This newsletter is a 4-minute read.
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Hi john, here's your weekly Texas labor update:
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ONE BIG THING: OUT IN THE WEST TEXAS TOWN OF EL PASO
ONE BIG THING: UNION MEMBERS HIT THE TEXAS CAPITOL
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Nearly 70 union members representing 15 unions joined us in El Paso for our Labor Town Hall! Folks are ready to organize, stand up against billionaires, and hold our elected officials accountable.
Themes from the Town Hall included protecting pensions, fighting attacks on workers from the Texas Legislature, solidarity amongst our unions, and how we can create better messaging for working people.
Remember: We are part of a movement that has existed for centuries. We have more potential than any other movement to make a difference!
Thank you to IAFF Local 51 for hosting us, and thank you to members from AFGE, AFT, APWU, CWA, Doctor’s Council, Firefighters, IBEW, Ironworkers, IUOE, NATCA, NNOC, SEIU, TARA, TSEU, TSTA, and UA for attending. We’re heading across the state to talk to union members in every region — stay tuned!
Texas union members across industries have been hitting the Capitol this session, making sure that workers’ voices are heard from our lawmakers. Just this week:
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Donnie Jolly, president of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1338 (Dallas), will testify today against House Bill 3187 (HB 3187), which would gut funding for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).
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Donny Mayo, business representative for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 66 (Houston), testified in support of Senate Bill 482 (SB 482), which would help protect utility workers on the job. The bill passed out of committee!
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Aloki Shah, president of Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 6154, testified against Senate Bill 2446 (SB 2446), which would tie the hands of our local mental health authorities. The bill was left pending in committee.
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Multiple union members and retirees testified in support of House Bill 886 (HB 886), which would give a 13th check to retirees under the Employees Retirement System (ERS). Some of them included: Jerome Wald, retiree and member of the Texas State Employees Union (TSEU) since 1987, Joan Barash, retiree and member of TSEU, and Richard “Rick” Farias, member of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Retirees Chapter 12.
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And many more!
We fight for a fair shot for Texas workers, and we expect our lawmakers to as well. Stay tuned for more legislative updates as we head into the tail end of session.
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📜 This Week in Labor History…
The International Association of Machinists (IAM) was founded on May 5, 1888 by Thomas W. Talbot. Learn more.
🏃 Labor on the Move
Jesse Corona has joined the Texas AFL-CIO team as our new Digital Organizer. Jesse has created media for statewide political campaigns and was previously a member of OPEIU local 277. Welcome, Jesse!
💐 In Memory
Gary Lee Tate, a member of SMART Local 67, passed away on Apr. 22 at the age of 70. Donations in memory of Gary can be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
🏃 Labor on the Move
Eddie Hall is retiring as National President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) effective May 1. In accordance with BLET bylaws, First Vice President Mark Wallace will become National President, and VP Gary Best was elected First Vice President.
Jose Jimenez has joined the Texas AFL-CIO team as our new Rio Grande Valley Field Organizer. Jose most recently worked as an organizer for the San Antonio Alliance. Welcome, Jose!
Nimrod Funk and Michael Buchanan, members of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 181 in Austin, recently retired. Congratulations on your years of service!
💐 In Memory
Rex Pope, a member of UA Local 100, passed away on Apr. 17 at the age of 83. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Plumbers & Steamfitters UA Local Union 100 Scholarship Program.
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SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS
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🚨 Take Action
Call your Member of Congress and tell them to co-sponsor the Protect America’s Workforce Act, H.R.2550! As of Apr. 30, all Texas Democrats have co-sponsored the bill. Call your Member HERE.
Send an email to State Representatives and tell them to end the attacks on Texas construction workers! Texas lawmakers shouldn't be trying to take a tool out of our toolbox — leave Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) alone. Send your message HERE.
Donate to support legal representation for a member of International Rescue Committee Workers Unite Texas, Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 277 who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and abruptly ripped away from their home, family, livelihood, and community.
Donate to the AFGE Federal Employee Defense Fund to fund legal action and other strategies to defend American public employees.
🚨 Take Action
Call your Member of Congress and tell them to co-sponsor the Protect America’s Workforce Act, H.R.2550! Texas members who are already co-sponsors include Reps. Greg Casar (TX-35), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Al Green (TX-09), Julie Johnson (TX-32), and Marc Veasey (TX-33). Call your Member HERE.
Send an email to State Representatives and tell them to end the attacks on Texas construction workers! Texas lawmakers shouldn't be trying to take a tool out of our toolbox — leave Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) alone. Send your message HERE.
Donate to support legal representation for a member of International Rescue Committee Workers Unite Texas, Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 277 who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and abruptly ripped away from their home, family, livelihood, and community.
Donate to the AFGE Federal Employee Defense Fund to fund legal action and other strategies to defend American public employees.
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📆 Events
Thursday, May 1: May Day
May Day, also called Workers' Day or International Workers' Day, is the day that commemorates the struggles and gains made by workers and the labor movement across the world.
Saturday, May 3: Election Day for Texas's 2025 Local Elections
Find a guide to voting in Texas's May 2025 Local Elections HERE.
Monday, May 5 in Houston: AFGE Strong Rally
Join AFGE Local 1454 for a rally to stop the war on America's workforce!
Friday, May 10: Stamp Out Hunger with NALC
Join the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) on May 10 for the 2025 Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive! Since launching in 1993, the NALC’s annual program has grown into the nation’s largest one-day food drive, helping to fill the shelves of food banks in cities and towns throughout the United States. Simply leave your donation of nonperishable food in a bag near your mailbox on the second Saturday in May, and your letter carrier will do the rest.
📝 Applications & Programs:
🇺🇸 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
⭐ Texas AFL-CIO 2025 Constitutional Convention: A Labor Movement as Big as Texas!
Registration is open for the Texas AFL-CIO 2025 Constitutional Convention, happening June 26-28 at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk.
📆 Events
Friday, Apr. 25 in Florence: 9th Annual Chad Young Memorial Shoot
Hosted by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 540, OPEIU Local 277, and International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 21, join the annual Shoot for a Cure benefitting March of Dimes. Details HERE.
Saturday, Apr. 26 in Houston: IUEC Local 31 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Mobile Welding Facility
Celebrate IUEC Local 31’s new mobile welding facility with a BBQ lunch. A National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) Fair will also take place. Details HERE.
Saturday, Apr. 26 in Waco: Hands Off Our Heroes, Save Our Civil Servants Rally
Join AFGE Local 1822 for a rally to oppose the Trump/Musk cuts to veterans’ care and defend VA workers! Details HERE.
Monday, Apr. 28: Workers Memorial Day
Each day, more than 340 workers are killed and more than 6,000 suffer injury and illness because of dangerous working conditions that are preventable. Together on this Workers Memorial Day, we fight for our lives and confront attacks on safety and health agencies that keep our workplaces safe.
Tuesday, Apr. 29 in El Paso: El Paso Labor Town Hall
Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy and Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Aguilar are hitting the road to hear from Texans about what the future of the Texas labor movement should look like. Details HERE.
Wednesday, Apr. 30: National Apprenticeship Day
A national day to showcase the success and value of Registered Apprenticeship programs, which develops a highly-skilled workforce to meet industry needs and creates pathways for career seekers to catapult into in-demand jobs.
Wednesday, Apr. 30 virtually: Virtual Public Video Relay Service (VRS) Interpreter Town Hall
A town hall for Video Relay Service (VRS) interpreters to discuss deteriorating working conditions. Details HERE.
Thursday, May 1: May Day
May Day, also called Workers' Day or International Workers' Day, is the day that commemorates the struggles and gains made by workers and the labor movement across the world.
📝 Applications & Programs:
🇺🇸 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
⭐ Texas AFL-CIO 2025 Constitutional Convention: A Labor Movement as Big as Texas!
Registration is open for the Texas AFL-CIO 2025 Constitutional Convention, happening June 26-28 at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk.
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GREAT THANKS to all the union members, activists, newspersons, and political leaders who responded to the call to get Tarrant County labor leader Angi DeFelippo and May Day protest organizer Rick Mazemdarrick out of jail early Monday morning.
Hospitality workers with UNITE HERE Local 23 met with Houston city leaders on Wednesday to push for a minimum wage increase. Most hospitality workers in the Houston area currently earn about $16 to $17 an hour. They’re advocating for a $23 minimum wage for hotel, airport, and convention center workers. Solidarity, y’all!
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Did you enjoy this newsletter? Let us know and submit photos, events, and other Texas labor news to [email protected]!
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In Solidarity,
Team Texas AFL-CIO
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