Lone Star Labor: Texas Unions Are Ready to Build a Labor Movement As Big As Texas

Delegates, guests, volunteers, national labor leaders, and Texas AFL-CIO staff, nearly 500 strong, came together in San Antonio for our Constitutional Convention last week.
Surrounded by union brothers and sisters, all united in purpose, we were reminded that despite the union-busting efforts of the Trump Administration, our commitment to one another — to all workers — remains unbreakable.
Together, we will build a labor movement as BIG as Texas.
📜 View all the resolutions that delegates passed at Convention here.
🎥 View all speeches and panels from Convention here.
👕 Missed Convention or want an extra shirt? Donate to our Member Education Fund and get your t-shirt or tote bag!
AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…
Dallas: Educators Protest Layoffs And School Vouchers at Ted Cruz's Dallas Office — Dallas Observer, featuring Sheria Smith, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 252
Dallas: Texas AFT convention kicks off in Dallas as teachers grapple with new laws — NBC DFW, featuring Nicole Hill, Texas AFT Communications Director
Amarillo: Union Secures Best-Ever Agreement at Largest Meat Producer in U.S. — Teamsters, featuring Al Brito, president of Teamsters Local 577
Austin: Union workers strike outside Austin vegan cheese shop — KVUE, featuring Restaurant Workers United
NEWS TO USE
The GOP Budget Undeniably Takes From the Working Class and Gives to the Rich — TIME Magazine
Philadelphia’s largest city workers’ union is on strike. Here’s the latest — WHYY
When Labor Meets AI: The Next Frontier In Workforce Economics — Forbes
GM workers at Mexican plant to vote on new union in wage push — Automotive News
Union leaders’ exit from DNC exposes ‘mind-boggling’ tensions inside Democratic party — The Guardian
TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS
🏃 Labor on the Move
On June 28, UAW Region 8, Local 967's Production and Maintenance unit at L3Harris (Greenville, TX) ratified a new three-year agreement. This contract brings an average 25% pay raise for all employees, plus improvements to jury service, bereavement, layoff protections, and other non-economic items. The 2025 Production and Maintenance Negotiation Committee included Joe Carroll, Keegan Raulston, Robert Gamboa, Kevin Bowers, and Wade Jones. Congrats, y’all!
Congratulations to IBEW Local 66 brothers Joshua Molton, Boone Bergfeld, Keenan Chestnut, and Jose “Fajita” Vera, who all topped out to Journeyman Lineman.
💐 In Memory
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Jacob Tyler, 51, a postal worker who died while working in the Dallas area on Saturday. We will continue to work toward more safety protections for USPS workers.
📜 This Week in 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 minimum wage and improved working conditions. Learn more.
SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS
🚨 Take Action
Keep it up: Call your U.S. Representative to tell them to vote NO on Trump’s big ugly bill. Union members won’t stand for cuts that hurt workers, families, or retirees! Call here.
Send a letter to your U.S. Representative urging them to enforce labor and transportation laws! Right now, freight rail companies are beginning to outsource American railway jobs, hurting union members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET). Send a letter here.
Donate to the AFGE Federal Employee Defense Fund to fund legal action and other strategies to defend American public employees.
📆 Events
Friday, Jul. 4 in Pasadena: ILA presents “Houston Unity Mural”
Join International Longshoremen’s Association Local 24 for the official unveiling of the “Houston Unity Mural.” Details here.
Friday, Jul. 4 in Grand Prairie: The People's 4th of July
Following the Arlington Independence Day Parade, the DFW May Day Coalition will be meeting at the UAW Local 276 Union Hall for food and refreshments. Details here.
Monday, Jul. 7 through Wednesday, Jul. 9 in San Antonio: 2025 Texas Labor Management Conference
An annual conference for labor and management leaders to come together. This year’s theme is “Strategies, Insights, and Tools for Thriving in an Ever-Changing Landscape.” Register here.
Tuesday, Jul. 8 in Temple: AFGE Local 1822 Rally for VA Services
Join AFGE members in Temple, TX for a rally for VA services. Stop the war on America’s workforce! Details here.
Friday, Jul. 25 through Sunday, Jul. 27 in Dallas: Texas YALL’s 2025 Hot Labor Summer Summit
Join the Texas Young Active Labor Leaders (YALL) for the 2025 Hot Labor Summer Summit. Any union members 40 years old or younger are welcome to join YALL. Details & registration here.
📝 Applications & Programs
The Austin Chapter of National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) 2025-2026 Scholarships: Multiple awards are available. Visit the link for eligibility and to download the application, which is due Friday, Jul. 25.
🇺🇸 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
📸 Photo of the Week
SEIU’s Justice Journey culminated in Louisiana with participants from throughout the country engaged in two full days of events and actions. The photo below was taken in Jena, Louisiana, where Justice Journey participants convened to demand the release of our unjustly detained brothers and sisters being held at the LaSalle ICE detention center.

From left to right: Texas AFL-CIO Texas Immigrant Worker Project Coordinator Fabiola Barreto, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Rocío Sáenz, SEIU Texas President Elsa Flores, Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Aguilar.
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