{"id":341920,"date":"2026-06-18T22:01:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T22:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/341920\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T22:01:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T22:01:19","slug":"lone-star-labor-texas-workers-brave-extreme-heat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/341920\/","title":{"rendered":"Lone Star Labor: Texas workers brave extreme heat"},"content":{"rendered":"

A heat wave will\u00a0push heat index values<\/a> above 100\u00b0F across portions of Texas this week. For many of our members, that can mean dangerous heat on the job.\u00a0It\u2019s more important than ever that workers take care of themselves and demand heat protections in the workplace.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unions have the power to take care of workers now by\u00a0sharing heat safety tips<\/a>. Acclimatization, hydration, rest breaks, and proper planning save lives.\u00a0As temperatures climb, let’s make sure every worker goes home at the end of the day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But we shouldn\u2019t be in this position. Across Texas, local communities tried to pass heat safety protections over the last decade, but in 2023,\u00a0Greg Abbott blocked those protections with his \u201cDeath Star Bill.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

That\u2019s just one reason we\u2019ve started our\u00a0series of videos called The People vs. Greg Abbott<\/a> to prep for the November election, and you can take action, too:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Talk to your coworkers about your working conditions and consider\u00a0forming a union<\/a>!\u00a0Look in on older adults, neighbors, and vulnerable family members on really hot days.\u00a0If you\u2019re heading into union negotiations, talk with your local union leadership and staff representatives about plants for bargaining Health, Safety and Environment language, including\u00a0addressing heat<\/a>.Check your voter registration status NOW<\/a> to take action this November.AS GOES TEXAS LABOR\u2026<\/p>\n

Austin:\u00a0Austin ISD’s proposed budget cuts draw emotional pleas ahead of board vote<\/a> \u2014\u00a0KVUE, featuring\u00a0Education Austin member\u00a0Gabby Garcia, an AISD library<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc6 Dallas:\u00a0Paratransit drivers avoid strike after reaching deal with DART contractor<\/a> \u2014\u00a0KERA News, featuring\u00a0Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1338 Executive Vice President\u00a0Bernard Wade<\/p>\n

Dallas:\u00a0As World Cup Unfolds, Immigrant Rights Organizers Seek a Reckoning over Dallas\u2019 Relationship with ICE<\/a> \u2014\u00a0Texas Observer, featuring\u00a0Young Active Labor Leaders (YALL)<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc6 Fort Worth:\u00a0Lockheed Martin union workers ratify new contract<\/a> \u2014\u00a0Fort Worth Report\u00a0featuring\u00a0International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) General Vice President\u00a0Jody Bennett and\u00a0IAM District 776 Directing Business Representative\u00a0Doyle Huddleston<\/p>\n

Houston:\u00a0As FIFA World Cup kicks off, union leaders say Houston stadium workers don’t make enough<\/a> \u2014\u00a0Houston Chronicle, featuring\u00a0UNITE HERE Local 23\u00a0Texas Chapter President\u00a0Franchesca Caraballo<\/p>\n

Statewide:\u00a0Former Labor Department official says regulations are needed to protect workers in extreme heat<\/a> \u2014\u00a0KERANews\u00a0<\/p>\n

Statewide:\u00a0The Hidden 100-Year Legacy of Latina Labor Activism in Texas<\/a> \u2014\u00a0Nonprofit Quarterly<\/p>\n

NEWS TO USE<\/p>\n

Juneteenth: Why It Took More Than 2 Years for Emancipation to Reach Texas<\/a> \u2014\u00a0History<\/p>\n

In Trump’s second term, Dreamers with clean records are being deported, data show<\/a> \u2014\u00a0San Antonio Express-News<\/p>\n

AFT President Randi Weingarten on challenging facing education and use of AI in the classroom<\/a> \u2014\u00a0C-SPAN<\/p>\n

Education Department changes are leaving millions of vulnerable students at risk<\/a> \u2014\u00a0The 19th<\/p>\n

AI & TECH NEWS BITE\u00a0<\/p>\n

AFL-CIO Worker-Centered AI Principle #4<\/a>: Develop a worker-centered workforce development and training system<\/p>\n

Joint labor-management partnerships and union-centered, high-quality training programs, including Registered Apprenticeships, should be used when developing AI workforce training or digital literacy programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The labor movement and its network of union training centers that span the entire United States is the largest training institution in the nation, second only to the Department of Defense. These training programs have the proven track record of preparing workers for and connecting them to high-quality, family-sustaining jobs. Innovation will not succeed if workers are not supported and if unions do not play a central role in managing transitions as they always have.<\/p>\n

TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS\ud83c\udfc3 ON THE MOVE<\/p>\n

\u270a NEW ORGANIZING:\u00a0Workers at MidSouth Electric Co-op in Navasota have\u00a0decided to organize<\/a> with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 66.<\/p>\n

American Association of University Professors (AAUP) member\u00a0Dr. Leonard Bright, a professor at Texas A&M University\u2019s Bush School of Government and Public Service,\u00a0was elected<\/a> to AAUP\u2019s Governing Council to represent Region 2.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Congratulations to the\u00a02026 graduates<\/a> of the\u00a0Houston Area Plumbing Joint Apprenticeship Committee!\u00a0<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc90 IN MEMORY<\/p>\n

Brother\u00a0Billy Lewis<\/a>, member of\u00a0IBEW Local 301 (Texarkana), passed away on Jun. 11 at the age of 77.<\/p>\n

Our hearts go out to his friends, family, and union siblings.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf82 UNION BIRTHDAYS<\/p>\n

On Jun. 15, 1908, the\u00a0Metal Trades Department<\/a> of what is now the AFL-CIO is founded.<\/p>\n

SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS\ud83d\udea8 TAKE ACTION<\/p>\n

SUPPORT Glaziers Local 1778\u2019s strike against Spring Glass
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 10, Glaziers Local 1778 members are on an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike against Spring Glass & Mirror across Houston. Take action today:\u00a0<\/p>\n

ADD YOUR NAME:\u00a0Join the No More Harm campaign to end the TEA Takeover of Houston ISD<\/a>
No More Harm is a coalition of educators, parents, students, and concerned citizens working to restore a democratically elected school board to Houston ISD. Now is our time to end the TEA takeover, and return our public schools to the communities we serve.\u00a0Take action here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

CALL:\u00a0Tell Congress: No Blank Checks for ICE!<\/a>\u00a0
It\u2019s time for Congress to do their job and refuse to use taxpayer dollars to fund agencies that are accountable to no one. Workers want affordability and stability, not fear and chaos!\u00a0Take action here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcc6 EVENTS THIS WEEK<\/p>\n

Thursday, Jun. 18 in Austin: \u270a\u00a0Education Austin Funeral at Austin ISD Headquarters<\/a>
Join\u00a0Education Austin members to hold a funeral for the positions, programs, and opportunities threatened by proposed budget cuts. We\u2019ll mourn what\u2019s at risk, but we\u2019ll also stand together for the schools our students deserve.\u00a0Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thursday, Jun. 18 online: \ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffb\u200d\ud83c\udfeb\u00a0AFL-CIO Training: Budgeting for AFL-CIO Federated Bodies – Federating Fundamentals<\/a>
This training will focus on developing a budget and utilizing it to track and analyze income and spending. We will also focus on how a budget can be a helpful tool during times of crisis.\u00a0Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Friday, Jun. 19 in Conroe: \u270a\u00a0IUPAT Local 1778 ULP Picket at Spring Glass<\/a>
Join members of\u00a0IUPAT Glaziers Local 1778, who are on strike over Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) as they continue fighting for a fair contract after nearly two years of negotiations.\u00a0Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Jun. 20 in Lockhart: \ud83d\udc99\u00a0San Antonio Building Trades Council’s Family Fishing Fellowship<\/a>
Join the\u00a0San Antonio Building Trades Council\u00a0and Union Sportsmen’s Alliance\u00a0for free food, fishing poles, and bait!\u00a0Details<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tuesday, Jun. 23 in San Antonio: \ud83d\uddf3\ufe0f\u00a0Voter Registration Training with Northside AFT<\/a>
Join\u00a0Northside American Federation of Teachers (AFT) for lunch and to get certified to register voters in Bexar County. Preregistration and a valid TDL or ID is required for the training.\u00a0Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tuesday, Jun. 23 online: \ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffb\u200d\ud83c\udfeb\u00a0AFL-CIO Training: Effective Worksite Political Programs<\/a>
This interactive workshop for Zone Leads and Local Union Coordinators will help you create a plan to engage workers around important issues ahead of the midterm elections.\u00a0Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tuesday, Jun. 23 online: \ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffb\u200d\ud83c\udfeb\u00a0AFL-CIO Training: Organizing Labor in the Pulpit<\/a>
This training will focus on identifying friendly faith congregations, list making, sending invitations to congregations, f\\and all the steps you need to take to recruit congregations for federated body speakers during the Labor Day weekend period.\u00a0Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wednesday, Jun. 24 in Houston: \u270a\u00a0United Workers of Harris Center Rally & Petition Action<\/a>
Join\u00a0United Workers of Harris Center (UWHC – CWA Local 6154) to help stop union busting. Wear your union colors!\u00a0Details<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

See all upcoming Texas labor events here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcc6 APPLICATIONS & PROGRAMS<\/p>\n

DEADLINE Jun. 24:\u00a0Apply for the next\u00a0Texas-based AFL-CIO Organizing Institute (OI)<\/a>\u00a0
This training is designed to provide union organizers with the tools to empower working people to WIN respect and dignity on the job! OI is open to all national and local AFL-CIO affiliated unions with staff or members. Union members must be in good standing and sponsored by their unions.\u00a0Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

APPLY NOW:\u00a0Texas Construction Career Pathways (TCCP) Austin Cohort<\/a>
TCCP\u00a0offers a three-week construction apprenticeship readiness program to prepare individuals for a union registered apprenticeship with competitive pay, benefits, and growth potential. The next cohort will be in Austin in July.\u00a0Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcaa TEXAS UNION JOBS\ud83d\udcf8\u00a0PHOTO OF THE WEEK<\/p>\n

Dozens of Texas union members came together to learn new skills at the 2026 LaborNotes Conference in Chicago.<\/p>\n

Photo via Ben Suddaby \/ AFSCME Local 1624<\/p>\n

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