Texas AFL-CIO COPE Convention to Set Stage For Labor’s Program in Critical National, Texas Elections

News Release

Contacts: Rick Levy,

Leonard Aguilar or Ed Sills,

(512) 477-6195;

Sills cell: (512) 695-1148  

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   Labor’s political program will be front and center as the Texas AFL-CIO COPE Convention convenes Sunday, Jan. 28th and Monday, Jan. 29th at the Doubletree Hotel, 6505 N. I-35, in Austin.

   “Big urgent issues for working people — our livelihoods, the future of work, the fate of democracy, who we are as a state and nation, and much more — hang on what voters decide on Nov. 5th,” Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy said. “The Texas AFL-CIO will do everything in our power to build a coalition that tips the balance toward progress and justice for all.” 

  “Ahead of the COPE endorsements, central labor bodies across the state have worked hard to evaluate candidates based on the needs of working families in a state that has ignored too many kitchen-table priorities,” Levy said. “As always, the Texas AFL-CIO will fight like hell for candidates who will fight for working people.”

  Theme of the convention: “Working People for a Working Democracy”. The agenda can be found here: https://www.texasaflcio-cope.com/agenda. 

  The convention will feature this year’s first Democratic U.S. Senate debate – among U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, and State Rep. Carl Sherman  (info here: http://tinyurl.com/mshb627d) – speeches by prominent union and political leaders, panels, workshops, consideration of resolutions, and, at the conclusion of the convention, endorsements of candidates.

  Speakers include: U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett; U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee; Marisa Bono, CEO of Every Texan; Zeph Capo, President, Texas American Federation of Teachers; and Rick Lord, Executive Director of the Texas Building & Construction Trades Council. Panels will discuss organizing and voter turnout, and provide a legislative update featuring Reps. Erin Gamez, Venton Jones, Victoria Neave Criado, and Armando Walle. Reps. Gina Hinojosa and Mihaela Plesa will also address hundreds of delegates and guests.

  An evening Texas Labor Hall of Fame induction will honor Tom Carlin of the Transport Workers Union, Mike Cunningham of the Texas Building Trades, and, posthumously, Nancy Hall of the Communications Workers of America.

  Monday morning workshops will cover volunteer recruitment and retention, electoral worksite programs, strategic communications, leveraging retiree power, and voter registration.

  Note to Journalists: Reporters are welcome at the Texas AFL-CIO COPE Convention. To expedite entry and enable us to plan, we request an RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/4f5xpe6z. The debate will be live-streamed on our social media feeds.

  The Texas AFL-CIO is the state labor federation consisting of 240,000 affiliated union members who advocate for working families in Texas. COPE is the political arm of the Texas AFL-CIO.