Blog

January 31, 2017

Texas Retirees Are In The Fray!

The sheer amount of work that our 6 Texas chapters are doing is a true wonder.

Austin TARA at women's march — Yolanda Delgado of Austin TARA at women’s march

Austin collected over 300 petition signatures during their giant 50,000-person march on the day after inauguration. Chapter President Glenn Scott served on the organizing committee for this very successful march!

Jim Rivers at the Fort Worth March 1/21/17

Jim Rivers represented us at the big march in Fort Worth. Our table at the Dallas march signed up 20 new people and brought in $40 in donations.

We’re doing a lot more. The Coastal Bend chapter has already set a strong pace for lobbying in the Texas Legislature. Our lobbying leader, Richard Rock, writes: “Elaine Jones, Yvonne Landin and I were able to go to Austin on Jan. 25 and were able to visit 6 offices. Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, Sen Chuy Hinojosa, Rep. Todd Hunter, Rep. J.M. Lazano, Rep. Geanie Morrison and Rep. Abel Herrero were the offices we visited. We were only able to meet with the staff except for Todd Hunter with whom we had a very good visit. We thanked the ones who have helped us in the past and spoke to the others on our positions regarding labor

‘The subjects were minimum wage, payroll deduction for union dues and keeping retirements as a defined benefit. Elaine was very effective in pointing out that there would be no additional cost to school districts when doing payroll deduction and was able to site the language in the educational code. Also that union membership was strictly voluntary in Texas. It is surprising what some staff members don’t seem to know.

‘We in the Coastal Bend are planning to make 2 visits a month. Thanks be to the Labor Council for providing some financial support for gas. Also we got a briefing on the subjects prior to visiting the offices. We were able to complete our goal by three o’clock and head back home.”