2011 Texas AFL-CIO Convention Report
6-9 through 6-11-2011

6/9/2011

Texas AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention, Sheraton, Irving TX, June 9, 10 and 11
In attendance; Gary Moffitt, Bill Seely, John Johnson and Harvey West

Becky Moellar

Opening remarks

John Patrick

Need to increase affiliations
Need to increase union density

James Williams, IUPAT International Union of Painters and Allied Trades

Declining membership
Split in labor movement, AFL-CIO vs Change to Win
Labor is 25% of voters
Need to move labor movement and COPE money back to state level
“One voice for organized labor”

Kim Bobo, Interfaith Worker Justice

Spoke on need to partner with religious groups
Care for neighbors
Help poor people
Thou shall not steal (money from workers)

Boyd Richie, Chairman of Texas Democratic Party

Spoke on 2010 elections
Party will pursue every venue to roll back roll back gerrymandering

Linda Chavez Thompson

Spoke on State COPE donation

Amaya Tune, Media Outreach Specialist AFL-CIO

Messaging for 2012
Avoid partisan bickering
Defend worker rights, not just union rights
Impact is beyond union members
Focus groups felt unions are last best line of defense against corporations

Jean Rodriguez, Senior Account Executive AFL-CIO

Spoke on Hispanic turnout
Texas last among Hispanics 38%, Nevada 52%, New Mexico 54%

6/10/2011

Royce West, Texas Senate, District 10

Reported out on legislative session

Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary Wisconsin AFL-CIO

Corporations were after unions
Corporate seeks wholesale privatization of public services
Right wing agenda is to payback corporate sponsors with tax breaks and privatization of public services

Committee Reports

John Calhoun Wells, Former Director Federal Mediation Conciliation Service

Spoke on collective bargaining

Texas AFL-CIO Officers Nominated; Becky Moellar, President; John Patrick, Secretary/treasurer

District Caucuses/Election, John Bland elected district 3 after missing last term, Gwen Dunivent elected VP district 7, Gary Moffitt elected VP district 8, Tom Carlin elected by TWU caucus for International Appointed VP.

Gene Green, US House District 29

Liz Schuler, Secretary Treasurer National AFL-CIO