Those of us who like to see working families win are making a final push today and tomorrow, election day June 10. The Dallas AFL-CIO is helping our endorsed candidate in Dallas City Council District 3, Joe Tave, over the finish line by phone banking and encouraging voters at the polls.
Contact Jason and join in labor’s effort. Jtomlinson.dallasaflcio@gmail.com
Where’s Rosie?
While this is written, Dallas teacher Rosemary Curts is on her way to the June 10 Troublemakers’ School in Austin. Earlier this week, she was in Los Angeles to help with the Writers strike, then she went to Houston for the June 8 rally for democracy and against the legislatures’ takeover of local government.
Rosie is co-chair of DFW Young Active Labor Leaders and a consistent supporter of the Dallas AFL-CIO. She’s setting an example in solidarity for all of us!
Learn from the Luddites
Wikipedia says that Luddites were English workers who smashed new textile machines in 1811 as a way to fight layoffs. That battle against new technology was lost, but the war against automation has continued through all of labor history and is a fundamental part of today’s Los Angeles Writers strike, West Coast Dockworkers' struggle, UPS contract negotiations, and many other ongoing negotiations and organizing activities.
The newest, and possibly most contentious, wave of automation is called “artificial intelligence.” Economists estimate that it will replace 18% of all jobs worldwide in the near future. 200,000 techies have already been laid off while stocks of the big tech companies have skyrocketed. The company with the most dramatic stock increase is Nvidia, which makes the chips that artificial intelligence prefers.
As labor plans future strategies, the automation challenge must be met. New machinery does not have to equal layoffs. Prior to 1938, workers always struggled to reduce our working hours as productivity rose. Americans settled for the Fair Labor Standards Act when it set a standard of 40 straight-time weekly working hours. While our productivity has more than quadrupled since then, straight-time hours have not budged. Get involved in finding good strategies for labor. Send your facts and opinions to genelantz.dallasaflcio@gmail.com.
More Actions Coming Up
Jun 10: Runoff election day. Check for voting info
Jun 10, 9A-5P: “Trouble Makers School” by Labor Notes at the IBEW hall in Austin
Jun 15, 7:30P: Dallas AFL-CIO delegates meeting for all affiliated members. Contact lluckhardt.dallasaflcio@gmail.com
Jun 16, 8A: National AFL-CIO discussion and probable vote on 2024 presidential endorsement
Jun 17, 11A: “Juneteenth in Dallas” at 816 Montgomery Street, Dallas
Jun 17, 4P: “Juneteenth in Mansfield" at The Lot downtown, 110 S Main
Jun 18, 3P: Mesquite Juneteenth celebration in Paschall Park, 1001 New Market Rd
Jul 5, 12:30P: Dallas Chapter of Texas Alliance for Retired Americans will not meet until August 9. Contact judy4tara@aol.com
Jul 21: Deadline for suggestions for long-term planning in Dallas AFL-CIO. genelantz.dallasaflcio@gmail.com
Jul 31: UPS/Teamster contract expires for 340,000 workers