea hearing regarding his unjust firing from Texas State University. Details.

Wednesday, Jun. 17 online: 👩🏻‍🏫 AFL-CIO Training: AI - Election Protection & Deepfakes
Join us for this training session as we explore these important topics and equip you with the skills to spot election deepfakes and uncover who's behind these tactics. Details. 

Thursday, Jun. 18 online: 👩🏻‍🏫 AFL-CIO Training: Budgeting for AFL-CIO Federated Bodies - Federating Fundamentals
This training will focus on developing a budget and utilizing it to track and analyze income and spending. We will also focus on how a budget can be a helpful tool during times of crisis. Details.

See all upcoming Texas labor events here.

📆 APPLICATIONS & PROGRAMS

DEADLINE Jun. 17: Enter the Union Plus Unions Power America Hometown Heroes Contest
In honor of their 40th anniversary, Union Plus is giving away more than $150,000 in prizes to union members. Details here.

DEADLINE Jun. 24: Apply for the next Texas-based AFL-CIO Organizing Institute (OI) 
This training is designed to provide union organizers with the tools to empower working people to WIN respect and dignity on the job! OI is open to all national and local AFL-CIO affiliated unions with staff or members. Union members must be in good standing and sponsored by their unions. Details here.

💪 TEXAS UNION JOBS

📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK

For more than 45 years, skilled union glaziers with IUPAT Local 1778 have helped build Houston’s schools, hospitals, offices, and communities while maintaining the highest standards of safety, training, and craftsmanship. Today, they are fighting to protect good union jobs, fair working conditions, and the work they have performed with pride for decades! 

IUPAT

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