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This newsletter is a 6-minute read. |
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Hi john, here's your weekly Texas labor update: |
ONE BIG THING: ONE JOB SHOULD BE ENOUGH! |
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On Labor Day, workers at Houston’s Hilton Americas hotel — members of UNITE HERE Local 23 — began a nine-day strike to demand higher wages. This is the first strike of Texas hotel workers in modern history. ✊🏽
Houston’s tourism industry is booming. Last year, Hilton America’s hotel revenue increased by more than 15% to $3 BILLION, but workers are still struggling to make ends meet. Many people must juggle multiple jobs just to pay their bills and provide for their families.
Members of UNITE HERE Local 23 have been in contract negotiations with Hilton Americas since June. Their primary demand is simple: one job should be enough!
"This fight is not just for us, but for the entire hotel, so that we can all have a better life and peace of mind for ourselves and our families," said member José Luis Piedras.
The striking workers of UNITE HERE Local 23 are sacrificing their time, energy, and paychecks to stand together for a fair contract.
“Everybody should join the fight. It matters for not only Houston but all of Texas, and we're trying to make a difference and make our voices heard,” said member Brian Garcia.
Their fight is our fight. Here’s how you can help:
Follow UNITE HERE Local 23 on Facebook here for the latest updates on the strike. |
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AS GOES TEXAS LABOR... |
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NEWS TO USE |
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Unions are as popular as ever. Our labor laws haven't caught up yet. — MSNBC
Trump’s VA Union Busting Is Another Step Toward Privatizing Veteran Care — Rolling Stone, featuring a photo of United Steelworkers (USW) District 13 Staff Representative Jose Loya
Unions, community groups join forces for Labor Day protests against Trump and billionaires — USA Today
Unions fight back as Trump terminates federal workers' union rights — NPR |
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TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS |
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🏃 LABOR ON THE MOVE Congratulations to the United Workers of Integral Care - CWA Local 6154, who secured raises for lowest-paid staff, fairer grievance and discipline processes, and tuition and car repair assistance benefits for employees! ✊🏼
Congratulations to former Alliance/AFT Executive Vice President George Rangel, who won the Hero of Labor Award, and AFT retiree Patricia Murphy who received the Linda Bridges Award. Both were honored at the Dallas AFL-CIO Labor Day Breakfast.
We’re proud of the CWA District 6 members in Texas Congressional District 15, who once again visited the office of Rep. Monica De La Cruz to hold her accountable for her votes against Texas’ working families.
🎂 UNION BIRTHDAYS The Texas AFL-CIO wishes a happy early birthday to our union siblings of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), whose predecessor union was founded on May 5, 1888.
📜 THIS WEEK IN LABOR HISTORY… In Hawaii, on Labor Day of 1946, more than 26,000 sugar workers began a successful 79-day strike that shut down the powerful sugar industry. Organized by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), the strike required radical inclusivity to unify the plantation workforce’s varied ethnic and racial groups, whose cultural and language differences had been capitalized upon by plantation owners to sow division and prevent worker solidarity. Learn more. |
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SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS |
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🚨 TAKE ACTION NEW Contribute to the hardship fund for striking UNITE HERE Local 23 workers in Houston here. Workers are on a nine-day strike for fair wages. Learn more and donate HERE.
Donate to support surgery costs for Angi DeFelippo, political director for the Tarrant County Central Labor Council. Learn more and donate HERE.
Call your member of Congress and tell them to sign the discharge petition and pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act, H.R. 2550! Call your Member HERE.
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 THIS WEEK TODAY at 3pm CT - Thursday, Sep. 4 virtually: AFL-CIO Training: De-Escalation Strategies Learn to identify escalating tensions at actions and use trauma-informed tactics for intervention. Details here. TODAY at 6:30pm CT - Thursday, Sep. 4 in McAllen: American Agitators Screening
TODAY through Tuesday, Sep. 9 in Houston: Join the picket line with UNITE HERE Local 23 Join community members standing in solidarity with UNITE HERE Local 23 members on strike at Houston’s Hilton Americas hotel. Details here.
Friday, Sep. 5 through Sunday, Sep. 7 in Dallas: Texas YALL’s 2025 Hot Labor Summer Summit Join the Texas Young Active Labor Leaders (YALL) for the 2025 Hot Labor Summer Summit. Any union members 40 years old or younger are welcome to join YALL. Details & registration here.
Saturday, Sep. 6 in DFW (and every Saturday): Workers’ Beat on KNON 89.3FM
Tuesday, Sep. 9 virtually: AFL-CIO Training: Know Your Rights and How to Set Up an Emergency Mobilization Get guidance about best practice on how to use your voice and protect yourself on the streets. Learn how to prepare your safe before, during, and after a protest. Details here.
Thursday, Sep. 11 AFL-CIO Virtual Training: Transformational Organizing Conversations Explore how to talk with union members about defending freedom, fairness and security for working people. Practice moving members to take action by participating in a mobilization. Details here.
📆 PLAN AHEAD Wednesday, Oct. 8 in Leander: 22nd Annual Texas AFL-CIO • Walter Umphrey Golf Tournament Support the Texas AFL-CIO Membership Education Fund and the Texas AFL-CIO Scholarship Fund at this Four-Person scramble at the Crystal Falls Golf Course. Details & registration here.
January 24-25, 2026 in Georgetown: Texas AFL-CIO 2026 COPE Convention Save the date for our 2026 COPE Convention. More details coming soon!
📝 APPLICATIONS & PROGRAMS Texas Construction Career Pathways MC3 Training - Travis County This 3-week training program prepares participants for a registered apprenticeship in the building and construction trades. The October training session will run from Tuesday, October 14, through Friday, October 31, 2025. Send referrals to Chris Gomez, workforce development program coordinator, at [email protected]. Interested participants must apply at texasccp.com by Friday, Sept. 12.
2026 Ruth Ellinger Leadership Academy Applications are NOW OPEN for the 2026 Ruth Ellinger Leadership Academy! This one-year training program is a skill-building and leadership development course managed by the Texas AFL-CIO to help grow and support the next generation of union leaders in Texas. Applications are due by Monday, Nov. 3. Apply here. |
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📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK |
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On Labor Day, we came together across the state to recommit to fighting for all workers. Solidarity is a beautiful thing! |
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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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