November Newsletter
November 2009
Next Council Meeting
Wednesday: January 27, 2010
LOCATION To Be Announced
New Time: 7:00 P.M.
Our Web Sites: www.hcaflcio.org
http://tx.aflcio.org/harriscounty/
AFL-CIO COUNCIL ENDORSEMENTS IN RUN-OFF ELECTIONS
December 12, 2009 - Run-off Elections
Early Vote: Monday, November 30th – Tuesday, December 8th
Mayoral Election:
Dual endorsement: Gene Locke and Annise Parker
City Controller: Ronald C. Green
At-Large Position 1: Karen Derr
At-Large Position 2: Sue Lovell
At-Large Position 5: Jolanda "Jo" Jones
District A: Lane Lewis
District F: Mike Laster
Houston ISD Board of Education:
District I – Alma Lara
District IX – Adrian Collins
Contact your Local Union for selected endorsements in the Mayor’s race.
THERE WILL BE A VERY LOW VOTER TURNOUT FOR THIS RUN-OFF. UNION HOUSEHOLD VOTING WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
LABOR NEIGHBOR STANDS OUT IN GENERAL ELECTION
The Labor Neighbor Program of the Harris County AFL-CIO Council along with the work of individual Unions put Labor endorsed candidates in the winners column or in run-offs. While the AFL-CIO Council did not endorse in the Mayor’s race, most Unions sided with either Gene Locke or Annise Parker or did not make any endorsement. Labor Neighbor Blockwalking to get Labor’s vote out turned out several hundred walkers and knocked thousands of doors. Thank you to the Sheet Metal Workers Union, Local 54 (worked Lane Lewis and Alma Lara), the Houston Education Support Personnel (AFT), Local 6315 (Wanda Adams and Adrian Collins), the Alief AFT, Local 6346. (Mike Laster and Alief ISD), for hosting our Saturday walks along with the AFL-CIO Council. The Sheet Metal Workers turned out their Apprentices and Union volunteers staffed these locations too. The early vote was critical and Labor turned out an average of 12% of its base (with highs in the 15-22% range). The general public's early vote turn out was 5%. The final election turnout for Labor was 32% (with hight in teh 33% to 43% range) with the general public turning out at 13.6%. Union households were called, mailed and knocked. AFSCME Retirees did live phone banks during early vote and for election day. Several Unions ran worksite programs too to get their vote out. Other Unions put volunteers into the campaigns doing the work necessary to get their candidate over the top. Thank you to all for all of your hard work!
RUN-OFF FEATURES CRITICAL RACES FOR LABOR
The City of Houston run-offs feature both incumbents candidates and new friends of Labor. City Council incumbents, Sue Lovell and Jolanda “Jo” Jones are strong friends and have served the City of Houston well. Council candidates Karen Derr, Lane Lewis and Mike Laster impressed the Union leadership and will be good for working families. The Houston ISD Board of Education elections are critical for teachers, support personnel for our students. Alma Lara is in an open race and her opponent (Anna Eastman) has already been caught going door-to-door blaming the Houston Federation of Teachers for the ills of the district. Adrian Collins is challenging longtime incumbent Larry Marshall. Marshall outright lied to the Unions about supporting Prevailing Wage (after he had secured Union support for the 2007 Bond election). Incredibly, during a candidate forum, Marshall vowed that the District would never adopt Prevailing Wage (which includes Healthcare for workers and Apprenticeship opportunities for HISD students). He further went on to say in that same forum that HISD did not need any more new schools even though his District IX badly needs them. Both Alma Lara and Adrian Collins will communicate with the parents in their Districts and will work to improve educational opportunities and school facilities for their Districts. Portions of the business community have solidly lined up against our endorsed candidates and have attacked the use of Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship programs that they include. This is a real shame.
ROOF DONE AND BUIDLING RENOVATIONS UNDERWAY
Renovations on the Ceole Speight House of Labor are underway at a fast pace. The new roof has been completed and the Harris County AFL-CIO Council has a ‘green’ roof with incredible energy efficiencies. Work has started on the inside too. The old ceiling has been removed in preparation for painting and a new updated ceiling look. November Saturdays (7th, 14th, 21st) were set aside for volunteers to help. All volunteer hours will be counted towards a coveted place on the Solidarity Wall that will be a fixture in the newly renovated hall. If you would like to keep up with the work being done, visit our website. You can find the photos at: http://tx.aflcio.org/harriscounty/ (look on the left menu under Photo Albums.
Look for a ‘ground breaking’ ceremony and the formal naming of our Hall after Ceole Speight. Ceole retired after 40 years as our Volunteers In Programs (VIP) Director. This event will also kick-off our Hall renovations. The cost of the roof will deplete our Building Fund. We still need more monetary donations. To purchase materials for the hall renovations. Donors will have a special place on honor on our Solidarity Wall that will be glass block and located in the hall: Levels of suggested donations and placement on the Wall are:
“Solidarity Forever, Solidarity Forever” - $10,000 **“Solidarity Forever” - $5000 **“For the Union Makes Us Strong” - $1500 - $3000 ** “Organize and Fight” - $500 - $1000 ** “In our hands is placed a power”- $100 - $150. All of those who contribute their Labour No Cost – Name and Union
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance – APALA – To Be Announced
The A. Philip Randolph Institute – APRI – 4th Monday – 6:30 p.m. – AFL-CIO Council
The Coalition of Labor Union Women – CLUW – 3rd Wednesday, 6:00 p.m. – CWA, Local 6222
The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists - CBTU – Next meeting date/time to be announced
Labor Council For Latin American Advancement – LCLAA – 2nd Monday – 6:00 p.m. – AFL-CIO Council
