Just about everything was exciting at the July 20 Dallas Central Labor Council meeting, but the high point was a short address from SAG-AFTRA leader Tom Schwartz. The actors union, with 160,000 strikers in the nation, is affiliating in Dallas and planning public actions. We took up a cash donation for the strikers. Donations by check can be mailed to the Entertainment Community Fund, 729 Seventh Ave, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10019. Click here to donate on-line.
State federation Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Aguilar, participating virtually along with a dozen others, spoke about the hot situation for Texas labor. He encouraged activists to come to the state convention, August 1-3 in Round Rock.
Joe Montemayor, representing National AFL-CIO, asked all delegates to make sure that they filled out their surveys for the Strategic Planning that will be conducted by the Executive Board on July 22. Dylan Camerena, our summer intern, was introduced as having done extensive research on topics such as our economic situation, unions, and worker allies in North Texas.
Gregg Pearlman of the Stage Handlers (IATSE) said that different locals were discussing more ways to work together. Pearlman is listed on the Speakers Bureau section of our web page. He already has a gig at UTD in the Fall Semester. Rosie Curts has a church lined up for September 17 as part of our “Labor in the Pulpit” program. Lou Luckhardt and Gene Lantz spoke to groups earlier this month.
Rosie Curts of the educators’ union (Alliance/AFT) and Young Active Labor Leaders (YALL) reported on our increasingly important solidarity activities. The Plano Starbucks won their union election, then, more recently, the Bartonville Starbucks barristas won another. Over 30 solidarity activists drove all the way to Bartonville for a “sip-in” solidarity action on July 15. Curts said that we now have 6 Starbucks stores organized. YALL has also helped Teamsters Local 767, the UPS local, with practice strikes. In response to the idea that the United States has reached a new level of union activity and solidarity opportunities, Curts said that it was true, “but only if we get active and take advantage of it!”
Not all of the solidarity activists are young people. Judy Bryant, another teacher and organizer for the Texas Alliance for Retired Americans (TARA), said that seniors were well represented when solidarity events took place. Bryant urged everyone to start registering voters and get ready for the elections in November. Retirees from the Texas American Federation of Teachers will be especially affected.
Samecha Echols of Federal Mediation Services explained how her organization can help facilitate contract negotiations. Airline workers with Transport Workers Union (TWU) reported difficulties getting management to negotiate fairly.
Earnest Tilley, of Communications Workers (CWA) Local 6215 announced that his local had again won the national CWA championship for political activism. He also announced that the state federation's annual Ruth Ellinger labor school is accepting applications.
Just about everybody who attended the meeting “in real life” eagerly co-signed a solidarity letter that was initiated by Alliance/AFT and sent to the Teamsters. President Rena Honea proudly read it aloud and credited young teacher Andrew Kirk with the wording.
SOLIDARITY WITH TEAMSTERS
July 20, 2023
Dallas ISD's Union Education Workers Stand in Solidarity with our Teamster Siblings Fighting for a Fair Contract at UPS
The UPS contract, expiring August 1, 2023, is the largest private sector union contract in the United States. Currently, 60% of the company's workers are part-time, with most drivers in the lower-paying 22.4 tier. Forced overtime, burnout, and physical exhaustion are company norms. UPS Teamsters drive vehicles without air conditioning on some of the hottest days on record, and these workers kept our economy functioning at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, all without hazard pay. These conditions are not sustainable. Meanwhile, UPS itself has earned record-setting profits: $13.1 billion in 2021, $13.9 billion in 2022.
In education, just as we emphasize that our working conditions are our students' learning conditions, so, too, are the working conditions of their parents, many of whom drive, sort, or deliver for UPS. A strong contract for our Teamsters will mean more parents spending time with their children, fewer children going to bed hungry, and a better quality of life for the families and school communities we serve. Family-sustaining jobs at UPS will directly contribute to a learning environment where students will thrive rather than simply survive.
We know that we can't build the schools our communities deserve if we don't fight for them. We are prepared to fight alongside our Teamster siblings.
ALLIANCE/AFT LOCAL2260
Solidarity with unorganized workers, too!
DJ Garza of the Autoworkers (UAW) and Workers Project announced their campaign to get Dallas City Council to curb unnecessary deportations and low-crime-level arrests. They will meet at Kidd Springs Park on July 25.
Labor Day Is Solidarity Day
The Dallas AFL-CIO Labor Day Breakfast is traditionally our number one annual event. Invitations are being mailed. It begins at 8:30AM on September 4th in the fabled Longhorn Ballroom, 216 Corinth Street in Dallas. Single tickets are $35, but most locals and organizations buy tables for 10. Platinum sponsorships are $4,000; Gold $2,500; Silver $1,500; Bronze $500. Full page ads in the brochure are $300; half-page $150, Quarter page $75, and Eighth page $40.
Checks go to “Dallas AFL-CIO,” 1408 N Washington#240, Dallas, TX 75204. For convenience, use our PayPal account.
Please join the Dallas AFL-CIO Solidarity Brigade
MORE ACTIONS COMING UP
Jul 23, 5P: Free on-line labor Workshop on fund raising. Register here
Jul 25, 6P: “Dignity for Dallas” community workshop against deportations and unnecessary arrests at Kidd Springs Rec Center, 711 W Canty in Dallas. Contact DJ Garza 469-657-3926
Jul 28: 26,000 American Professional Flight Attendants begin voting on a strike. Voting ends Aug 29
Jul 31: UPS/Teamster contract expires for 340,000 workers
Jul 31-Aug 11: Congress in recess. Good time to visit your representative
Jul 27,12:30P: Voter Registration @ Feed the Streetz Mobile Block Partyat 525 Bonnie View Rd in Dallas. Info from Texas AFT
Aug 5, 4P: DFW Arriba Las Mujeres Networking Session at 600 Griggs Av, Fort Worth. Info from Texas AFT
Aug 16, 5P: Voter Registration at Mean Green Flingat Willis Library, 1506 W Highland in Denton. Info from Texas AFT
Aug 19, 1P: DFW Chapter Socialat the Legal Café, 114 Main in Fort worth. Info from Texas AFT
Aug 8, 6:30P: CWA and Texas Climate Jobs Project’s "Back to School Town Hall” at 1408 N. Washington Ave
Aug 9, 12:30P: Dallas Chapter of TARA meets at AFT Hall, Bishop & Centre in Oak Cliff. Everyone invited. judy4tara@aol.com or 214-729-0063
Sep 4: 8:30A: Dallas AFL-CIO Labor Day Breakfast at Longhorn Ballroom