Everywhere you look, American labor is rapidly changing. National, state, and local labor bodies are orienting to focus on winning unprecedented contract negotiations, strikes, and organizing drives.
The entire nation is engaged in winning new contracts for the Writers and Actors who are on strike. The state AFL-CIO has dramatic proposals for its August 1-3 convention. Activists across the state are backing the Texas American Federation of Teachers against an assault from reactionaries in state government. They are asking all Texans to sign up to fight voucher schemesthat would undermine our schools.
Dallas AFL-CIO just completed a thorough examination of all past practices and looks forward to new proposals.
Convention Looks to Boost Organizing
Traditionally, individual union organizing drives were pretty much on their own, but the state AFL-CIO convention has a proposal to help focus the entire labor movement, all unions and our many allies, on winning drives that involve any and all workers. State President Rick Levy says, “Our delegates will consider a resolution that dramatically expands the Texas AFL-CIO’s role in assisting union organizing and another resolution stepping up our role in advocating for immigrant workers through the Texas Immigrant Worker Project..”
Dallas Plans Strategically
Organizer from national AFL-CIO Joe Montemayor led Dallas leadership through the first phase of strategic planning on July 22. Top elected leaders from our Central Labor Council were joined by the Secretary-Treasurer of the state federation, Leonard Aguilar, and three of our youthful labor activists. Considerable emphasis is being put on youth and youth-led solidarity activities.
The Dallas Labor Day Breakfast will unite unions, political figures, and other advocates for working families on September 4th. Individual tickets are $35. Tables for 10 people and sponsorships are available by contacting jtomlinson.dallasaflcio@gmail.com. Checks go to “Dallas AFL-CIO,” 1408 N Washington#240, Dallas, TX 75204. For convenience, use our PayPal account.
Please join the Dallas AFL-CIO Solidarity Brigade
News Barriers Broken
After decades of pretending that working families don’t exist, commercial news outlets have discovered us. There is a general upsurge in interest that is likely being helped by the successful efforts of the Communications Workers of America in organizing journalists.
Our efforts are getting noticed. This week, D Magazine published a long article on the efforts of talk show hosts Bonnie Mathias and Gene Lantz on the all-volunteer KNON community radio station.
Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy wrote, “This is such a great tribute to your work, which has never been appreciated in a way that is warranted. Thank you both for keeping on keeping on. We need to get yall more help!!”
The “Workers Beat” program and “Workers Beat Extra” podcast have a strong bias favoring working families. They intend to help overcome the terrible polarization in America by offering civil discourse. The talk show is aired every Saturday at 9AM on knon.org and 89.3 FM. The call-in number is 972-647-1893.
Labor Education Underway
The Dallas AFL-CIO web page now offers a section on educational resources for labor activists. Free on-line workshops are continuing each Sunday at 5PM.
MORE ACTIONS COMING UP
Jul 29, 4P: DSA fund-raising pool tournament at 4822 Bryan in Dallas
Jul 30, 5P: Free on-line labor workshop on "How to Chair a Meeting". Register here
Jul 28: 26,000 American Professional Flight Attendants begin voting on strike authorization. Voting ends Aug 29
Jul 31-Aug 11: Congress in recess. Good time to visit your representative
Aug 1-3: Texas AFl-CIO convention in Round Rock. “Labor Leads: Organize and Rise”
Aug 3-22: Teamsters voting on UPS tentative contract
Aug 5, 4P: DFW Arriba Las Mujeres Networking Session at 600 Griggs Av, Fort Worth. Info from Texas AFT
Aug 8, 6:30P: CWA and Texas Climate Jobs Project’s "Back to School Town Hall” at 1408 N. Washington Ave
Aug 9, 12:30P: Dallas Chapter of TARA meets at AFT Hall, Bishop & Centre in Oak Cliff. Everyone invited. judy4tara@aol.com or 214-729-0063Aug 16, 5P: Voter Registration at Mean Green Fling at Willis Library, 1506 W Highland in Denton. Info from Texas AFT
Aug 19, 1P: DFW Chapter Social at the Legal Café, 114 Main in Fort worth. Info from Texas AFT
Sep 4: 8:30A: Dallas AFL-CIO Labor Day Breakfast at Longhorn Ballroom