Brothers, Sisters and Siblings,

The past two weeks were a defiant response to the all too common misconception that Texas "doesn't have unions." From strikes to pickets to national collective action, Texas workers stood up and fought back. Here's what solidarity on the rise looks like. 

On Wednesday, September 13th, we joined SAG-AFTRA members from across Texas in front of Amazon's Austin headquarters. Union members from AFSCME, CWA and the Writers Guild also showed up in force. 

"You will not win," said Houston-Austin SAG-AFTRA Vice President, Nick Nicholson, in a clear message to the studios.

On Thursday, Starbucks workers, customers, and community organizations across the country held a national day of action, including two locations in Texas, to make it clear to Starbucks they do not have the public, or history on their side in their relentless union busting campaign.

The solidarity in the air didn't stop this week. On Tuesday, we joined SEIU Texas for a rally at DFW airport in support of Airport service workers making wages and benefits that keep many in poverty.

“Poverty doesn’t fly in Texas!” Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Aguilar and Deputy Director of Politics and Legislation Ana Gonzalez told workers in this Solidarity Season for unions that our movement will have their backs, will speak up together to demand justice, and will win.

Next was Alphabet Workers Union one day strike in protest of Google and Cognizant's outright refusal to even begin bargaining a fair contract. Google-Cognizant workers rallied outside of Austin City Hall, joined by a bargaining table set up with skeletons in union shirts to demonstrate just how long they've been unfairly, and unlawfully, made to wait. 

Now, to end the week, the United Auto Workers have announced a massive expansion to their strike, which includes two locations in Texas. The outcome of UAW's negotiations with the Big Three will impact the entire labor movement. We stand in complete solidarity with our Texas brothers and sisters standing up for what they deserve in this historic fight. 

The fight for the workers of Texas is stronger than ever, and this is just the beginning. We'll see you on the picket line. 

In solidarity, 

Texas AFL-CIO