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Dallas Labor Says "Let's Win This!"

Gene Lantz
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Battle Lines Drawn in City Election

Early voting begins in Dallas April 24, just three weeks away. Lorraine Montemayor, Political Director for the Dallas AFL-CIO, is calling all of labor’s members and supporters to action. The first day of canvassing and phone banking will be Saturday, April 8, beginning at 9 AM. Call 214-826-4808 to volunteer.

The Dallas newspaper made the battle lines clear in an article saying that the Mayor had singled out Councilman Philip Kingston as his chief headache. Reading through the article, one can see that the Council members being opposed by the establishment, including the newspaper itself, are the same ones that led labor’s fight to win rest breaks for construction workers: Scott Griggs, Philip Kingston, and Adam Medrano.

[caption caption="Mark York congratulates Philip Kingston who was with us on Labor Day, at a CLC meeting, and in the MLK parade"]
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The establishment’s enemies, are the same one’s heading the Dallas AFL-CIO’s list of “must win” candidates: Philip Kingston, Scott Griggs, and Adam Medrano. We will be "all out" until the May 6 election. Communications Workers and labor’s allies will rally downtown by the Old Red Courthouse on April 24 to urge more people to turn out.

School Board Race Also Matters

The largest union local in the Dallas AFL-CIO is the school employees, Alliance/AFT. They are emphasizing the re-election of Trustee Joyce Foreman in Dallas Independent School District Six. Foreman has stood by working families through a number of contentious issues.

Meanwhile, In Fort Worth

Labor's fight in Tarrant County is powerful and ongoing. Brother Jerrell Miller of the Communications Workers and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists joined forces with the NAACP over an important education issue there. The Tarrant AFL-CIO is working on its golf tournament, which is their main fund raiser for 2017. See our web site for pictures and an update.

Dallas Is In the Fight for Texas State Justice

The Texas Legislature continues to threaten working families with anti-union, anti-retirees, anti-women, and anti-children bills. Our progressive forces will organize at the Town Hall meeting at Springcreek Church at noon on Saturday, April 1, at Springcreek  Church, 2660 Beltline Road in Garland.

[caption caption="Joe Montemayor of the Texas State Employees Union"]
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Dallas activists are joining the stateswide effort for a major lobby day in Austin on April 12. The Texas State Employees Union is organizing bus rides from every major city. Tickets are only $15. Click here to buy yours!  Among those lobbying hard in Austin are the Texas Alliance for Retired Americans Educational Fund -- labor's constituency group for seniors. The Dallas chapter meets on  First Wednesdays, April 5 at noon, at the Alliance/AFT Hall, 334 W Centre in Oak Cliff. Candidate Philip Kingston, or a representative of his campaign,  has been invited. Everyone else is invited, too.

More Actions Coming Up

Mar 31, 4:30P: Join the fight to increase the federal minimum wage with Fair Wage Ft Worth!  In front of Fritz G Lanham Federal building, 819 Taylor St, Fort Worth, TX 76102. Afterwards, attend a social in celebration of Cesar Chavez's Birthday at Houston Street Bar & Patio, 902 Houston, Fort Worth, TX  76102.

Apr 1, Noon: Working Families Town Hall Meeting. State Senator Don Huffines invited. Springcreek Church, 2660 Belt Line Rd, Garland, Texas 75044. Contact 214-826-4808

Apr 5, 12:30P: Dallas retirees gather at Alliance/AFT hall, Centre & Bishop in Oak Cliff. Contact  Judy Bryant for info: 214-729-0063

Apr 6: Congressional recess begins -- intensify the lobbying effort!

Apr 8, 9A: Dallas AFL-CIO canvassing from 1408 N Washington. Contact Lorraine Montemayor 214-826-4808

Apr 9, 2P: Dallas Mega March for immigrant/refugee rights starts at the Cathedral on Ross Street

Apr 12: TSEU's lobby day. Sign up at To buy a ticket and further plan for TSEU Lobby Day, go to this link: http://cwa-tseu.org/?page_id=6156