Barbed Wired Blog

Latest Blog Posts

Texas Workers Need Enforceable Standards; Anything Less Is a Charade

Gov. Greg Abbott should revise Texas's ill-considered, inconsistent, and largely unenforceable rules for reopening the economy.

COVID-19: General Resources

We have compiled a centralized list of general resources related to COVID-19. 

COVID-19: Information on Household Utilities/Bills

We know hardworking Texans are struggling. Here is helpful quick tip sheet on utility bills during the worldwide healthcare crisis.

COVID-19: Unemployment Insurance, What Every Texan Needs to Know

Unemployment Insurance Resources

The link to set up a log-in to apply for benefits: https://apps.twc.state.tx.us/UBS/changeLocale.do?language=en&country=US&page=/security/logon.do

Tutorial on How to Apply Online: https://twc.texas.gov/files/jobseekers/create-user-id-password-twc.pdf

We Love BookPeople. The Only Unionized, Texas Bookstore.

The Texas AFL-CIO officers and staff love bookstores, but of all the bookstores in Texas, our clear favorite is BookPeople, the renowned independent book seller in Austin.

Unions Know How to Fight This; Let's Stand Together

At long last, a broad cross-section of America is saying, again and again, "We are in this together." Unions have long known that when we speak together and act together with one voice, we gain power. As working people heed warnings based on science, we all gain power to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Action by Working Families Helps Produce Solid Wins, Noble Losses

Via "Daily Email News" from Texas AFL-CIO Communications Director - Ed Sills

The primary elections yesterday produced strong results for COPE-endorsed candidates in Democratic primaries. Working families honored the COPE theme of "Rise Up! All In!" often in victory, sometimes in "to be continued" runoffs, and a few times in defeat.

The Basics: Texas Primary Elections

In Texas, the two major political parties – Democratic and Republican – hold primary elections to decide who will represent them on Election Day in November. The November “General Election” decides who gets to hold office.

Austin Print Shop Newly Organizes With Teamsters

An Austin printer has been newly certified for the Texas Allied Printing Trades list. Brother Frank Monreal, President of the Council and Executive Vice President of the Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, reports working people at Horizon Printing have joined Local 4535m of the union.

The Basics: 'Union Bugs' in Politics

A union bug is a distinctive label, mark or emblem that tells us union-represented working people have manufactured a quality product. Printers have used them at least since 1891.