Texas AFL-CIO Celebrates New Union in Abilene

  Statement by Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy and Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Aguilar on announcement by International Rescue Committee workers in Abilene that they have formed a union through the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 277:

  “The formation of a new union by International Rescue Committee workers in Abilene is yet another clear signal that more and more, working people in Texas are realizing that the clearest path to better livelihoods is through a union.”

  “Even in Texas, Abilene has been among the toughest places for workers to speak up together. IRC employees are used to taking on big fights, as their humanitarian advocacy for refugees and forced migrants is famed around the world. Winning their union will only make their voices stronger in this effort.”

  “We congratulate IRC workers and OPEIU 277 on their painstaking effort to get to this point. We now call on IRC management to recognize the union voluntarily — as the organization did in Denver — and embark on good-faith negotiations toward a fair contract.”

Read the workers' announcement here and watch a message of support from Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy here.

  The Texas AFL-CIO is the state labor federation consisting of 240,000 affiliated union members who advocate for working people in Texas.

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