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** DSA 2019 National Convention
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Earlier this month, 10 members from our chapter attended the DSA national convention in Atlanta. While there they voted on various resolutions and proposed changes to the bylaws. The only bylaws change that passed was CB 29, which closed a loophole in the voting thresholds for bylaws changes. There was also a motion made from the floor to change all gendered language in the bylaws, which passed. Among the resolutions that passed were resolutions creating a national Anti-Fascist Working Group, various resolutions regarding the labor strategy of DSA, a resolution to create a national BDS and Palestine Solidarity Working Group, support for open borders, and a national priority for childcare in local chapters to make the work more accessible to parents. In fact, at least 7 new national working groups were established! And some big news -- our local member Kristian Hernandez was elected to the national political committee, or NPC. This group guides the organization in meeting the goals
established by convention over the next 2 years. Congrats, Kristian! Want to see more detail about what passed at convention? DSA member Lloyd Goldsmith put together this handy google doc ([link removed]) giving a rundown.
Reaction From Our Delegates

"My experience at convention was ultimately heartwarming! I felt a little overwhelmed by the voting process as well as by trying to game out the effects of each resolution and bylaw change, but as the convention wore on I became overwhelmed, instead, by the sincerity and helpfulness of my comrades in discussions and personal debates. Outside of voting hours, it was just cool as hell to meet so many of the wonderful, thoughtful people who make up DSA." - Michael G.

"It's been a year since I joined DSA, and convention was my first chance to be in a room with folks from every corner of the organization. I feel like I got to grow a lot in my understanding of various perspectives, make some amazing connections with people from all over, and build a deeper connection to the work. It was definitely a lot of decision making, but that's democracy, baby." - Nan K


** Mass Labor Actions for Sky Chefs with Unite Here Local 23
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On August 13th, 2019 over 600 union members and allies marched on the headquarters of American Airlines to protest poor wages, benefits, and working conditions for LSG Sky Chef workers. The protest was led by the Sky Chefs's union, Unite Here, and was attended by rank and file members, allied unions including the Transport Workers Union, Teamsters, Association of Flight Attendants, the AFL-CIO, and allies from local organizations including DSANTX and other Texas chapters. Over 900 Sky Chef workers are located at the DFW airport, and over half make less than $12 an hour and have to pay significant weekly costs for health insurance and other benefits. The workers voted overwhelmingly to strike, but are legally held from striking by the federal government until granted a release.

In order to pressure American Airlines and management, the largest labor action in North Texas in years was held. After picketing the American Airlines headquarters, 58 coordinated volunteers blocked the roadway into the campus and were arrested. This included several DSA members. No violence ensued, and all arrested were released. Pickets at the DFW airport were to continue throughout the week. The struggle for a fair contract for these workers continues, and solidarity is the only means for victory.

On Thursday, August 8th, members of Unite Here local 23 ([link removed]) in Dallas, along with partners from various allied unions and organizations, did a banner drop near the Dallas headquarters of American Airlines to send a message: PAY YOUR FAIR SHARE!


** DSA NTX Members Organize “Troublemakers School”
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Members of our Labor Working Group helped to plan and facilitate a day-long “Troublemakers School” on July 20 geared toward educating rank and file union members about how to fight against difficult bosses, win better union contracts, and combat racism on the job. About 130 union members attended the training, held at the Communication Workers of America hall in East Dallas.

The training was sponsored by Labor Notes (labornotes.org ([link removed]) ), a national publication dedicated to putting the “movement” back into the labor movement. Participants included teachers, DART bus operators and mechanics, UPS package car drivers and warehouse workers, electricians, American Airlines mechanics and ramp workers, public sector workers, and many more occupations.

DSA members were present, as members of their unions and allies of the labor movement, from Dallas, Austin, and Houston. The successful school included a plenary featuring a teachers union strike leader from Oklahoma, a Sky Chefs worker who is leading protests against low wages at DFW Airport, and a union mechanic engaged in the battle for a fair contract with American Airlines.


** July General Meeting
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We had a packed house for our July general meeting. Over half of the attendees were there for their first meeting and quite a few of them joined DSA afterwards.

DSA NTX member Alex provided an informative presentation about the National Convention. This provided attendees with a better understanding of how the organization is structured from the local to the national level and the potential changes that this year's resolutions and bylaws might bring. With 85 resolutions and additional bylaw amendments, there was no way to cover all proposals. Alex selected several items which were most likely to be debated and voted upon at convention to briefly explain. Many of them were related to the ways in which dues are shared from national to local chapters as well as several items regarding staffing and funding for YDSA.

We then broke up into smaller groups to have discussions regarding the pros and cons of having a strong national structure vs. strong local chapters. These discussions were a positive way for new members to learn how the organization functions and to get plugged in to the group dynamics. Finally, we did working group breakouts to discuss ongoing and upcoming projects. Our goal is not just to attract new members to join DSA but rather to encourage and facilitate getting new people actively engaged in our working group projects. This meeting showed great promise for the growth and engagement of our chapter.


** NTX DSA hosts a local meetup of “Artists for a Green New Deal"
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The U.S. Department of Arts and Culture is a nationwide grassroots art collective. On August 8, they hosted their first of three national Zoom calls to inform socially-engaged artists and cultural practitioners about the Green New Deal.

The Ecosocialist working group is hosting in-person local meetups around these three calls to bring radical artists in the DFW area together around the issue of the GND. We brought DSA lit on ecosocialism and DSA-produced zines to show what DSA-affiliated artists throughout the country are already doing, let area artists know about DSA’s Ecosocialist principles for a GND, and the incompatibility of long term human survival on this planet with a capitalist economic system.

We had a good turnout of artists and art students who are new to DSA or had not heard of DSA before at our first meetup on August 8th at the Goldmark Cultural Center in Richardson. On the USDAC call we heard a presentation from artist Molly Crabapple about the animation work she’s done with Alexandria Ocasio Cortez to help people visualize a positive future after the GND. She was followed by Pablo Akira Beimler, a spoken word artist who described the role of artists in the movement for a GND for Hawaii. We then heard from Priya Mulgaonkar from New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, a group which managed to push through GND-style legislation for the state of New York. USDAC has a recording of the call available here ([link removed]) .

After the main presentations, the call participants and presenters separated out into breakout groups. Our NTX DSA, which was the largest group of people on the call, had a great breakout discussion with Molly Crabapple and several artists from other locations.

After the call, we discussed what we had heard and how it relates to the local work that DSA’s Ecosocialist WG does. We handed around the DSA zines we’d brought, and invited all attendees to the next DSA Ecosocialist WG meeting the following Saturday.

As of the last DSA Ecosocialist WG meeting on August 10th, we now have one project underway and one planned which will incorporate the work of our artist comrades -- the poster and social media graphics for our upcoming fundraiser for the Highland Hills Community Action Committee, and posters, produced in time to respond to the city of Dallas’ second Dallas Climate Plan survey, explaining the points of our Ecosocialist WG’s ecosocialist program for Dallas (such as free transit and energy democracy).

We encourage all interested comrades to come to our next local meetup for the Artists for a GND call series on August 22nd! Speakers on the call will include Kali Akuno and Shambe Jones with Cooperation Jackson, Demetrius Johnson with Albuquerque Red Nation, Ananda Lee Tan with Climate Justice Alliance, and artist Carrie Marie Schneider.
DSA North Texas members have been canvassing businesses in entertainment and retail districts to let workers know that they now have the right to paid sick time.

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A New Member Orientation was held last weekend to provide information about who we are, what we do, and the principles which we organize around to those who have recently joined the organization.

Upcoming Events
* Healthcare Working Group Meeting - Aug. 17 2PM - Full City Rooster
* DSA NTX August General Meeting - Aug. 19 4PM - CWA Hall
* EcoSocialist Working Group Meeting - Aug. 24 11AM - Half Priced Books NWHY
* Racial Justice Working Group Meeting - Sept. 3 7PM - Half Priced Books NWHY

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