July 17: Districts can opt for up to 8 weeks in remote-only instruction; TRS hears on pension fund health; Election wrap-up
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Topic: Labor
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Time to be union proud on Labor Day and in the wake of Hurricane Harvey
Labor Day weekend offers us a chance to reflect on the struggles still ahead for economic equality and justice. Income inequality, lack of access to basics like affordable health care, and an aggressive attempt by the rich and powerful to undermine opportunity by stifling investments in K-12 and higher education are conspiring to make it more difficult for people to...
Read MoreBad Bills in Texas Senate on Vouchers, Payroll Deduction Meet Bipartisan Resistance
Over the weekend and on Monday, bad bills in the Texas Senate promoting private-school vouchers and attacking your freedom to use payroll deduction met serious bipartisan resistance from grass-roots Texans. So did other measures, including an unfunded pay-raise proposal that would not deliver a real raise to teachers. Meanwhile, in the Texas House, opposition to vouchers, disdain for discriminatory legislation...
Read MoreBills on the Move (or Not) in the Texas Legislature
As the Legislature takes a break until Monday for the Easter/Passover holiday, there’s news to report on a number of bills of importance to education employees. With just 46 days left in the 2017 regular session, some major bills are on the move, while some others are not. Educator misconduct: SB 7, the bill by Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) to crack...
Read MoreAnti-Teacher Bill Meets Wall of Opposition from Public Employees and Allies in Texas Senate
Send an online letter to you legislators now! Be connected to your state senator's office to urge them to vote no on SB 13! Teachers and other education employees were joined today by other groups of public employees in a solid wall of opposition to state legislation that would take away their freedom to have professional dues voluntarily deducted from...
Read MoreTurning Back an Attack on Your Freedom to Use Payroll Deduction
The Texas Senate State Affairs Committee took testimony today on a fresh attack against your right to pay your organizational dues via payroll deduction. A private-sector business group, locked in a dispute with a private-sector union, has chosen to lash out by demanding the prohibition of payroll deduction of dues by public employees—who are not even a party to the...
Read MoreTaking on Wall Street for Main Street’s Sake
AFT President Randi Weingarten invites you to take on Wall Street. Here’s the scoop, in Weingarten’s own words: We don’t need to tell you that in Washington, the game is rigged in favor of the wealthy and well-connected. And no one rigs our political system more than Wall Street. Banks work tirelessly to make sure they get big tax breaks...
Read MoreLessons and Resources for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
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Labor Block Walking for Candidates Supporting Public Education
For more information on candidates, visit our Election 2014 page. Houston Every Saturday, (Oct. 18th, Oct. 25th) starting at 8:30 a.m. Locations: District 144 – South Houston – Harris County AFL-CIO Council – 2506 Sutherland, 77023 District 23 – Texas City – IBEW Hall - 2509 FM 2004, Texas City, Texas 77591 Phone banking at the Harris County AFL-CIO Council on...
Read MoreAgainst All Odds: Celebrating the Legacy of Cesar Chavez
Monday, March 31, is a state holiday in honor of Cesar Chavez, the leader of the United Farm Workers who fought for the labor and human rights of some of the most mistreated laborers in America. Coinciding with the holiday, a movie about his life, entitled simply “Cesar Chavez,” is opening in theaters nationwide. National AFT chief of staff Mark...
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