Lone Star Labor: Workers built this state. It’s time for us to take it back.
Families across Texas are feeling real strain on our wallets.
But instead of helping Texans make ends meet, Greg Abbott is focused on attacking his political opponents and threatening public safety grants for cities throughout the state. Let’s be clear: he doesn’t know what it means to live paycheck to paycheck.
Despite our current out-of-touch state officials, Texans know that when things get hard, we help each other.
We saw that this past weekend when the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) invited union members, neighbors, and volunteers to participate in their annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. NALC Branch 132 (Denton), NALC Branch 1227 (Wichita Falls), NALC Branch 1221 (Victoria), and union members throughout the state took part in the nation’s largest one-day food drive!
Solidarity is a beautiful thing. Building community matters, but we also have to fix the system that leaves working families behind. It matters who’s in office and whose voices are heard in government.
Union members have spent generations fighting for fair wages, safe jobs, pensions, and healthcare. We need leaders who know what struggle looks like because they’ve lived it. We need union members and labor champions in office.
Workers built this state. It’s time for us to take it back! Early voting for the primary runoff election starts on Monday, May 18. This weekend is your chance to get involved and help elect leaders who fight for working people: mobilize.us/txaflcio
AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…
Austin: Austin council drops bid to halt controversial IT consolidation plan — Austin American-Statesman featuring American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1624 (Austin AFSCME) Vice President David Cruz and a photo of member Ben Suddaby.
Austin: Austin ISD will cut 215 educator salaries for next school year as it faces a $181 million deficit — KUT featuring a photo of Education Austin member Bree Rolfe
Central Texas: What’s a Bigger Threat to Texas Public Ed: Private School Vouchers or Charter Schools? — The Austin Chronicle featuring Allison Bush, our labor-endorsed candidate for State Board of Education, District 5
Houston: Longtime Incumbent Hubert Vo Forced into Runoff Row — Texas Observer featuring Darlene Breaux, our labor-endorsed candidate for HD 149.
Houston: Laborers Say They Haven’t Been Paid for Work on LBJ Hospital — Houston Press featuring International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 10 Director of Business Development Rixi Castillo, SMART Local 54 Organizer Rafael Rivas and Business Manager Armando Aguirre, Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation Executive Director Hany Khalil, and Heat & Frost Insulators Local 22 Business Manager Lacy Wolf
Killeen: Federal union leaders rally Fort Hood workers amid fears over contract terminations, employee rights and future of federal unions — KDH News featuring American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) President Everett Kelley, AFGE National Vice President Cheryl Eliano, and AFGE Local 1920
New Braunfels: Cancer case highlights gaps in Texas protections for women firefighters — KXAN featuring Texas State Association of Fire Fighters (TSAFF) President John Riddle
San Marcos: Texas State University professor’s firing after Israeli-Palestinian comments blocked — The Texas Tribune featuring Texas State Employees Union (TSEU - CWA Local 6186) member Idris Robinson
NEWS TO USE
WNBA’s new CBA sets blueprint as emerging women’s leagues chart their own path — Associated Press
U.S. Workers Are Getting Record-Low Compensation Based on Their Productivity — Talking Points Memo
‘It’s literally going to break me.’ Commuting is now unaffordable for some American workers — CNN
REI union workers call for boycott of co-op’s biggest annual sale — Seattle Times
AI & TECH NEWS BITE
Voters Demand AI Guardrails and Trust Labor to Lead
New polling from the AFL-CIO and Data for Progress shows voters across party lines want clear rules for AI in the workplace. Workers want the benefits of new technology without worrying that it will be used against them. And they trust the labor movement — not corporations or billionaires — with determining how to keep workers safe from AI harms.
Some key findings:
- Transparency: 85% agree workers must know if they are being monitored by AI.
- Human Oversight: 79% insist AI shouldn't be used without meaningful human oversight.
- Economic Fairness: 78% believe workers should share in the profits AI creates.
- Worker Voice: 72% of voters want workers to have a voice in how AI is implemented on the job.
US workers overwhelmingly support union-backed policies on AI, poll says — The Guardian
TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS
🏃 ON THE MOVE
NEW ORGANIZING ✊ 43 workers at Stratus Systems, LLC in Dallas have voted to unionize with the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 69.
NEW ORGANIZING ✊ Three workers at Nouryon Functional Chemicals, LLC in La Porte have joined United Steelworkers (USW).
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Texas workers at George R. Brown Convention Center and Houston Entertainment Center just won massive 46% raises!
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) members showed up and spoke out to make sure the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) voted down a proposal that would weaken licensing standards for journeyman electricians.
Congratulations to John Bonilla of United Association (UA) Local 142 (San Antonio) on receiving his 25-year membership certificate and pin.
Congratulations to the 36 new stewards of USW Local 13-1.
Congratulations to American Federation of Teachers Local 6568 (Northeast Houston AFT) member Katrina Gatson, who won a $1,400 NASA Alumni League grant for innovative school supplies.
Congratulations to IBEW Local 681 members Crystal, Dallas, Tray and Will, who took home the 2025 J.T. Kelly Award for Excellence in Organizing at the IBEW 7th District Progress Meeting in El Paso.
Congratulations to UA Local 211 (Houston) for surpassing 5,000 members.
💐 IN MEMORY
Ricky Haley, member of UA Local 286 in Austin, passed away on May 8 at the age of 71.
Our hearts go out to his friends and family.
SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS
🚨 TAKE ACTION
PLEDGE TO BOYCOTT REI: Show REI’s leadership you won't stand for union busting!
Don't shop with REI, in-store or online, from May 15-25. Take action here.
SHARE or DONATE to Texas union members: Two members of Mosaic Workers Union were laid off last week. Contributions will help create a safety net as they transition to their next roles. Donate here.
ADD YOUR NAME: Tell Austin ISD to put students and educators first.
Education Austin is fighting against proposed harmful schedule changes and budget cuts. Add your name to show you oppose these threats to the very foundation of student success, teacher retention, and special education compliance. Take action here.
📆 EVENTS THIS WEEK
TODAY, Thursday, May 14 virtually: ☎️ Union Phone Bank
Join us for a virtual phone bank for our labor-endorsed candidates: Marcos Vélez for Lieutenant Governor and Venton Jones for HD 100. Details.
Friday, May 15 statewide: 🗳️ Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail - Primary Runoff
Applications for Ballot by Mail must be received, not postmarked, by this date. Details.
Saturday, May 16, statewide: 👟 Union Block Walks
Join us to knock doors and get out the union vote for our labor-endorsed candidates. Details:
- Austin at 10 am
- Dallas at 10 am
- Western Harris County (HD 149) at 9 am
- Southern Harris County & Fort Bend at 9 am
- San Antonio at 9 am
Monday, May 18 statewide: 🗳️ First day of Early Voting - Primary Runoff
Texas’ next Election Day is Tuesday, May 26. Early voting runs from May 18 to May 22! Details.
Monday, May 18 in Bastrop: 🗳️ SBOE District 5: Early Voting Kickoff
Come meet your colleagues, neighbors, and friends at Texas AFT’s Early Voting Kickoff for Allison Bush, candidate for SBOE District 5. Details.
Monday, May 18 virtually: 📱 Union Text Bank
Join us for a virtual text bank in support of USW District 13 Assistant Director Marcos Vélez for Lieutenant Governor. Details.
Monday, May 18 virtually: 👩🏻🏫 AFL-CIO Training - Code of Conduct Designee
Review basics about the AFL-CIO Code of Conduct and Anti-Discrimination & Anti Harassment Policy, and best practices for Code of Conduct Designees. Details.
Tuesday, May 19 virtually: ☎️ Union Phone Bank
Join us for a virtual phone bank for our labor-endorsed candidates. Details.
Wednesday, May 20 virtually: 👩🏻🏫 AFL-CIO Training - Financial Officers: Federating Fundamentals
Review financial requirements, financial reporting, setting internal controls and best practices for fiscally sound AFL-CIO federated bodies. Details.
See all upcoming Texas labor events here.
📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Nearly 20 union members representing EIGHT unions joined us in Amarillo for our Labor Town Hall! Members are ready to organize, build power, and grow a stronger labor movement in the panhandle.
Stay tuned for the next stops on our Listening Tour so you can join in on the discussion when we drop by a union hall near you.
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