Principal Officer Lou Luckhardt reports that Dallas labor will be welcoming new delegates at our July meeting. Bakers and Confectioners’ local 111 will be joining us. Together, we have plenty to do.
The Dallas newspaper reports that the Flight Attendants in Transport Workers Union Local 556 have rejected a tentative contract offer from Southwest Airlines. 19,000 workers need our help in getting something better!
Labor Plans
National AFL-CIO organizer Joe Montemayor is telephoning Dallas labor leaders to bring their best suggestions into the strategic planning process. Brother Kenneth Stretcher of TSEU has offered extended suggestions on union organizing to the strategic planning process. Young Active Labor Leader activists are soliciting input and compiling essential research. Please continue sending your ideas and suggestions to genelantz.dallasaflcio@gmail.com
Interested in Learning?
One issue that inevitably comes up in labor planning is the need for education. Of course, all of our communications and meetings are educational. Our web site has materials such as labor history and just-added suggestions on public speaking for labor.
One possibility is to start an on-line labor workshop where activists can get their questions answered. It could start with extremely short presentations, then big opportunities for full participation. Here are a few topics that might be covered:
- Qualities of good leaders we have known
- Public speaking for labor:
- Building a Speakers Bureau
- Labor law
- Labor History:
- Different kinds of unions
- Organizing on the job
- Community outreach
- Chairing a meeting
- Unions and Civil Rights
- Unions and Religions organizations
Activists who are interested in specific topics or in being presenters may contact genelantz.dallasaflcio@gmail.com
HEAT CAN KILL US!
The Dallas AFL-CIO sent out the following statement to local newspersons:
The Dallas labor movement is alarmed by the danger posed by high heat and humidity to workers on the job.
The Dallas newspaper says that Eugene Gates, Jr, a member of the Lone Star Chapter of National Association of Letter Carriers, died June 20, “of a possible heat-related illness while working a Dallas route.”
Our sympathies go out to Brother Gates’ family, and we urge all workers and employers to deal with this problem cautiously.
Further, labor is outraged that Governor Abbott and the Republicans in the Texas Legislature are uncaring about worker safety. They just made it Texas law that cities cannot mandate water breaks for workers. Reverend Jesse Jackson was quoted in Style Magazine, “In reality, this legislation essentially treats workers as property – without human rights, even the right to life – to be used as their employers deem fit.”
Register for State Convention
Eligible delegates to the Texas AFL-CIO convention need to get their registrations done at https://www.texasaflcioconvention.org/. the convention will be held from August 1-3, 2023 at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock. Lead Field Organizer Lauren Guild also encourages us to volunteer to help make the event as successful as it has always been. Volunteer at: https://forms.gle/h72bvXRcv5BQYyZ56. Sister Guild can be reached at 737-272-7877.
Our state federation did a heroic job of fighting for our rights during the legislative session. A summary of what happened has been re-posted on our Facebook page.
MORE ACTIONS COMING UP
Jun 23: Union election at Starbucks at 1709 Preston Rd. in Plano
Jun 23: Starbucks workers at more than 150 stores plan to strike, alleging that the company has refused to let workers at dozens of locations put up Pride decorations
Jun 27: 800 National Nurses United nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin scheduled a one-day strike
Jul 4: Gerardo Contreras will have a labor float in the Arlington 4th of July parade. Contact the Tarrant County Labor Council
Jul 31: UPS/Teamster contract expires for 340,000 workers