Lone Star Labor: Workers over billionaires
ONE BIG THING: FEDERAL WORKERS FIGHT BACK AGAINST BILLIONAIRE TAKEOVER
Elon Musk, an unelected union-busting billionaire, is attempting to gut our federal workforce and take over the federal government agency by agency, with the full backing of the president. Since last week, his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) henchmen have gained access to highly sensitive Treasury Department data and payment systems, suspended virtually all United States Agency for International Development (USAID) workers and programs, and tried to force out thousands of federal workers with a sketchy resignation offer.
But workers aren’t going down without a fight.
In January alone, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) saw a net increase of nearly 8,700 members. For context, the union’s membership grew by a little over 14,000 in the past 12 months combined.
AFGE, alongside a host of other unions like the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and Services Employees International Union (SEIU), have launched a flurry of lawsuits against Trump and Musk’s anti-worker blitz. And when DOGE set its sights on the Department of Labor, our movement mobilized with lightning speed: union members and allies showed up in force to protest in front of the building yesterday, and a coalition of unions sued DOGE to prevent its staffers from gaining access to the department’s sensitive personal data on millions of workers across the country.
There’s no sugarcoating it: this is a billionaire-led coup of our federal government that will have devastating consequences for working people everywhere.
But the labor movement is no stranger to a knock-down, drag-out fight against anti-worker oligarchs. We’ve fought these battles before and won – we can do so again.
Here in Texas, we’re embodying that resolve in our fight against Abbott’s billionaire-backed voucher scam. Last night, the Texas Senate passed SB 2, its voucher bill, by a vote of 19 to 12. It now goes to the House, which will likely make quite a few changes. We thank those 12 state senators for standing with Texas teachers, students, and communities over billionaires, and are ready to keep fighting like hell against this scam in the House.
So don’t lose hope, keep up the fight, and remember: solidarity forever!
AS GOES TEXAS LABOR…
Texas Union Members Respond to Abbott’s State of the State Address
Watch: DFW Teamsters on Why They’re Striking Hertz
Beaumont firefighter’s union nears new contract with city, vote expected in weeks
Watch: AFSCME Texas Retirees Urge Senate Finance Committee to Support Pension Increases
NEWS TO USE
Texas bill that lets families use tax dollars for private schools swiftly sails through Senate – Texas Tribune
‘What is happening is pure chaos,’ says education union official – ABC News
AFL-CIO pushes back on Elon Musk’s campaign against federal workers – The New York Times ($)
Elon Musk’s DOGE Targets Labor Department – In These Times
TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS
🏃 Labor on the Move
Alan Robb, International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) International Assistant General Organizer and South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District President, was reappointed this week to the Port Commission at Port Houston, Texas. Congratulations, Alan!
Selena Xie, past president of the Austin EMS Association, CWA 6914, was promoted from Captain to Commander of Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. Congratulations, Selena!
Black History Month
This Black History Month, we're honoring some of the Black labor leaders who changed Texas labor forever — starting with Clara Caldwell!
Whether she was chairing our scholarship committee or keeping the flame of the Texas APRI, Clara's impact on our movement can't be overstated.
Stay tuned for next week’s highlight!
SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS
Share Your Story with the AFL-CIO
Are you a federal worker affected by Trump’s Executive Orders or Musk’s DOGE? Is your school being targeted by ICE raids? Is your union election on hold while the NLRB hangs in limbo? The national AFL-CIO wants to hear from you! Share your story here so the world can see how the Trump administration’s policies are affecting working people.
Feb. 3-9: Starbucks Workers United Action
Happening now: Unionized Starbucks baristas are escalating their fight for a fair contract by canvassing every single not-yet-union Starbucks store in the country – and they need OUR help to make it happen! SBWU is asking allies in the DFW area to canvas not-yet-union Starbucks stores to talk to baristas and customers alike from Feb. 3-9. Register your event here to receive resources and links to flyers.
For allies outside of the area, SBWU will be hosting a massive phone banking effort on Feb. 8 and 9 to talk to baristas at every single not-yet-union store. Register HERE to sign up to phonebank – the union recommends organizing a phone banking party so members can do it together!
June 26-28: 2025 Texas AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention
Save the date! Join your fellow Texas union members in San Antonio from June 26-28 for our 2025 Constitutional Convention. More details to come!
📸 Photos of the Week
The Austin-area labor family showed some major solidarity for IBEW 520 at their Rally for a Fair Contract last Saturday! [Photo courtesy of IBEW Local 520]
And San Antonio workers sat down with U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (TX-35) and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) for a roundtable discussion on building worker power from Texas to Washington! [Photo courtesy of San Antonio AFL-CIO]
Did you enjoy this newsletter? Let us know and submit photos, events, and other Texas labor news at labor@texasaflcio.org!