This election cycle, corrupt politicians and their billionaire friends are spending millions of dollars to jam the airwaves with lies and distractions.<\/p>\n
But working people know the reality. We feel it every time we buy groceries, fill up our tanks, or pay a medical bill. Despite working harder and longer than ever, the daily struggle to get by has become even more difficult.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We need elected officials who will actually go to bat for us, rather than jingle keys to try to distract us from an economy that favors the few at the expense of the many.<\/p>\n
Corrupt officials want to make it harder to vote, so they can keep their power. They\u2019ve shuttered polling locations<\/a> statewide, passed the most restrictive preregistration laws in any U.S. state<\/a>, and made mail-in ballots available only to a few groups<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n These barriers exist because our voice matters more than ever before. They\u2019re scared to see what will happen when we rise up in numbers to take back our state.\u00a0<\/p>\n That\u2019s why every union member needs to make a plan to vote<\/a> and bring every person they can with them. We cannot afford for anyone to sit this election out. Let\u2019s show up to the polls together, elect our pro-worker candidates<\/a>, and make sure every vote is counted.<\/p>\n \u00a0AS GOES TEXAS LABOR\u2026<\/p>\n Austin: UT workers and students march against changes to academic programs<\/a> \u2014 Austin Chronicle, featuring Texas State Employees Union (TSEU – CWA Local 6186) President Ilesa Daniels Ross<\/p>\n Austin: What will it take to \u2018Get ICE the fuck out of Austin\u2019?<\/a> \u2014 Texas Observer, featuring former Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer and Education Austin member Montserrat Garibay<\/p>\n Austin: Opposing political groups go head-to-head on Austin\u2019s Prop I<\/a> \u2014 KXAN, featuring American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1672 Vice President Cynthia Simons<\/p>\n Fort Worth: 100+ Dallas\/Fort Worth Union Members Rally With NFL Legend Everson Walls and Election Candidates, Calling For a Texas All Working People Can Afford<\/a> \u2014 IAM, featuring IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) President Brian Bryant and IAM Local 776B and Texas IAM State Council President Taylor Rehmet<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc6 Gainesville: Safran, employees come to contract agreement<\/a> \u2014 Gainesville Daily Register, featuring Teamsters Local 767 President Dave Reeves<\/p>\n Houston: Workers vs. billionaires rally pushes voter turnout in Houston<\/a> \u2014 Courier Texas, featuring Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar and Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation Executive Director Hany Khalil<\/p>\n Statewide: Texas districts using state-developed Bluebonnet curriculum saw slight STAAR gains<\/a> \u2014 Community Impact, featuring Texas American Federation of Teachers President Zeph Capo<\/p>\n Statewide: The Rick Smith Show<\/a>\u2014 Political Voices Network, featuring Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar<\/p>\n NEWS TO USE<\/p>\n Trump officials ramp up investigations into voter registration groups <\/a>\u2014 New York Times<\/p>\n New lawsuit challenges Trump-Vance administration policies threatening green card applicants with family separation<\/a> \u2014 Democracy Forward<\/p>\n Senate confirms Keith Sonderling, a business ally, as labor secretary<\/a> \u2014 Washington Post<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd16\u00a0AI & TECH NEWS BITE<\/p>\n Unions are protecting workers\u2019 rights from AI intrusion through collective bargaining.<\/p>\n Creative workers behind Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gatherings, Duel Masters, and other games joined the United Wizards of the Coast<\/a>, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), to fight for fair wages, job security, and strong protections against AI intrusion. The union claimed that management continued to force writers and designers to use generative AI tools in their work.<\/p>\n UWC is joining unions across the nation that are using contract negotiations to ban or restrict invasive AI practices, preserve their intellectual property, and protect their jobs from AI outsourcing.<\/p>\n TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS\ud83c\udfc3 ON THE MOVE<\/p>\n International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 716 President Mitch Mayon received the A. Philip Randolph Institute Tidelands Chapter Hero award.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc90 IN MEMORY<\/p>\n Brother Johnathan Juarez<\/a>, a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 716 (Houston), passed away on Sept. 22 at age 28.<\/p>\n Our hearts go out to their union families and all who loved them.<\/p>\n SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS\ud83d\udea8 TAKE ACTION<\/p>\n PLAN AHEAD: \ud83d\uddf3\ufe0f Protect your vote and make a plan to vote<\/a><\/p>\n Making a plan to vote is a critical part of ensuring your voice is heard in this election. Find our slate of union-recommended candidates, early voting information, and find your early or day of voting location. Make your plan.<\/a><\/p>\n DEADLINE APPROACHING: \u270a Join us at the Texas AFL-CIO Women\u2019s Summit<\/a><\/p>\n Registration is NOW OPEN for the 2026 Texas AFL-CIO Women\u2019s Summit from Nov. 20-22 in San Marcos, TX. Early bird registration is ending on Oct. 14.Can we count on you or your members to join us?<\/a><\/p>\n SIGN UP: \ud83d\udc5f Block walk and make calls for our pro-labor candidates<\/a><\/p>\n If each one of us signed up for one volunteer shift, we would have what we need to win this election. We have plenty of different ways to get involved with our member to member program. Sign up now.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcc6 EVENTS THIS WEEK<\/p>\n Friday, Oct. 9 – Sunday, Oct. 11 in Houston: \ud83d\udee0\ufe0f Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference<\/a><\/p>\n Join this year\u2019s Tradeswomen Build Nations, the largest gathering of unionized tradeswomen in the world. Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n Saturday, Oct. 10 \ud83d\udc5f Union Block Walks:<\/p>\n Tuesday, Oct. 13 online: \u260e\ufe0f San Antonio Union Phone Bank<\/a><\/p>\n Join the Texas AFL-CIO and San Antonio AFL-CIO for a San Antonio-focused virtual phone bank for our labor-endorsed candidates. Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tuesday, Oct. 13 in Houston: \ud83d\ude82 Rail Labor Solidarity Rally<\/a><\/p>\n Railroad workers, retirees, labor organizations, and supporters are rallying to promote safety, job security, and workers\u2019 rights. Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n Wednesday, Oct. 14 in Dallas: \ud83d\udce3 TARA Rally for James Talarico & Saving Social Security<\/a><\/p>\n Join the Texas Alliance for Retired Americans (TARA) for a rally to scrap the cap on social security and support James Talarico for U.S. Senate. Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n Thursday, Oct. 15 online: \u260e\ufe0f San Antonio Union Phone Bank<\/a><\/p>\n Join the Texas AFL-CIO and San Antonio AFL-CIO for a San Antonio-focused virtual phone bank for our labor-endorsed candidates. Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n Thursday, Oct. 15 online: \u260e\ufe0f RGV Union Phone Bank<\/a><\/p>\n Join the Texas AFL-CIO and Rio Grande Valley Central Labor Council for an RGV-focused virtual phone bank for our labor-endorsed candidates. Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n