AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler delivered the following remarks by video to the Texas AFL-CIO 2022 COPE Convention:
Good morning. I’m Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO.
I’m thrilled to join you for the 2022 COPE Convention–even if it is by video.
Rick Levy, Leonard Aguilar and the Texas AFL-CIO team are doing outstanding work.
Thanks to Beto O’Rourke for joining this convention.
And most importantly, to the thousands of union leaders and activists who are growing the labor movement in the Lone Star State…standing up for voting rights and worker rights…thank you for your resilience and solidarity.
I want to give a special congratulations to Rebecca Flores, Becky Moeller, and the late John Bland.
All are tough-as-nails trailblazers who have earned their place in the Texas Labor Hall of Fame. And I’m sure our young workers are taking a page out of your playbook and learning from you, I’m so proud of the work they’re doing to lead the next generation of our labor movement thanks Y’ALL!
We’ve been through so much together. We’ve lost friends and family...members of our labor community...including John [Bland], Walter [Umphrey], and my partner for 12 years, Rich Trumka.
We stand on their shoulders and we will keep building on their progress.
And right now working people are hungry for change…we’re speaking up…taking risks…going on strike.
Like the AFM members, musicians, on strike at the San Antonio Symphony.
It’s about respect. Dignity. Balancing the scales that have been so tilted by corporate greed.
In Beaumont, Steelworkers are enduring month 9 of the lockout at Exxon’s refinery and oil packaging plant.
The Texas AFL-CIO has been there, every step of the way…hosting a holiday toy drive. Collecting food donations. Fundraising.
And the Texas labor movement knows, it’s not just about our union members. It’s about the entire community.
During the 2021 power crisis, when temperatures dropped, outdated infrastructure failed and families were left freezing in the dark.
Through the state federation, union members delivered life-saving needs like drinkable water to thousands of homes.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is going to deliver long-overdue upgrades to the systems that keep us connected and our country running.
It’s going to create good, union jobs.
And we’re keeping our foot on the accelerator to get the Build Back Better Act over the finish line.
Because it’s going to be the largest ever investment in clean energy.
Texas is leading the way with the Climate Jobs Project…an ambitious and inspiring goal to create 1.1 million good, union jobs in wind and solar…because we know that the high paying jobs in oil and gas have provided a good living for working class families for generations— and we want to make sure the the next generation energy jobs of the future are high wage, family sustaining too.
That’s how we build an equitable clean energy future…everyone included, and not balanced on the backs of working people with low road jobs.
And of course, Build Back Better has investments in energy jobs…AND a key piece of the PRO Act, with first-of-their-kind penalties for employers who violate our right to organize.
The right to vote for a union at work…to shape our working conditions and economic futures…is a fundamental part of a healthy democracy…just like voting rights at the ballot box.
Both are under attack…and this is it. What we do right now will determine if we keep our democracy.
Rick and the entire Texas Labor Movement…we know how hard you've been working to activate your members.
Together, we are mobilizing nationwide to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Freedom to Vote Act and to sideline the filibuster.
At the same time, we’re standing up against the hundreds of anti-democracy laws moving through statehouses.
Last summer, the Texas Democratic Delegation did everything in their power to block a dangerous voter suppression bill that would make it harder for working people and people of color to vote.
When they left the state to break quorum…to prevent the bill from passing…you were right there alongside them… and we were proud to welcome them to the House of Labor in Washington.
We are still linked, arm in arm…united. And through our solidarity, we can and we will reclaim our voting rights and our organizing rights.
Democracy lives in action and it’s great to see the candidates participating in the debate today.
That’s one exciting reason why you’re here today...to hear from the candidates and make informed choices. To elect representatives who will stand up for all working people.
And the entire country sees the work you are doing, bit by bit, step by step, to turn the tide in Texas.
To stand up for the rights of immigrants…and secure a path to citizenship.
To lift up all working people.
Keep it up. Keep going.
We are with you! And together, we are going to build a bold, dynamic, inclusive movement for the future.
Thank you and have a great convention.