North Texas labor begins a new year with stronger membership and an army of fighting union allies. Restrictive anti-labor laws have been loosened. Reuters published this: "Democratic President Joe Biden's appointees to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) paved the way in 2023 for workplaces to unionize outside of the decades-old secret ballot election process, made it easier for unions to organize franchise and contract workers, and expanded the type of worker conduct protected by U.S. labor law, among other significant moves."
Today's jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows working people going strong. The general unemployment rate stays at 3.7% as 216,000 new jobs were added last month. African American unemployment has lessened slightly to 5.2%. Average wages rose by fifteen cents to $34.27. "Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 4.1 percent.” That's a major turnaround because it is a bit more than inflation.
Arcelia Martin of the Dallas Morning News writes, “In a RealPage analysts of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the Dallas-Irving-Plano area topped all U.S. markets for greatest job gains in the last five years.” Alexandra Skores put out a fine article with this headline: "Labor made big gains in the past year." Those gains weren't gifted to us. The Washington Post reports: "More than 525,000 workers in the United States walked off the job in 2023, according to Bloomberg Law’s database of work stoppages, making it one of the three biggest strike years since 1990."
Labor continues to win in politics. Twenty-two states will see improvements in their minimum wage this month. Politically active retirees can be happy that we have defeated efforts to erode our rights. "Starting in January, retired Americans are set to earn up to $4,873 monthly in Social Security payments due to a 3.2% cost of living adjustment increase," according to USA Today. The Texas Alliance for Retired Americans has already held a statewide webinar to encourage voting by mail. Vote.org, the easy way to register or to apply to vote by mail, says they will register 8,000,000 new voters this year.
One of the biggest battles expected in 2024 is the effort to organize Tesla. Northern European labor is way ahead. Solidarity with a strike in Sweden has spread to several countries and many workers. The Washington Post reports that Tesla can't even get its cars off the ships!
We're Underway!
The Dallas AFL-CIO will begin its candidate screening on January 6 and continue until all candidates who seek labor's endorsement have had a chance to win us over. State endorsements will be announced at the Committee on Political Education conference in Austin January 28-29.
Politics is vital, but it won't keep us away from our other commitments. We'll be front and center in the Martin Luther King Jr march and parade on January 15. Our exact placement in the event will not be available until January 11, according to principal officer Lou Luckhardt, but the shuttles will be running from the parking area in Fair Park to the launch site. Contact Lou at lluckhardt.dallasaflcio@gmail.com.
Lamenting EBJ
Dallas labor mourns the loss of our longtime friend Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. Her dual commitment to civil rights and all working people was evident throughout her long career. She will be missed mightily. There is a short podcast about the champion of our active and retired workers.
Please Join our Solidarity Brigade
We update the action calendar on our web page as new events are set. You can combine labor’s Google calendar into yours. We're always looking for speaking opportunities for our Speakers Bureau. For text reminders of immediate actions, text the word “action” to the phone number 235246.
Please Join our Solidarity Brigade
MORE ACTIONS COMING UP
Jan 6: Dallas labor begins screening candidates
Jan 8, 10A-3P: Viewing for EBJ
Jan 9, 10A: EBJ funeral at Concord Church
Jan 10, 2P: EBJ graveside service at Texas State Cemetery in Austin
Jan 10, 12:30P: Dallas Chapter of Texas Alliance for Retired Americans meets at 334 Centre. Contact Judy 214-729-0063
Jan 12-14: MLK Civil and Human Rights Conference In Montgomery, Alabama
Jan 13: National March for Gaza in Washington DC
Jan 15: Martin Luther King march and parade in Dallas
Jan 17: Key decision on the Albertson-Kroger merger opposed by unions
Jan 18, 7:30P: Dallas Central Labor Council for all affiliated members at 1408 N Washington
Jan 19: New partial government shutdown crisis probable