|
|
This newsletter is a 7 minute read. |
|
Hi john, |
ONE BIG THING: SENATE BILL 925 TARGETS PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS |
|
This week, the Texas Senate Committee on Business and Commerce heard Senate Bill (SB) 925, which seeks to bar local governments from adopting Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). It’s a misguided bill that wrongly claims PLAs allow local governments to discriminate against non-union contractors by requiring union-only labor – and we staunchly oppose it.
PLAs are agreements that outline the rules of the road, including terms of employment, for a specific construction project. Decades of research show that PLAs improve worker safety, ensure projects are completed on time or ahead of schedule, and do not increase project costs.
SB 925 tries to address a problem that does not exist. Both union and non-union contractors have always been able to bid on local government projects, and PLAs cover all workers on a project whether they’re union members or not.
Removing this tool from publicly funded public work contracts will increase costs and delays, and jeopardize federal funding that is essential to the completion of critical infrastructure projects!
Our taxpayer money should go toward the creation of good paying and safe jobs. We proudly stand with Texas construction workers who rely on PLAs to keep them safe on the job. |
SB 925 has not been voted out of committee, so keep an eye out for an update on its movement. In the meantime, we’ll be back at the Capitol next Tuesday, Mar. 11 at 8am for the Texas House Committee on Public Education hearing, when they’ll hear House Bill (HB) 3 – Greg Abbott’s private school voucher scam. |
AS GOES TEXAS LABOR... |
|
NEWS TO USE |
TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS |
|
🏃 Labor on the Move The Texas AFL-CIO congratulates Mark Lyle of Teamsters Local 767 on his retirement! Mark is retiring after 34 years with UPS and decades of service as a Business Agent and Union Steward with the local.
The Texas AFL-CIO congratulates Emma Stamps, also of Teamsters Local 767, on becoming the local’s Communications Director!
Congratulations to the recently elected leadership of the Austin, Coastal Bend, and Texarkana Central Labor Councils!
Austin Joe Cooper, President Traci Dunlap, Vice President Rachel McGee, Secretary-Treasurer
Coastal Bend David Carranco, President Zavier Myles, Vice President Dr. Nancy Vera, Secretary-Treasurer
Texarkana David Beard, President LaRay D. Williams, Vice President Shayla LaTonya Flemons, Secretary-Treasurer
🎂 Union Birthdays Happy Birthday to our union family of International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 970 in Brownsville, who incorporated on March 1, 1948! Here’s to another 77 years of keeping your community safe.
🌹 Women’s History Month For Women’s History Month, we’ll be highlighting some of the trailblazing women who forged Texas labor! We’re kicking things off with our very own Becky Moeller, the first woman to be elected Texas AFL-CIO President! |
|
|
💐 In Memory With our members at the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, the Texas AFL-CIO mourns the passing of Congressman Sylvester Turner, who dedicated his life to public service. Our thoughts are with his friends and family. Read the full statement here. |
SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS |
|
Saturday, Mar. 8: DFW International Women’s Day March with the Dallas AFL-CIO Council
Sunday, Mar. 9: Houston Professional Musicians Association International Women’s Month Concert
Monday, Mar. 10 in Austin: Texas AFT Legislative Advocacy Day
Tuesday, Mar. 11 in Austin: Private school voucher scam to be heard in Texas House Public Education Committee
Labor Notes Contest: Songs and Chants for the Strike Line Got a special picket line chant or song the rest of the labor movement needs to hear? Submit it to Labor Notes’ contest by Saturday, Apr. 12! Submission details HERE.
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
Share Your Story with the AFL-CIO Are you a federal worker affected by Trump’s Executive Orders or Musk’s DOGE? Is your school being targeted by ICE raids? Is your union election on hold while the NLRB hangs in limbo? The national AFL-CIO wants to hear from you! Share your story here so the world can see how the Trump administration’s policies are affecting working people.
Applications Open: Texas AFL-CIO Career-Building Scholarship Union members: Are you planning on going back to school to build your career? We can help! Apply for our 2025 Career Building Scholarship to receive a $1,500 grant or share with your networks to get the word out. Applications close May 2nd. Details and application HERE.
Applications Open: AFL-CIO Organizing Apprenticeship Application Want to become an organizer? Apply for the national AFL-CIO Organizing Institute Organizer Apprenticeship training! Applications are open for the next training in Washington, D.C. from April 23-25. Details HERE.
Applications Open: Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Leonard C. Ball & James H. Bell Scholarship Soon-to-be and current undergraduate students of CBTU families can apply to receive a $2,000 scholarship! Applications are due April 11, 2025. Details HERE. |
PHOTO OF THE WEEK |
|
Thank you to Corpus Christi AFT members for rallying to protect public funding for public schools! [Photo by Angela Piazza, Corpus Christi Caller-Times] |
|
|
Did you enjoy this newsletter? Let us know and submit photos, events, and other Texas labor news at [email protected]! |
|
In Solidarity, Team Texas AFL-CIO
P.S. We’re hiring! Do you know someone who’d make a good RGV Field Organizer or Digital Organizer? See our open positions here. |
|
|
|
Texas AFL-CIO 1106 Lavaca St Austin, TX 78701 Visit us at: texasaflcio.org Follow us on: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BlueSky Text WORK to AFLCIO (235246) to join our text action team (message and data rates may apply). |
