Across Texas, workers are fed up and fighting back.\u00a0We\u2019re taking on the bad bosses and big corporations, demanding better working conditions, and fighting for our communities and families. When workers stand together, we win! Help us welcome:\u00a0HOT STRIKE SUMMER!\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u270a ONGOING:\u00a0In Texas City, 70 skilled workers, represented by the\u00a0Texas City Metal Trades Council, AFL-CIO,\u00a0are on strike at the Ashland Specialty Chemicals plant<\/a>. This strike is about safety for both workers and the community. Members voted to reject the company’s contract because the company is forcing employees to perform work outside their craft, slashing paid sick time benefits, and outsourcing storeroom work.\u00a0Join them on the picket line tonight!<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc6\u00a0WIN:\u00a0In Houston,\u00a0International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 10, Glaziers Local 1778 just ended their 40-day Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike after ratifying a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with Spring Glass & Mirror. Workers were able to save pension benefits and win better hours and pay!\u00a0<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc6\u00a0WIN:\u00a0In Dallas, after threatening to strike, DART paratransit workers represented by\u00a0Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1338 secured a historic union contract with Transdev, including life-changing 21% wage increases and other benefits for the 200+ workers.\u00a0<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc40 KEEP AN EYE ON:\u00a0In Austin, Keolis\/CapMetro workers\u00a0voted 99.5% to authorize a strike, if necessary, over stalling negotiations<\/a>. Represented by\u00a0Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1091, the workers at CapMetro have been so frustrated with Keolis\u2019 complete inflexibility at the table that they recently held a\u00a0\u201cperiod of rest\u201d action<\/a> where they rejected overtime, refusing to earn extra money in order to stand in solidarity with one another for a fair contract. Transit workers across the country have been battling for years against bad-faith, low-bid private contractors like Keolis that profit at the expense of transit workers and the riding public.\u00a0<\/p>\n Stay tuned for more steps to take to support workers across the state!\u00a0<\/p>\n AS GOES TEXAS LABOR\u2026<\/p>\n Austin:\u00a0CapMetro Employees Threaten to Go on Strike<\/a> \u2014\u00a0Austin Chronicle, featuring\u00a0ATU Local 1091 President Brent Payne<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc6 Fort Worth:\u00a0Fort Worth-based BNSF, union members ratify 5-year agreement \u2014\u00a0Fort Worth Report, featuring\u00a0Transportation Communications International Union \/\u00a0<\/a>International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) National Representative Kevin Lattimer<\/a><\/p>\n Houston:\u00a0Union workers rally for fair pay during World Cup<\/a> \u2014\u00a0Houston Press, featuring\u00a0Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation Executive Director Hany Khalil\u00a0and\u00a0Teamsters Local 988 Organizing Director Ricardo Hidalgo<\/p>\n Texas City:\u00a0Labor strike at Houston-area Ashland chemical plant enters second week<\/a> \u2014\u00a0Houston Chronicle,\u00a0featuring\u00a0Lewis Crawford, lead negotiator for the\u00a0Texas City Metal Trades Council and business agent for the\u00a0International Union of Operating Engineers Local 564<\/p>\n Statewide:\u00a0Concerns remain about how new Texas reading list could limit teacher in\u00adstruction time<\/a> \u2014\u00a0Spectrum News, featuring\u00a0Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Zeph Capo<\/p>\n Statewide:\u00a0Dolores Huerta tells Texas Democrats to organize and \u201csave democracy\u201d in surprise convention appearance<\/a> \u2014\u00a0The Texas Tribune\u00a0<\/p>\n NEWS TO USE<\/p>\n Worker\u2019s death at SpaceX factory followed hundreds of injuries in recent years<\/a> \u2014\u00a0Texas Observer<\/p>\n US judge won’t block Labor Department rule on union financial disclosures<\/a> \u2014\u00a0Reuters<\/p>\n \u201cYou belong here\u201d: Unions rally for migrants hit by SCOTUS ruling<\/a> \u2014\u00a0Salon<\/p>\n AFL-CIO Calls for Review of the United States\u2013Mexico\u2013Canada Agreement to Center Working Families<\/a> \u2014 AFL-CIO<\/p>\n AI & TECH NEWS BITE\u00a0<\/p>\n AFL-CIO Worker-Centered AI Principle #6<\/a>: Require transparency and accountability in AI applications<\/p>\n Allowing an algorithm to secretly determine whether a worker should be hired, promoted, disciplined or fired is a recipe for discrimination and unfairness, stress and job deterioration.\u00a0Easy-to-understand explanations and having humans meaningfully review decisions are essential to upholding fairness, especially with the high rate of error found in various AI systems, including large language models. There must also be strong accountability and enforcement for AI companies and employers that harm workers.\u00a0<\/p>\n TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS\ud83c\udfc3 ON THE MOVE<\/p>\n Texas International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) locals are\u00a0celebrating huge membership growth<\/a>:\u00a0<\/p>\n IBEW Local 681\u00a0(Weslaco) \u2014 73% growthIBEW Local 278 (Corpus Christi) \u2014 71% growth\u00a0IBEW Local 602 (Amarillo) \u2014 68% growth\u00a0IBEW Local 583 (El Paso) \u2014 66% growth\u00a0& many more!\u00a0\ud83d\udc90 IN MEMORY<\/p>\n Vonda McDaniel<\/a>, president of the\u00a0Central Labor Council of Nashville & Middle Tennessee, passed away on Jun. 30. A trailblazing labor leader, she was always supportive of our Texas labor movement and organizing the South.<\/p>\n Our hearts go out to her family, friends, and all those who loved her.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf82 UNION BIRTHDAYS<\/p>\n On Jun. 26, 1985,\u00a0Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 350 (Houston) was chartered<\/a>. Originally chartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma,\u00a0Local 350 has certainly changed \u2014 starting as a pipeline-only local to growing to have a market share in general construction, refineries, and even solar.\u00a0<\/p>\n SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS\ud83d\udea8 TAKE ACTION<\/p>\n ADD YOUR NAME:\u00a0Tell Harris Center: Give employees a raise & stop union busting<\/a> SUBMIT FEEDBACK to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)<\/p>\n Support\u00a0IBEW members: Texas electricians are urged to speak up about TDLR\u2019s Journeyman Electrician Education Program (JEEP) passage.\u00a0Take action<\/a>.Support\u00a0UA members: Texas HVAC technicians are urged to submit public comments on Air Conditioning and Refrigeration rules (deadline is Jul. 20).\u00a0Take action<\/a>.\ud83d\udcc6 EVENTS THIS WEEK<\/p>\n Thursday, Jul. 2 in Texas City: \u270a\u00a0Picket with Texas City Metal Trades Council at Ashland Specialty Chemicals<\/a> Thursday, Jul. 2 in Austin: \ud83d\udc99\u00a0AFM 433 America’s 250th Celebration Concert<\/a> Friday, Jul. 3 in San Antonio: \ud83d\udc99\u00a0Building Trades Women’s Gathering<\/a> Monday, Jul. 6 virtually: \ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffb\u200d\ud83c\udfeb\u00a0AFL-CIO Training: History of Voting Rights<\/a> Wednesday, Jul. 8 virtually: \ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffb\u200d\ud83c\udfeb\u00a0AFL-CIO Training: Frontline Solidarity: Immigration Tools for Organizers and Activists<\/a> See all upcoming Texas labor events here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcdd APPLICATIONS & PROGRAMS<\/p>\n Registration is NOW OPEN for the\u00a02026 Tradeswomen Build Nations (TWBN) conference<\/a>! This year\u2019s largest annual gathering of unionized tradeswomen in the world will be held in Houston from Oct. 9\u201311.\u00a0Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcaa TEXAS UNION JOBS\ud83d\udcf8\u00a0PHOTO OF THE WEEK<\/p>\n Building worker power doesn\u2019t stop at the workplace, it extends into our communities. Last week,\u00a0Northside AFT hosted a Volunteer Deputy Registrar training<\/a>, training up 22 new VDRs to strengthen civic participation across Bexar County!\u00a0<\/p>\n Photo courtesy Northside AFT<\/p>\n
Support\u00a0United Workers of Harris Center (UWHC – CWA Local 6154)\u00a0to call on the Harris Center to get the CEO\u2019s pay raise back, give employees a raise, and stop union busting!\u00a0Take action<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Workers at Ashland Specialty Chemicals in Texas City \u2014 represented by four unions with the\u00a0Texas City Metal Trades Council, AFL-CIO \u2014 are on an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike. Join them tonight from 5pm to 10pm.\u00a0Details<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Join\u00a0American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 433 and the Music Performance Trust Fund for America\u2019s 250th Celebration Concert, featuring performances by Diana Burgess & Curtis McMurtry, and the Mirage Jazz Ensemble. Free, open to the public, and all ages.\u00a0Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Join the San Antonio Building & Construction Trades Council\u2019s yearly gathering for women in the trades at the San Antonio Missions game.\u00a0Details<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In this interactive training, we will look at the history of voting rights in the U.S. and discuss the relationship to today.\u00a0Details<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The mass deportation agenda is a deeply anti-worker agenda that hurts workers, unions, and the economy. This session will provide participants with information to navigate the escalating attacks on immigrant workers and discuss resources available for unions and organizers.\u00a0Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n