ALF Weekly Report — September 2nd
The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation Weekly Report comes out (nearly) every Thursday with news and updates relevant to the Gulf Coast labor movement. To subscribe, click here.
Hundreds of IBEW Local 66 Linemen Head to Louisiana to Support Ida Recovery
Over 200 union linemen from IBEW Local 66 are in Louisiana or on their way to help with Ida recovery. The devastation from the storm is going to take weeks to repair, and many working people are still without power, but the Texas Gulf Coast labor movement is committed to doing our part to help.
Houston Union Firefighters Support Ida Search and Rescue Efforts
A group of Houston firefighters is working in some of the small parishes about a half hour west of New Orleans to support Ida recovery efforts as members of Texas A&M University’s Texas Task Force One and the FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Urban Search and Rescue Team.
Teamsters Local 988 Wins Dues Checkoff Arbitration Case
Teamsters Local 988 in Houston won an arbitration case last week involving a member’s dues checkoff and deduction authorization, and the company involved has been ordered to make immediate payment to the local.
“This was never about the money,” said Robert Mele, Local 988 President. “The arbitrator’s ruling protects the sovereignty of a union-member relationship.”
LKeep Harris Housed Campaign Recognized as “National Model” by AFL-CIO
This week, the AFL-CIO called the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation’s housing justice campaign a “Model for the Nation”. Over the last year, we’ve helped connect over 5,000 working people with assistance, and knocked over 40,000 doors to get the word out about rent relief and legal aid for working people impacted by the COVID recession.
Fort Bend AFT Wins 10 Day COVID Sick Leave for Distirct Employees
On Monday, the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees voted to increase COVID sick leave to 10 days, retroactive to the beginning of the school year. Thanks to union advocacy, all teachers and staff are now covered by the new district policy.
Texas GOP Legislators Pass Voter Suppression Bill
On Tuesday, Texas Republican legislators passed Senate Bill 1, the so-called ‘Jim Crow 2.0’ voter suppression bill.
Throughout the process of advancing the bill, GOP leaders failed to explain why it was necessary, providing no evidence of pervasive voter fraud. The bill passed on a party-line vote, with all Democrats opposed and only one GOP House Representative voting against it
In response, ALF President Lacy Wolf said, “Poll taxes, literacy tests, and so-called right to work laws were designed to silence the voices of our black and brown brothers and sisters and protect the institutions of white supremacy that oppress all workers. And despite all the progress we’ve made and all the battles we’ve fought, that legacy is alive and well today.”
COVID Cases Among Students and Staff Rise as some Area Districts Refuse to Implement Mask Mandates
Ignoring the guidance of the CDC and state and local public health experts, several large school districts in the Gulf Coast continue to refuse to implement common-sense public health measures, including mask mandates. As of last Friday, Conroe ISD, Humble ISD, and Fort Bend ISD had the highest rates of student infections in the state, with over 1,000 already recorded in each district and cases continuing to rise.
Although Fort Bend ISD trustees voted last Monday to approve a mask mandate, the school administration announced they would not enforce that mandate this week, a decision that many argue is already leading to community spread of the COVID Delta variant.
The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation continues to call on school districts across our region to implement public measures immediately to protect the health and safety of students and staff. We’re thankful for the leadership of Houston ISD, Spring ISD, Aldine ISD, Channelview ISD, Galenda Park ISD and other school districts that have taken action to keep our schools safe in defiance of Governor Abbott.
Republican Supreme Court Overturns Eviction Moratorium, Putting Millions at Risk of Losing Homes
The Supreme Court’s GOP majority, all but one of whom were nominated by Presidents who lost the popular vote, struck down President Biden’s eviction moratorium Friday.
The CDC instituted the eviction moratorium as a public health measure to slow the spread of a deadly pandemic. Many are justifiably outraged that a group of unelected judges are now determining public health policy for the entire country by overturning the decisions of medical experts.
New Laws Passed in Spring by Texas Legislature Take Effect
After a busy regular session this spring, 666 bills passed by the Texas legislature went into effect Wednesday. Here are a few from the list that affect working families in Texas directly:
- Texas’ 2022–2023 budget: SB 1 provides nearly $250 billion for Texas, with notable funds going toward public higher education. Abbott line-item vetoed the part of the budget that funds the Texas Legislature and the people who staff it — but lawmakers may restore funding during this summer’s second special session…
- Funding the “1836 Project”: HB 2497 establishes an “1836 Project” committee to produce patriotic Texas history materials, which will be distributed through channels such as when people receive driver’s licenses. The initiative’s name mirrors the “1619 Project,” a New York Times publication examining U.S. history from the arrival of enslaved people.
- Social studies curriculum changes: HB 3979 limits teachers from discussing current events and systemic racism in class. The bill also prevents students from receiving class credit for participating in civic engagement and bans teaching of the “1619 Project”
- New state employee retirement accounts: SB 321 enrolls new state workers hired after Sept. 1, 2022, in a cash-balance plan, which deposits a percentage of a worker’s annual compensation in retirement accounts and is similar to a 401(k) retirement account. Currently, employees have defined-benefit retirement accounts based on employment position and previous salaries…
- Punishing cities who cut police budgets: If municipalities with a population of more than 250,000 reduce their police budget, HB 1900 allows the state to financially punish the cities by reducing sales tax revenues and preventing increases in property taxes.
- Felony punishment for blocking emergency vehicles: HB 9 will make blocking access to a hospital or an emergency vehicle with its lights and sirens on a state jail felony. The bill was passed as a response to protesters being arrested for blocking ambulances during Black Lives Matter protests last summer.
Brazoria County Clerk Investigated for Jury Selection ‘Irregularities’
The Texas Rangers are being called in to investigate after the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office found out about potential “irregularities” in the district clerk’s office, specifically regarding the jury assembly process.
“What is important about this whole thing is that juries and jury selection is the bedrock of our justice system,” said legal analyst Steve Shellist. “When that system has been corrupted, or affected in any way, my God, may God help everybody because that is what stands between a person potentially going to prison for life or getting the death penalty.”
Harris County Extends Successful Vaccine Incentive Program to September 14th
After seeing a 700% spike in vaccinations last week, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced that the county would be extending the vaccine incentive program until September 14th. You can still protect yourself and your community from COVID19 AND get $100 cash.
Vaccination is safe, effective, and the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community.
Labor Movement Honors the Legacy of the Martyrs of Blair Mountain
100 years ago during the Battle of Blair Mountain, almost 10,000 miners faced off against a union-busting sheriff, several thousand deputized locals, and the US military. It was the largest armed uprising in the country since the Civil War.
Few know this history, because textbooks used in schools exclude any mention of the mine wars. Generations grew up cut off from their ancestors’ struggles because business leaders were afraid history would repeat itself.
Buffalo Starbucks Workers Launch Union Drive
Fifty Starbucks workers in New York are trying to form a union, which would be the first in the US for the coffee chain if successful.
Last week, the group of workers in the Buffalo area publicly announced their union organizing drive and the formation of their organizing committee, Starbucks Workers United, in a letter to the Starbucks CEO, Kevin Johnson.
BCTGM Strike Continues Nationwide at Nabisco Bakeries
More than 1,000 BCTGM Members are now on strike at five different Nabisco locations across the U.S. — Portland, Ore. (Local 364), Aurora, Colo. (Local 26), Richmond, Va. (Local 358), Chicago, Ill. (Local 1) and Atlanta, Ga. (Local 42).
After years of Nabisco closing bakeries, moving thousands of BCTGM jobs to Mexico and threatening to move even more jobs to Mexico, our members have had enough and aren’t taking it anymore. They are taking a stand against Nabisco’s outrageous demand for major contract concessions at a time when the company is making record profits.
Labor Movement Mourns Passing of former SAG-AFTRA President Ed Asner
The last week was filled with fond remembrances of the late actor and labor leader Ed Asner, who passed Sunday at the age of 91. Asner, the former president of SAG-AFTRA, was never afraid to walk a picket line or take politically or professionally risky positions in solidarity with his union brothers and sisters. He was a stalwart ally of working men and women across the world.
