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Lone Star Labor: The war on labor unions

Texas AFL-CIO
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Make no mistake, we are in the middle of a war. 

The president and his billionaire buddies are trying to destroy the union movement. They want to destroy us because unions are a way to express the power of the people against the power of corrupt billionaires. 

It’s time to check their power. It’s time to put #WorkersOverBillionaires. During our Virtual Town Hall this week, federal workers and Texas members of Congress sounded the alarm, and gave us a challenge:

“I got to tell you it's a little too quiet in Washington, D.C.,” said Rep. Greg Casar during the town hall. “I really think that if workers are under attack in this sort of way — over a million people getting their collective bargaining rights taken — they're coming for more people's collective bargaining rights next. They're not just stopping at the federal government. They're not just stopping at federal employees. They're coming for everybody. So I think it's a little bit too quiet, but if we turn up the noise and turn up the pressure, I think that we can stop some of these abuses and start building the kind of country that we want.” 

It’s time to take action. It’s time to get loud. WATCH the full virtual town hall here.

AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…

Round Up: Texans flood Hands Off! protests across the state

NEWS TO USE

State workers rally for wages and benefits at Texas Capitol — KVUE

Houston-area Pepsi drivers plan protests this week as union negotiates with company — Houston Chronicle, featuring Teamsters Local 988

In the first week of return-to-office in Austin, TxDOT employees end up parking in fire lanes due to lack of parking — KUT

SMART stands with Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, Local 100 first-year apprentice who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador — SMART

Federal worker unions sue to block Trump from stripping bargaining rights — The New York Times ($)

‘Trump and Musk are setting the example’: How companies are becoming emboldened to be more anti-union — The Guardian

TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS

🏃 Labor on the Move

Congratulations to the artists of the Houston Grand Opera (unionized with the American Guild of Musical Artists, AGMA) for the ratification of their new five-year collective bargaining agreement! Some of the highlights include wage increases, meal allowance increases, upfront payments for Principal Artists, and more. 

Congratulations to Brydan Summers, who was just appointed as President of AFSCME Local 1624 (Austin)! Brydan is a Program Manager at the City of Austin. 

Congratulations to Luis Sanchez Sandoval, who was named as member of the month for Laborers Local 350 (Houston)! Luis has been a LiUNA! member since 2012. 

🎂 Union Birthdays

Today, Apr. 10, is Dolores Huerta’s 95th birthday! Her tireless activism and dedication to civil and labor rights is an inspiration to us all. 

📜 This Week in Labor History… 

A. Philip Randolph was born on Apr. 15, 1886. Randolph was a prominent American labor leader and civil rights activist who was instrumental in the fight for racial equality and fair treatment for African American workers. He is known for founding the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) and for his role in organizing the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. Retiring as president of the BSCP in 1968, Randolph was named the president of the recently formed A. Philip Randolph Institute, established to promote trade unionism in the black community. He continued to serve on the national AFL-CIO Executive Council until 1974. Learn more.

SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS

🚨 Take Action

Call your Member of Congress and tell them to co-sponsor the Protect America’s Workforce Act, H.R.2550! Texas members who are already co-sponsors include Reps. Greg Casar (TX-35), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Al Green (TX-09), Julie Johnson (TX-32), and Marc Veasey (TX-33). Call your Member HERE.

Call your State Representative and tell them to reject Greg Abbott’s private school voucher scam, HB 3 and SB 2! Texans don’t want vouchers, we want fully-funded public schools. Call your Member HERE.

Send an email to State Representatives and tell them to end the attacks on Texas construction workers! Texas lawmakers shouldn't be trying to take a tool out of our toolbox — leave Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) alone. Send your message HERE.

📆 Events

TODAY - Thursday, Apr. 10: Solidarity with CWA District 6 Virtual Day of Action

Wear red to support the District 6 bargaining team as they negotiate with AT&T. Take a photo, post it, and send it in. Details HERE. 

 

Saturday, Apr. 12 in Austin: Citizenship Clinic

After attending an information session, the first 75 participants in this clinic will receive FREE one-on-one assistance to complete the N-400 application for naturalization. Unions and other resource groups will be tabling. Details HERE.

 

Saturday, Apr. 12 in Corpus Christi: Easter Eggstravaganza & IBEW Local 278 Pavilion Grand Opening
IBEW Local 278 will be celebrating their new pavilion with food, prizes, and an Easter egg hunt. Details HERE.

 

JUST ANNOUNCED: Tuesday, Apr. 29 in El Paso: El Paso Labor Town Hall

Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy and Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Aguilar are hitting the road to hear from Texans about the future of our labor movement. All El Paso-area union members are invited to join. Details HERE.

 

📝 Applications & Programs:

 

🇺🇸 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: A Labor Movement as Big as Texas!

Registration is NOW OPEN for the Texas AFL-CIO 2025 Constitutional Convention, happening June 26-28 at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk. 

📸 Photo of the Week

This week, San Antonio hotel workers with UNITE HERE Local 23 surveyed hundreds of Final Four attendees asking if they support living wages for hotel workers. Photo courtesy UNITE HERE Local 23

Unite Here Local 23 members surveyed Final Four attendees in San Antonio

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