“It’s the labor movement that is protecting workers today,” Mark York of Dallas AFL-CIO said on March 26. That same day, it was announced that the United States had become the epicenter of the worldwide pandemic. The President of the United States was lining up politicians to push people back to work. The Attorney General of Texas said publicly that we should let older people die.
Not all politicians are going against science and human decency. Mark York said very good things about the help that working families are getting from Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, Congressmen Marc Veasey and Colin Allred, State Representatives Rafael Anchia, Victoria Neave and Lorraine Birabil, City Councilman Chad West and others. Even the notoriously anti-worker Dallas Morning News editors published a positive headline, “People Must Come Before Profits!”
Labor Leaders Meet On-Line
With the highest regard for worker safety, union leaders remain hard at work. Most of that work has moved on-line. The March 27 Central Labor Council meeting of the Dallas AFL-CIO went over workers’ problems and solutions. Mark York told them, “We’re going to have to come together to protect families.”
It was reported that some employers are responding to the pandemic decently, but others are risking employees’ lives in their pursuit of profits or political gain. Unions are standing up for health conditions, proper safety equipment, and fair treatment as the world economy falls off a cliff.
Anthony Elmo of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1000 was applauded for his strong campaign to get grocery workers designated as “front line employees” so that Texas families can continue to eat. Al Dirla of Amalgamated Transit Union 1338 announced proudly that public transportation employees are First Responders and have a plan in place for expected service cutbacks on April 6. Kym Grant of the Doctor’s Union made several offers to help with union efforts. Rena Honea of Alliance/AFT applauded the way that teachers and support staff are helping distribute food to children in need. Carlos Mendez applauded Teamster members who had made hand sanitizer for others. The Elevator Constructors are trying a unique approach to coming layoffs – shortening the work week to keep more workers on the payroll. Mary Stretcher talked about an effort to improve public employees’ pensions.
Organized labor defends all working families, not just those with union contracts. Retiree leader Judy Bryant announced a coalition campaigning to get Medicaid extension in Texas. Mark York celebrated our past political victory in winning paid sick leave now that the rest of the nation is trying to do the same. The leader of Texas New Era/Jobs with Justice, Kara Sheehan, invited everyone to use the community resources and information she keeps updated in a public folder at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gjpdD15PrSBYygTkl9jsZj1m_fSMjsFmVcOb4Qkbmec/edit?usp=sharing.
A lot of activities have been postponed. Scholarship applications for union families with graduating seniors may now be sent in by May 20. Our fund-raising golf tournament, which has already collected a large number of participants, was rescheduled for June 22. Fortunately, Mark York announced, we do not have to do more endorsements for the runoff election, because we had already endorsed Royce West for U.S. Senate and Lorraine Birabil for State Representative in District 100.
In spite of the crisis or because of it, unions are working harder than ever. Mark York said that union representatives will be treated as essential workers who can travel wherever they need to be to help working families. The Dallas AFL-CIO will continue its leadership role and the next meeting, crisis or no, will be held on April 16. Ray Oliver Edmondson of the United Auto Workers said it well, “I want to thank everyone for helping out and doing their share and more!”
Communication Is Strength
The March 26 AFL-CIO meeting was conducted on-line after careful work and study by our Digital Organizing Committee. All union and progressive organizations are invited to benefit from our efforts. National AFL-CIO is presenting a daily briefing on the pandemic. They also started a weekly teleconference for all labor communicators. Texas AFL-CIO has vigorously put labor’s plan forward. National and state announcements are re-posted on our Dallas web page and social media. Unprecedented layoffs add to labor's financial woes so we are helping raise money on-lne.
The labor movement is the progressive center.
More Activities Coming Up
Mar 31: Cesar Chavez was born in 1927
Apr 1, 12:30P: Dallas Chapter of Texas Alliance for Retired Americans will meet by conference call. 214-729-0063
April 16, 7:30P: Dallas AFL-CIO Central Labor Council meeting for all affiliated unions
May 20: Deadline for AFL-CIO scholarship applications for union member families with graduating seniors
June 22: Dallas AFL-CIO Golf Tournament
Jun 20: Poor People's Campaign is planning a Moral March on Washington
