Lone Star Labor: Texas workers brave extreme heat

A heat wave will push heat index values above 100°F across portions of Texas this week. For many of our members, that can mean dangerous heat on the job. It’s more important than ever that workers take care of themselves and demand heat protections in the workplace. 

Unions have the power to take care of workers now by sharing heat safety tips. Acclimatization, hydration, rest breaks, and proper planning save lives. As temperatures climb, let's make sure every worker goes home at the end of the day. 

But we shouldn’t be in this position. Across Texas, local communities tried to pass heat safety protections over the last decade, but in 2023, Greg Abbott blocked those protections with his “Death Star Bill.”

That’s just one reason we’ve started our series of videos called The People vs. Greg Abbott to prep for the November election, and you can take action, too: 

• Talk to your coworkers about your working conditions and consider forming a union! 
• Look in on older adults, neighbors, and vulnerable family members on really hot days. 
• If you’re heading into union negotiations, talk with your local union leadership and staff representatives about plants for bargaining Health, Safety and Environment language, including addressing heat.
• Check your voter registration status NOW to take action this November.

AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…

Austin: Austin ISD's proposed budget cuts draw emotional pleas ahead of board vote — KVUE, featuring Education Austin member Gabby Garcia, an AISD library

🏆 Dallas: Paratransit drivers avoid strike after reaching deal with DART contractor — KERA News, featuring Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1338 Executive Vice President Bernard Wade

Dallas: As World Cup Unfolds, Immigrant Rights Organizers Seek a Reckoning over Dallas’ Relationship with ICE — Texas Observer, featuring Young Active Labor Leaders (YALL)

🏆 Fort Worth: Lockheed Martin union workers ratify new contract — Fort Worth Report featuring International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) General Vice President Jody Bennett and IAM District 776 Directing Business Representative Doyle Huddleston

Houston: As FIFA World Cup kicks off, union leaders say Houston stadium workers don't make enough — Houston Chronicle, featuring UNITE HERE Local 23 Texas Chapter President Franchesca Caraballo

Statewide: Former Labor Department official says regulations are needed to protect workers in extreme heat — KERANews 

Statewide: The Hidden 100-Year Legacy of Latina Labor Activism in Texas — Nonprofit Quarterly

NEWS TO USE

Juneteenth: Why It Took More Than 2 Years for Emancipation to Reach Texas — History

In Trump's second term, Dreamers with clean records are being deported, data show — San Antonio Express-News

AFT President Randi Weingarten on challenging facing education and use of AI in the classroom — C-SPAN

Education Department changes are leaving millions of vulnerable students at risk — The 19th

AI & TECH NEWS BITE 

AFL-CIO Worker-Centered AI Principle #4: Develop a worker-centered workforce development and training system

Joint labor-management partnerships and union-centered, high-quality training programs, including Registered Apprenticeships, should be used when developing AI workforce training or digital literacy programs. 

The labor movement and its network of union training centers that span the entire United States is the largest training institution in the nation, second only to the Department of Defense. These training programs have the proven track record of preparing workers for and connecting them to high-quality, family-sustaining jobs. Innovation will not succeed if workers are not supported and if unions do not play a central role in managing transitions as they always have.

TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS

🏃 ON THE MOVE

✊ NEW ORGANIZING: Workers at MidSouth Electric Co-op in Navasota have decided to organize with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 66.

American Association of University Professors (AAUP) member Dr. Leonard Bright, a professor at Texas A&M University’s Bush School of Government and Public Service, was elected to AAUP’s Governing Council to represent Region 2. 

Congratulations to the 2026 graduates of the Houston Area Plumbing Joint Apprenticeship Committee! 

💐 IN MEMORY

Brother Billy Lewis, member of IBEW Local 301 (Texarkana), passed away on Jun. 11 at the age of 77.

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

🎂 UNION BIRTHDAYS

On Jun. 15, 1908, the Metal Trades Department of what is now the AFL-CIO is founded.

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: 

• 💸 Donate to the strike fund: tinyurl.com/iupat1778strikefund 
• ☎️ Call Spring Glass: tinyurl.com/callspringglass 

ADD YOUR NAME: Join the No More Harm campaign to end the TEA Takeover of Houston ISD
No More Harm is a coalition of educators, parents, students, and concerned citizens working to restore a democratically elected school board to Houston ISD. Now is our time to end the TEA takeover, and return our public schools to the communities we serve. 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. 18 in Austin: ✊ Education Austin Funeral at Austin ISD Headquarters
Join Education Austin members to hold a funeral for the positions, programs, and opportunities threatened by proposed budget cuts. We’ll mourn what’s at risk, but we’ll also stand together for the schools our students deserve. 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.

Friday, Jun. 19 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.

Saturday, Jun. 20 in Lockhart: 💙 San Antonio Building Trades Council's Family Fishing Fellowship
Join the San Antonio Building Trades Council and Union Sportsmen's Alliance for free food, fishing poles, and bait! Details. 

Tuesday, Jun. 23 in San Antonio: 🗳️ Voter Registration Training with Northside AFT
Join Northside American Federation of Teachers (AFT) for lunch and to get certified to register voters in Bexar County. Preregistration and a valid TDL or ID is required for the training. Details.

Tuesday, Jun. 23 online: 👩🏻‍🏫 AFL-CIO Training: Effective Worksite Political Programs
This interactive workshop for Zone Leads and Local Union Coordinators will help you create a plan to engage workers around important issues ahead of the midterm elections. Details.

Tuesday, Jun. 23 online: 👩🏻‍🏫 AFL-CIO Training: Organizing Labor in the Pulpit
This training will focus on identifying friendly faith congregations, list making, sending invitations to congregations, f\and all the steps you need to take to recruit congregations for federated body speakers during the Labor Day weekend period. Details.

Wednesday, Jun. 24 in Houston: ✊ United Workers of Harris Center Rally & Petition Action
Join United Workers of Harris Center (UWHC - CWA Local 6154) to help stop union busting. Wear your union colors! Details. 

See all upcoming Texas labor events here.

📆 APPLICATIONS & PROGRAMS

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.

APPLY NOW: Texas Construction Career Pathways (TCCP) Austin Cohort
TCCP offers a three-week construction apprenticeship readiness program to prepare individuals for a union registered apprenticeship with competitive pay, benefits, and growth potential. The next cohort will be in Austin in July. Details.

💪 TEXAS UNION JOBS

• Houston: Lead Union Organizer — Houston Organization of Public Employees (HOPE - AFSCME Local 123)
• Campaign Field Coordinator: Political & Field Mobilization Hub — AFL-CIO

📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Dozens of Texas union members came together to learn new skills at the 2026 LaborNotes Conference in Chicago.

Photo via Ben Suddaby / AFSCME Local 1624

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