Hard work should be enough to put food on the table and take care of our families. But lately, everything is getting more and more expensive.
Corrupt politicians – like Greg Abbott and Donald Trump – have rigged the system against working people, putting corporate profits and billionaire donors ahead of Texas workers.
Texans need leaders who are serious about providing real solutions to make it possible for us to get ahead.
That’s why we hit the road last year for our Statewide Listening Tour to hear directly from Texas union members about what the future of the Texas labor movement should look like, what our values should be, and what members want from their state elected officials.
We held 11 Labor Town Halls with 613 in-person attendees, heard more than 140 questions, and travelled 4,589 miles — and we learned a lot! The feedback from across the state has helped us develop our movement’s Fair Shot Principles — the rights that every Texas worker deserves.
Every day we show up and work hard to provide for our families. It’s time those in power show up for us, too!
These principles guide our endorsed candidate choices and our upcoming legislative priorities — because if union members can claim our power, we can WIN the change we know we need.
1. You have the right to organize.
Workers have the fundamental right to form and join unions to advocate for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. We must repeal so-called “right to work” and oppose policies that weaken unions or limit workers’ collective voices.
2. You have the right to a living wage.
A living wage is necessary for all workers, and one job should be enough to take care of our families and build a secure future. Texas needs to raise wages and tackle rising costs that impact every family.
3. You have the right to a quality education.
A strong public education system depends on educators, staff, and neighborhood schools that are fully supported. Texas should prioritize public education by investing in the people and institutions that prepare future generations for success.
4. You have the right to retire with dignity.
Every Texan who spends a lifetime working deserves the opportunity to retire with dignity, supported by retirement benefits that provide financial stability and peace of mind. We also have to protect and expand Medicare and Social Security for all Texans
5. You have the right to fairness and safety on the job.
Every worker deserves safe working conditions and Texas should ensure workers are protected from unfair practices and unnecessary workplace dangers – while also guaranteeing access to essential workplace protections, including rest breaks during extreme weather.
Artificial intelligence (AI) must also be used safely, responsibly, and fairly — prioritizing workers throughout the process. There is a path where new technology makes work better and safer, centering good union jobs that have fair pay and better job quality.
6. You have the right to high quality training.
Texas should invest in gold-standard U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Programs that prepare workers for high-skilled careers, especially on large scale manufacturing and other facilities.
7. You have the right to unemployment benefits and workers’ compensation.
Workers deserve a strong safety net when they face hardship. Those who lose their jobs through no fault of their own deserve a fair and modern unemployment insurance system, and those injured on the job should be guaranteed workers’ compensation benefits.
8. You have the right to a clean energy future.
Texas can meet our energy needs while creating good union jobs, strengthening local economies, and protecting the land, air, and water that working Texans depend on.
9. You have the right to work-life balance.
Working Texans should never have to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for themselves or their loved ones. We must expand paid leave and strengthen childcare systems to make it possible for families to balance work and caregiving responsibilities.
10. You have the right to equal protection, regardless of status.
Every worker deserves dignity, fairness, and equal protection, regardless of immigration status or where they were born. We must safeguard the rights and well-being of all working Texans.
Texas workers deserve lawmakers who will fight shoulder-to-shoulder with us for these rights! That’s why we’ve endorsed these pro-worker candidates.
This Labor Day season, tell us what your top priorities are and commit to vote this November.
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The Texas AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) is the state labor federation consisting of more than 250,000 affiliated union members and advocates for working people in Texas. Learn more at texasaflcio.org