Gulf Coast Area Labor
in the News
Eight percent of Harris County residents live in areas of persistent poverty, census data shows
Houston Chronicle, 5/26/2023
"The way that we address persistent poverty is we attack the root causes of poverty, which are lack of access to good-paying jobs, lack of access to quality health care and lack of access to education," said Jay Malone, political director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation.
As an example, he cited, Harris County Commissioners Court's decision in February to establish a new $9.1 million apprenticeship program to train more than 1,500 low-income Harris County residents for high-paying jobs in the construction, public transportation and live entertainment industries.
By providing low-income workers with living wages and health care benefits, apprenticeship opportunities are a highly effective way out of poverty, Malone said.
"It's a win-win for everybody involved," he said. "The economy gets the workers they need, the workers get fair wages and skills training that's transferrable and society at large benefits because we don't have these endless cycles of poverty."
However, he said, state and local governments could do more.
For instance, Malone said the federal government has offered Texas $300 million to plug abandoned oil wells, another win-win proposition that reduces persistent poverty by addressing both environmental health issues and the lack of high-paying jobs. It remains unclear whether the state will accept the money.
"You could eliminate these health disparities by capping these wells," he said. "You could create a bunch of good jobs."
Texas Senate advances “Death Star bill” preempting self-government powers of cities and counties
Houston Public Media, 5/16/2023
City and county officials from across the state have condemned HB 2127 as government overreach, while Hany Khalil, executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, characterized the measure as a "Death Star bill" and "a dangerous attack on our democracy."
Texas GOP On Verge of 'Egregious Power Grab' to Crush Local Democracy, Critics Warn
Common Dreams, 5/16/2023
The Gulf Coast AFL-CIO decried H.B. 2127 as a "dangerous attack" on democracy that "will fundamentally alter" Texas.
"It will roll back decades of worker protections and public safety measures, and ban new ones," the union declared. "Leaders we elect to serve our communities won't be able to pass policies that address our needs as working people."
Texas Legislature: Bills to Watch This Week
Reform Austin, 5/13/2023
The bill would require cities and counties to obtain permission from state lawmakers before legislating in eight different fields, including finance, the environment, and labor and occupations. Hany Khalil, executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, called it a “Death Star bill” that could wipe out the protections of tenants from slumlords and other safeguards.
Texas’s War on Tenants Is an Inside Job
New Republic, 5/1/2023
It’s not the only bill in Texas meant to defang local municipalities and give the Republican-controlled state legislature a greater say in how blue cities can govern.
There’s also H.B. 2127, which Jay Malone, political and communications director of the Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, part of the AFL-CIO, said would preempt city governments’ ability to codify new housing and labor regulations—nixing policies like a tenant’s right to counsel, which cities like New York, Denver, and New Orleans have passed in an effort to balance the scales in eviction courts, before they have a chance to get fully off the ground. “It essentially ends home rule in Texas,” Malone said.
Texas 'Death star' bill that would block an array of local regulations clears its biggest hurdle
Houston Chronicle, 4/19/2023
Hany Khalil, executive director of Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, called HB 2127 a “Death Star bill” that amounts to a “hostile and sweeping power grab by partisan state officials designed to decimate our basic ability to govern ourselves at the local level.”
Houston officials blast Texas 'Death Star' bills that would weaken local governance
Chron.com, 4/19/2023
Precinct 2 Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia summarized the bills as anti-working families legislation in a press conference at the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation headquarters in Houston Tuesday.
Examples of local ordinances that could potentially be affected by the passage of these measures include a safety policy passed by Harris County officials in January requiring construction company managers and employees to undergo Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training. The measure was adopted in response to alarming local fatality rates for construction workers in the county. Three construction workers die weekly in Harris County, according to labor advocates with the Houston Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council.
‘Death Star’ bill in Texas House would strip power from local officials, critics say
Houston Public Media, 4/19/2023
"This bill is a hostile and sweeping power grab by partisan state officials designed to decimate our basic ability to govern ourselves at the local level, to disenfranchise Houstonians, and to block the passage of policies that improve the lives of working people and are popular with Houstonians," said Hany Khalil, Executive Director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation.
Khalil said the bill is an example of years-long efforts of Texas Republican lawmakers trying to gain control of local governments. He said under Republican leadership, community concerns like flooding and environmental issues have been neglected and the bill is a bad idea.
"HB 2127 is an unacceptable infringement on our right to have a say in how the places we live and work are governed," he said. "And so I want to encourage each and every Houstonian to take a minute today to learn about this dangerous bill and to act to make your voice heard by calling your state representative and ask [them] to vote no on HB 2127."
With Houston ISD takeover likely, teachers and parents take fight to Austin; 2,000 sign petitions
Houston Chronicle, 3/18/2023
The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation has been among those calling on community members to write letters to TEA commissioner Mike Morath imploring him to reconsider.
“The unrelenting threat of takeover has destabilized HISD,” the labor union wrote. “Families, teachers, and our communities only have a voice as long as decision makers are accountable to them.”
Harris County awards $4M so lawyers can keep giving free counsel to those in danger of eviction
Houston Chronicle, 3/16/2023
More than 60 organizations from diverse fields – including labor groups, community advocates, teacher federations and environmental nonprofits – have signed a letter asking county commissioners to provide long-term support for local legal aid organizations, with the goal of having free legal services available at every eviction docket in the county.
They hope the Democratic majority on the Commissioners Court will agree to provide an additional $20 million in funding, which they believe will make a tenant right to an attorney possible for the next three years.
“We are incredibly thankful that Harris County is taking the eviction crisis seriously,” said Jay Malone, political director for the advocacy group Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Foundation, which signed the letter. “But this is just the start – we need funding to ensure that all tenants have access to justice in our courts.”
'Investing in our workers' | Harris County commissioners approve $9.1M apprenticeship partnership
KHOU, 2/21/2023
“Working people deserve a safe workplace, good benefits, strong wages and the opportunity to build a better life for their families,” Ellis said. “A skilled and empowered workforce is key to a thriving, resilient Harris County economy.”
The county is partnering with the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation as a part of the program.
“Building a better, more resilient labor force — by investing in our workers — is an essential investment in the future of Harris County,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said. “Apprenticeship programs provide an avenue to high-wage careers without the need for a traditional four-year college degree.”
Harris County invests $9M into expanding training pipeline for high-paying jobs
Houston Chronicle, 2/21/2023
More than 1,500 low-income Harris County residents will be trained in high-paying construction, public transportation and live entertainment industries as part of a new $9.1 million program approved Tuesday by the Harris County Commissioners Court.
The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation will lead the training, under the agreement, using money from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Part of the funding will focus on building and construction trades, creating hundreds of training opportunities for elevator installers and repairers, structural iron and steel workers, painters, pipe fitters, plumbers, electricians and sheet metal workers, according to Candyce Castillo, education administrator with the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee of Pipe Fitters Local Union 211.
Harris County approves $9.1M to boost union apprenticeship programs
Houston Business Journal, 2/21/2023
The $9.1 million contract with the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation will help local union apprenticeships in the building and construction trades double enrollment, and two new apprenticeships in the entertainment and transportation industries will be formed.
Starbucks in Texas Medical Center becomes third in Houston area to unionize
Houston Public Media, 2/20/2023
Workers at the Starbucks location at 6400 Fannin St. in the Texas Medical Center voted 8-2 last Thursday to form a union, according to a tweet by the Houston chapter of Starbucks Workers United, which said there is "more to come." The Montrose-area Starbucks at 2801 S. Shepherd Dr. became the first in Houston to unionize last September, followed by the store at 30130 Rock Creek Dr. in Kingwood.
"It's not going to end. These folks are on a roll," said Linda Morales, the organizing coordinator for the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. "We're going to be there to support every (unionizing) effort in every way we can. Starbucks needs to come to the table and quit messing around."
Harris County will require contractors to provide OSHA safety training for workers
Houston Chronicle, 1/10/2023
With three Commissioners Court seats on the ballot last November, canvassers with progressive groups such as the Texas Organizing Project and the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation knocked on more than 125,000 doors and made 2.2 million calls reaching out to voters in support of Briones, County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioner Adrian Garcia.
"We've heard from some workers who have never had a training class that covers basic safety issues that may occur on a construction site," said Linda Morales, the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation's organizing coordinator.
The training also is intended to inform workers of their safety rights and empower them to speak up when those rights are violated, Morales added.
Opinion: Legal aid in eviction cases a win for tenants and county
Houston Chronicle Opinion, 12/16/2022
The law in Texas is weighted heavily against renters, but even with the law in their favor, many landlords still go beyond their legal rights. As recent reporting in the Houston Chronicle has shown, many landlords steer clear of the courts and illegally evict their tenants, an issue poised to grow with the expansion of investment by private equity in the rental housing market. There are fewer and fewer mom-and-pop landlords willing to wait a couple of weeks for the rent to come in.
What to expect from Lina Hidalgo and Harris County's expanded Democratic majority
Houston Chronicle, 11/21/2022
Hidalgo defeated Republican challenger Alexandra del Moral Mealer by slightly more than 17,000 votes, or 50.8 percent of the nearly 1.1 million votes cast — an even narrower margin than in 2018, when she ousted Republican Ed Emmett.
While Mealer built significant grass-roots popularity fueled by a strong stream of Republican mega-donors and conservative political action committee funding, Hidalgo saw much of her support come from progressive groups like the Texas Organizing Project and the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation; union canvassers knocked on over 125,000 doors and made over 2.2 million calls reaching out to voters in support of Hidalgo, Garcia and Briones.
"It wasn't about electing a Democratic majority. It was about electing a pro-worker majority and expanding the pro-worker majority," said Jay Malone, political director of the labor federation. "So, we now have four votes for really critical policies that will expand access to good, safe jobs in Harris County."
Malone named several policy goals on his wish list for the next four years: worker safety protections, county jobs that pay a living wage, affordable child care, affordable housing and a right to counsel program that guarantees defendants access to legal representation in eviction cases.
"The mandate that the commissioners received from voters is a mandate to think expansively about what government can do to make people's lives better," Malone said. "It's changing the way that we do drainage so that it's equitable, and it's reaching people in all corners of the county instead of just the rich and well connected."
Texas is good for business but bad for workers
Axios Houston, 9/30/2022
Houston workers continue to organize, with two new unions formed in the last few weeks.
Workers at the Starbucks in Montrose successfully unionized after a months-long campaign, the first shop in Houston to do so.
Employees at Republic National Distributing Co. in Houston also won a certification election this month, according to the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation.
Why rents are rising in Houston even as the housing market cools
Houston Chronicle, 9/23/2022
“We’re seeing a lot of tenants that are in places that last year cost $800-900 a month and they’re being told their rent is increasing $200-$300 more,” said Jay Malone, communications director for the advocacy group Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. “Very few people can afford that kind of rent increase.”
A Major Starbucks Union Win Has Happened In Houston
Tasting Table, 9/23/2022
This week, though, SBWU Houston took to Twitter to announce the win. "GUYS WE DID IT. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WE ARE SPEECHLESS." Harris County judge Linda Hidalgo Tweeted her congratulations, writing, "Harris County is always stronger when workers have a seat at the table." Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation Executive Director Hany Khalil similarly commented, "This isn't just a win for the Starbucks workers — this is a win for all Houston workers fighting for a better life" (via Houston Public Media). Judging by recent elections, Starbucks employees have a more than 80% chance of winning their union votes.
Montrose-area Starbucks becomes first Houston location to unionize
Houston Public Media, 9/22/2022
In a statement, Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation Executive Director Hany Khalil commended the news, which he said was proof of what’s possible “when working people stand together.”
“We're thrilled Starbucks employees chose to give themselves the right to negotiate a contract with management to improve their wages, benefits, and working conditions,” the statement read. “This isn't just a win for the Starbucks workers — this is a win for all Houston workers fighting for a better life."
Temp workers call on Houston, Harris County to crack down on staffing agencies’ practices
Houston Public Media, 8/17/2022
Hany Khalil, Executive Director of the Texas Gulf Federation of Labor, oversees 90 unions with 60,000 temporary workers. For decades he said he's seen billion-dollar corporations try to mistreat temporary workers.
"They have been converting jobs, good jobs, to temporary jobs, (that) has been the main strategy that they've used," Khalil said. "That is why we have seen and watched the growth in the temporary staffing agency in Houston with great concern."
Khalil said the current partnership between the agencies and local government means agencies have hardly any transparency or accountability.
"As we prepare for the federal funding from the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the Inflation Reduction Act to come down to the area, it's incumbent upon our elected officials to do all they can within their power to ensure that these jobs are good jobs. Not that they are just temporary jobs, but they lead to full-time jobs and that they don't hurt the workers that are working in full time jobs as well."
Houston teacher union raises alarm over charter school partnership proposal coming before HISD board
Community Impact, 8/16/2022
Concerns over the agenda item revolve around the fact that charter partnerships could be formed without board input as well as how quickly the agenda item itself will come before the board. The item's significance necessitates more public debate, said Hany Khalil, an HFT vice president and the executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation.
"This is [a policy] that should be debated for weeks and months before we expand charter schools so willy nilly," he said.
Hany Khalil talks union power in the Texas Gulf Coast
Texas Signal, 7/13/2022
Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation Executive Director Hany Khalil was recently appointed to the AFL-CIO General Board, a main decision-making body at the AFL-CIO where he will serve as a regional representative.
Among the general board’s top responsibilities: endorsing a presidential candidate and issuing policy recommendations that reach 12.5 million AFL-CIO members.
In 2021, for example, the AFL-CIO general board called on President Trump to resign or be removed from office after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. The board described the former president as an “affront to every union member, and a clear and present danger to our nation and our republic.”
Khalil tells the Signal the appointment to the general board is a sign AFL–CIO President Liz Shuler recognizes how important Texas is as a battleground, both electorally and for building union power. He said it also shows that the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation (TGCALF) has been particularly effective among labor councils in the South.
2026 FIFA World Cup: Houston labor group's role in bid process loomed large in city winning event
ABC 13, 6/17/2023
NRG Park has hosted major events before, but nothing quite like this. Leaders with the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation said they worked to make sure the economic impact of the World Cup gets spread around equitably and fairly.
"It's been a long, long time coming. So, I'm thrilled for our city," said Hany Khalil, a Houstonian and life-long soccer fan.
Khalil is also the executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. He said it was important to get the city, the bid committee, and workers all on the same team during the selection process.
"When we felt that the initial version of the plan wasn't strong enough, we were able to say, 'We want it to be stronger. Here are some ideas.' The bid committee listened to us," Khalil said.
Houston Chronicle, 3/24/2022
“This is the problem: There’s not one experience because there’s 16 different (Justice of the Peace) courts,” said Jay Malone, the political director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, which has worked to connect tenants with rent relief. He said that although the Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program works make its fund accessible to those who don’t speak English — the site is available in Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese — various courts have varying levels of language accessibility.
For example, “all courts are open now, but a lot of courts were holding their dockets over the phone,” he said. “So if you are an ESL speaker and you have to navigate this process where you call into the docket, that’s really difficult.” One in 10 adults in the Houston area are not fluent English speakers, according to Census estimates.
Then there are idiosyncrasies among courts that impact all Houston renters. The Alliance is a nonprofit that is working to connect tenants and landlords in eviction court to rental assistance. But while some judges are working with the Alliance, Malone said, “A lot of them haven’t. So if you’re unfortunate enough to live in a precinct that is not working with the Alliance, your options are limited.”
Texas eviction filings among the nation's highest as millions of rent relief dollars go unspent
Texas Tribune, 1/24/2022
Some counties that received federal dollars to help renters simply didn’t have the technological know-how to build programs from the ground up that could put that money in renters’ hands in a timely fashion, observers said.
“It hasn't been moving in many of these areas as quickly as we would hope,” said Jay Malone, political director for Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, a coalition of Houston-area labor unions that has worked to connect struggling tenants with rent relief.
For Malone, it’s a frustrating time. He said he’s seen public sentiment shift toward blaming tenants if they get evicted, despite a lack of affordable housing and a legal system that in Texas heavily favors landlords. He said it’s a far cry from earlier in the pandemic.
“During the pandemic, we had this kind of moment of empathy, where we were thinking about people that were suffering, and that's gone,” Malone said. “It's really sad to see.”
Texas eviction filings among the nation's highest as millions of rent relief dollars go unspent
Bryan College Station Eagle, 1/22/2022
“It hasn’t been moving in many of these areas as quickly as we would hope,” said Jay Malone, political director for Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, a coalition of Houston-area labor unions that has worked to connect struggling tenants with rent relief.
For Malone, it’s a frustrating time. He said he’s seen public sentiment shift toward blaming tenants if they get evicted, despite a lack of affordable housing and a legal system that in Texas heavily favors landlords. He said it’s a far cry from earlier in the pandemic.
“During the pandemic, we had this kind of moment of empathy, where we were thinking about people that were suffering, and that’s gone,” Malone said. “It’s really sad to see.”
Progressive groups, unions enter 2022 with bigger appetite (and some grudges)
Texas Signal, 1/12/2022
Jay Malone, political and communications director for the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, a local labor council with the AFL-CIO, said their members are also still going through an endorsement process that involves delegates from 92 unions.
A full slate of endorsements for candidates in the Houston area will be revealed in three weeks, with the exception of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo who was already endorsed in December.
“That was the first time we ever made an early endorsement,” Malone said.
Texas county returns millions in unspent federal rent relief
Marketplace, 12/30/2021
It’s not surprising Wiley couldn’t find a way to apply for county funding, said Jay Malone, political director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. For over a year, he’s partnered with nonprofits and local government officials to host rent relief sign-up events throughout the Houston region where people facing eviction can get help.
“We didn’t reach out to Montgomery County because there was no evidence that there was an active program. There was no platform to apply,” Malone said. “So our understanding was that there wasn’t a program that was active.”
Houston rents have soared to record highs, forcing renters to downsize and consider other options
Houston Chronicle, 12/23/2021
Jay Malone, the political director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, argued that inflation wasn’t the only factor at play. “I heard from a friend whose rent got raised 20-25 percent when he went to renew,” he said — an increase of $300. “You’re not raising rent by that much because of inflation… There’s a sense of: I can get away with it right now.”
“This is where the confluence of events becomes really concerning,” Malone said. “The rental assistance money, the protections are gone… and we’re experiencing rising rents that are not commensurate with rising salaries.”
Harris County Democrats approve new precinct boundaries, aimed at expanding their power
Houston Chronicle, 10/28/2021
At the hearing Thursday, some community groups praised the Ellis proposal for reflecting the county’s changing electorate.
“If the majority of Harris County voters want to keep electing Democrats, we believe the will of voters should be respected,” said Hany Khalil of the Texas Gulf Coast Labor Federation. “Harris County has changed.”
Houston Public Media, 11/18/2021
Jay Malone, political director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, isn't surprised Wiley couldn’t find a Montgomery County program.
For more than a year, Malone has partnered with nonprofits and local government officials to host rent relief sign-up events across Greater Houston where people facing eviction can get help in person.
"We didn't reach out to Montgomery County because there was no evidence that there was an active program," Malone said. "There was no platform to apply, and so our understanding was that there wasn't a program that was active."
Malone argued that county officials should have done more to distribute their own funds.
"All of our leaders have a responsibility to do everything they can to keep people housed as we continue to deal with this public health crisis," Malone said.
Career programs in Houston to help people find skilled trade jobs
ABC 13, 9/3/2021
"Only about 6% of people in the Houston area are represented by unions today, but we do have representation all across the Gulf Coast," said Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation political director Jay Malone. "People put down their tools and demanded and said they weren't going to work 16-hour days anymore."
Malone said even if you've never been in a union, the movement's impact has touched your life.
"If you're working, then it impacts you in every way you can imagine," Malone explained. "The reason why we have 8-hour workdays, and 40-hour work weeks, is because of the labor movement. Overtime, minimum wage, health care benefits."
U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia: 'We must work to protect all the postal service workers, letter carriers'
KHOU 11, 8/18/2021
Garcia was joined by Al Davison, president of APWU Local 185, Rickey Dueboay, vice-president of NALC Local 283, Pat Claiborne, Financial Secretary of NALC Local 28, and Linda Morales, with the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation.
Protect our kids! Lina Hidalgo supports mask mandates for school children
African American News & Issues, 8/16/2021
Representatives from the Houston Federation of Teachers and the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation joined U.S. Representative Al Green Wednesday, calling on all the school districts to do the right thing.
“The CDC, local and state public health officials, and the entire medical community have made it clear: mask mandates help keep our kids, our co-workers, and our communities safe,” the representatives said in a release. “But instead of listening to public health experts, Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Education Agency are playing politics with our children’s lives and blocking districts from taking common-sense measures to keep kids safe.”
Houston ISD board votes to express support of mask mandate
Houston Chronicle, 8/13/2021
Thursday night, groups in the Houston area — Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation and Houston Federation of Teachers — issued statements celebrating Houston ISD’s mandate.
“The CDC, local and state public health officials, and the entire medical community have made it clear: During the delta surge masks are vital to keeping our kids, our co-workers, and our communities safe,” said Hany Khalil, executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation.
“But instead of listening to public health experts, Gov. Greg Abbott and the TEA are playing politics with our children’s lives and blocking districts from taking common-sense measures to keep kids safe.”
Houston-area teachers, parents gather in support of mask mandates
Community Impact, 8/11/2021
"We believe that all students deserve safe learning environments and that all staff deserve safe working environments," said Hany Khalil, executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. "That means that the first duty of school officials is to provide safety."
The group gathered included representatives from teacher unions from eight school districts, including HISD, Aldine ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Cy-Fair ISD and North East ISD, among others.
Teachers unions, parents demand mask mandates in Houston-area districts
ABC 13, 8/11/2021
"Given how quickly the delta variant is spreading, every effective tool must be utilized now," Hany Khalil said. "Masking must be required to keep our students and their parents and our school employees safe as school begins this month."
Khalil, one of many speakers Wednesday, is the executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, vice president of the Houston Federation of teachers and a former HISD teacher.
Behind the many speakers who called for mask mandates stood a group of teachers, students and other local leaders, holding signs that read "We demand school safety."
"We believe that all students deserve safe learning environments, and all staff deserve safe working environments," Khalil said. "That means the first duty of school officials is to provide safety, and they must use their authority to do that, regardless of Gov. Abbott's executive order trying to block their ability to keep students and employees safe."
HISD Looking To Expand Virtual Learning Ahead Of Upcoming School Year
Houston Public Media, 8/10/2021
Hany Khalil, Executive Director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, joined Tuesday’s Town Square to discuss the upcoming school year. Khalil said the union fully supported House’s mask proposal.
“School leaders have recognized that their first and foremost duty is to keep children safe,” he said. “As employers, it’s to keep employees safe in their school districts as well.”
Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation addresses school safety measures, COVID-19
NBC 2, 8/9/2021
In Harris County, hundreds evicted despite moratorium
Houston Chronicle, 8/9/2021
Nonetheless, advocates expressed relief that the protection had returned. Jay Malone, the political director of a collection of unions called the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, applauded the eviction moratorium’s renewal.
During the pandemic, members of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation have been going door to door trying to get word out about how to file a CDC declaration form — in which a renter attests to impact of the pandemic on their finances in order to take part in the eviction moratorium — as well as how to apply for aid such as the Houston-Harris County Rental Assistance Program and Harris County’s emergency expense grants.
“(R)ental assistance alone won’t prevent a wave of evictions from hitting our community in the coming weeks, exacerbating the already exponential rise in Delta variant cases,” Malone said in a statement. He called the return of the CDC eviction moratorium “a huge win for working people struggling during the ongoing COVID crisis.”
'We must remain vigilant' | Houston ISD to vote on mask mandate for students, staff and visitors
KHOU 11, 8/6/2021
On Friday afternoon, unions representing teachers and support staff in Houston-area schools issued a joint letter calling on school districts to immediately implement mask mandates.
The letter is signed by leaders from Gulf Coast teacher and support staff unions, joined by the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, which represents 92 local unions with over 60,000 members in 13 Gulf Coast counties.
Houston-area restaurants grapple with pandemic staffing shortages
Community Impact, 8/6/2021
Jay Malone, political director for the Texas Gulf Coast branch of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, the largest federation of unions in the U.S, said the decision by the governor makes no economic sense.
“The decision by the governor to reject billions of dollars in federal assistance was both cruel and economically insane,” he said.
In addition, any change to unemployment benefits has a massive multiplier effect, positive or negative, Malone said.
“We’ve seen benefits of the pandemic unemployment assistance on the economy,” he added. “When you look at where the money from unemployment goes, it goes to rent; it goes to food; it goes to child care; it goes to the essentials—all of which stays in the community.”
Federal eviction moratorium extended as Harris County continues financial relief efforts
Community Impact, 8/5/2021
“The economic impacts of the pandemic haven’t ended. The hospitality industry, the entertainment industry, in all those industries, workers haven’t come back,” said Jay Malone, Gulf Coast AFL-CIO political director, at an in-person financial assistance event Aug. 3. “Working people who don’t get paid for months are not going to be able to pay their rent. ... We need to start planning to make sure that people aren’t out on the street as a result.”
Houstonians brace for eviction notices as federal moratorium expires
KHOU 11, 8/1/2021
"We're at the epicenter of the eviction crisis in Harris County," said Jay Malone, political director with the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. "It's hitting people across our community. Every neighborhood is experiencing this."
Texas lawmakers fight for those getting evicted after moratorium ends
ABC 13, 8/1/2021
However, leaders want residents to know there are local and state programs that can help.
"It's important for people to know there are tens of millions of dollars available for rental assistance," said Jay Malone, the political director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation.
Nationwide eviction moratorium ends. One family faces possible displacement
NBC 2, 7/31/2021
Jay Malone, political director at the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, said the end of the moratorium couldn’t have come at a worse time because of the recent rise in COVID-19 cases.
“We have over 700 eviction cases that are scheduled to be heard next week and thousands more that have been delayed. So essentially what we’re looking at is a massive crisis that’s just about to hit,” said Malone.
Malone said he expects eviction cases to go up significantly but said there is help out there.
With pandemic safety net policies expiring, renters brace for eviction
Marketplace, 7/29/2021
But many people in the Houston area haven’t recovered from the pandemic downturn yet, said Jay Malone, political director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation.
“The jobs that are coming back, a lot of them pay poverty wages,” Malone said. “What we’re experiencing is not a Texas comeback; we’re experiencing an increase in poverty. And there are a lot of industries that just haven’t come back.”
Thousands in Houston behind on rent could qualify for aid. But many don't know the program exists.
Houston Chronicle, 7/28/2021
A collection of unions called the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, for example, worked with data analysts to see where the rates of evictions are highest but applications to the rental assistance program are lowest. That’s where union members, including Cadavid, went door to door.
“There have been times when we’ve canvassed when it’s been nothing but eviction notices on doors,” said Jennifer Hernandez, a member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. She and other members of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation have knocked and posted flyers on more than 40,000 homes.
Partnering with the Eviction Defense Coalition and Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation are groups including the Metropolitan Organization, Constable’s Offices, the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services, County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Adrian Garcia’s offices, BakerRipley and Catholic Charities, which have hosted large application events in the area so renters can have someone guide them through the process in person.
Thousands Of Houston Evictions Paused During The Pandemic Could Resume In Coming Weeks
Houston Public Media, 7/14/2021
Jay Malone, political director of the Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, said that's why organizers are hosting these large in-person rent relief events — for the many families with language or technological barriers who are struggling to connect with assistance.
"A lot of those people, if we hadn't helped them, if they hadn't had an event where they could just hop in the car and drive and somebody would take care of it for them, they would be out on the street," Malone said.
'It’s no joke living from paycheck to paycheck': HISD food service attendants face pay cut
KHOU 11, 6/15/2021
"These are the working poor of HISD,” said Houston Federation of Teachers Vice President Hany Khalil.
Khalil also heads up the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation and applauded the teacher pay raises. But he said teachers don’t do it alone.
"The school doesn’t function without custodians and bus drivers and mechanics and food service workers and teachers and our administrators," Khalil said. "All these have to work as part of a team. But that means that every team member has to be valued.”
HISD Food Workers Demand Pay Cut Reversal From District Leaders
Houston Public Media, 6/14/2021
According to Hany Khalil, Executive Director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, Salazar pulled “a fast one” on the district’s lowest earning workers.
“The essential work that our food service workers have done to get us through the pandemic, not only was not recognized with a pay increase, but was attacked with a pay cut,” Khalil said.
Bill to quash local worker benefits passes Texas House
Texas Signal, 5/27/2021
“We’ve worked effectively with local authorities to ensure construction workers get access to a living wage, safe jobs, and career training through initiatives like Build Houston Better,” Hany Khalil, Executive Director of Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation told the Signal in a statement.
“Unfortunately, conservative legislators in Austin are trying to roll back these common-sense local policies through bills like SB 14,” Khalil said. “We’re fed up with state interference hurting working families in Houston.”
8 candidates vie for Position 3 on Humble ISD school board
Houston Chronicle, 4/12/2021
I am running for the board to be a positive voice of action for not only students and parents, but for our working teachers and staff as well. I have always stood up for working families in Humble ISD, and that’s why I’m so proud to receive an endorsement from the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO.
As Mayor Turner prepares police reforms, advocates decry slow pace of change
Houston Chronicle, 4/8/2021
Lacy Wolf, president of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, said Turner’s administration has not updated task force members on the status of their recommendations. However, Wolf said after serving on the task force and getting an inside look at the typical bureaucratic barriers that delay reforms, he is more forgiving than some fellow union members.
“I think I’m more understanding,” Wolf said. “But if I put myself back in that place I was at (last summer), I could see why people would be frustrated.”
Albertsons reverses course on mask policy for Texas stores
Grocery Dive, 3/9/2021
…the order prompted an angry reaction from the head of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, who said in a statement that the governor had ignored the needs of frontline workers in deciding that people should be able to decide for themselves how to deal with the virus.
“As far as we know, no unions or worker advocates were consulted before today’s decision was made. If the Governor had asked, we would have strongly urged him to reconsider, because we know firsthand how important the mask mandate is to our brothers and sisters on the frontlines of the pandemic,” Lacy Wolf, president of the union, said in an emailed statement. “Greg Abbott made it clear today that he has no respect for their service and struggle.”
Grocers Mull Mask Mandates Amid Changing Local Restrictions
PYMNT, 3/4/2021
It appears that the decision, at least in Texas, was made without consulting workers. As Lacy Wolf, president of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, wrote in the union’s statement on the decision, “As far as we know, no unions or worker advocates were consulted before today’s decision was made. If the governor had asked, we would have strongly urged him to reconsider, because we know firsthand how important the mask mandate is to our brothers and sisters on the frontlines of the pandemic.”
New department will track economic equity in Harris County
Community Impact, 3/1/2021
Linda Morales, an organizing coordinator with the Texas Gulf Coast AFLCIO, said the group wants to ensure these communities are prospects for good jobs that offer upward mobility and fair pay. The group was a stakeholder in creating the department.
$159 million in rental relief opens for Houston, Harris County renters in need
NBC 2, 2/24/2021
As the eviction crisis deepens, today advocates went door to door, handing out flyers to inform tenants about their legal rights and invite them to an event where they can get legal advice.
“This event on Saturday will provide them with the information they need to stay in their homes and stay safe in this really difficult time we are living through,” said Jay Malone, Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Foundation.
Houston Begins Eviction ‘Grace Period’ Giving Renters Impacted By The Pandemic More Time To Pay
Houston Public Media, 2/14/2021
“With millions of Gulf Coast residents suffering without power through freezing temperatures, the catastrophic failure of our state government to prepare is yet another reminder of the critical need for local action to keep our neighbors safe,” read a statement from Jay Malone, political director for the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. “We're thankful to Mayor Turner and the City Council for passing this ordinance today, and look forward to continuing our work with the city to strengthen and extend protections and keep all Houstonians housed.”
Fox 26 Houston, 2/11/2021
Advocates of a minimum wage increase say it would boost pay for millions. Jay Malone is the political director for the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. He shares his perspective.
“Turner unveils police reform report but asks for more time to review it"
Houston Chronicle, 9/30/2020
Lacy Wolf, business manager with International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Workers, said he was among those skeptical, even after he was named to the group. “When labor took a look at this task force that was being formed, we were thinking to ourselves this would be a failure, a futile exercise,” Wolf said at Wednesday’s news conference. “But I have to say … It was an amazing event.”
“Nationwide Eviction Moratorium Includes Strict Stipulations”
The Orange Leader, 9/16/2020
Jay Malone, political director for the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, encouraged renters to cooperate with landlords when possible. Malone said too often, renters become homeless because they don’t know their legal rights. “We think that well over half of everyone who leaves a home is a self-eviction,” Malone said. “They leave without going through the legal process.”
“Mayor Turner Pulls Houston Out Of COVID-19 Housing Task Force, Blindsiding Members”
Houston Public Media, 9/11/2020
"We still have thousands of union members who are unemployed, and we think the grace period ordinance should still be considered by the city council and should be put on the agenda for a vote," Malone said.
“Turner pulls out of housing task force that recommended eviction grace period ordinance”
Houston Chronicle, 9/11/2020
“We’re going to try to continue the conversation with the mayor and the city of Houston,” Malone said. “We still strongly believe that the grace period is essential to keep people housed during this pandemic. The CDC order says that the eviction crisis is a public health crisis, and I wish that the city of Houston would recognize it as such and do everything they can to keep people housed.”
“Call it a Strike - the Houston Rockets are NBA Workers”
Op-ed, Houston Chronicle, 8/28/2020
“The problems we face today are collective problems. No one is immune to COVID-19, and with the exception of a few billionaires, few of us have avoided the impacts of the Trump recession. And racial injustice will never be solved until we all accept our role in perpetuating it — and shared responsibility to end it.
On Wednesday night, the workers of the NBA joined together and used their substantial collective power to directly address injustice. And even if play resumes, the lesson is clear — there is power in a union.”
“U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia: 'We must work to protect all the postal service workers, letter carriers'“
KHOU, 8/18/2020
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia hosted a today along with other local labor leaders on crisis involving the United States Postal Service. Garcia and USPS labor leaders were joined by some of their constituents who will share their stories on how the crisis of receiving mail on time has impacted their lives.
NBC 2, 8/11/2020
“Dozens gathered outside Cornyn’s Rice Military neighborhood office Tuesday. Groups from UNITED HERE, a hospitality workers union that represents about 300,000 airport, restaurant, hotel and casino employees in the U.S. and Canada organized with the Houston Federation of Teachers as well as the Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation to advocate for unemployed workers who said they need the assistance.”
Community Impact, 7/30/2020
“A joint Houston-Harris County housing stability task force with members representing tenants' and landlords' interests unanimously signed a letter calling for a 60-day grace period for renters to make up missed payments. Mayor Sylvester Turner has repeatedly rejected such calls and has not put the ordinance on council’s agenda in the two weeks since it was endorsed by the task force. We’re thankful they’re taking action, but we need a holistic approach to protect renters,” said Jay Malone, political director of the Gulf Coast AFL-CIO. “We already had members who were sleeping in their cars, and unfortunately, there will be more in the next few weeks.’”
“Harris County prepares for surge in evictions as federal protections, unemployment boost end”
Community Impact, 7/29/2020
“Jay Malone, political director with the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, said the grace period, if approved, would give renters 21 days to demonstrate that COVID-19 impaired their ability to make a rent payment and 60 days to enter into a payment plan with the landlord. Of the 1.3 million renters in Houston, about 43% do not think they will be able to pay August's rent, Malone said. "I don’t think we can understand how significant of a crisis we are in right now," he told commissioners at the July 28 meeting. "‘In public health crisis where hospitals are still full, this could make things dramatically worse than they are.’"
“Extended unemployment benefits could happen for Texans”
ABC 13, 7/27/2020
“The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation surrounded Sen. John Cornyn's office, despite the rain, and demanded the protection of working families. Hear several of its members' messages in the video above.”
“Houston hospitality firms struggle to lure workers back from unemployment”
Houston Chronicle, 7/24/2020
“We have, in Texas, one of the lowest minimum wages in the country,” said Jay Malone, political director for the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. “If you’re paying $7.25 an hour to risk their life, that’s a big problem and I think that people are justified in being concerned. Workers are really stepping up and advocating for themselves in this moment.”
“Senate must approve next round of COVID-19 aid”
Op-ed, Galveston Daily News, 7/24/2020
“Instead of working to find solutions to this crisis, Republicans in the U.S. Senate went on vacation this month. Today, many of the provisions in the coronavirus relief bill will expire, including the extra $600 in unemployment benefits and protections for renters against eviction. It’s time for the Senate to get back to work and pass the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.”
“Walker County Workers Need HEROES Now”
Op-ed, The Huntsville Item, 7/21/2020
“For too many of us still working on the front lines of this pandemic, simply going to work could mean getting sick, losing time, or even losing our lives. Millions of workers are now unemployed as this pandemic has ripped across our country. Even those at work have reduced hours due to temporary shutdowns. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz must act with urgency to pass the HEROES Act, which will put our country on the path to recovery.”
“Housing Advocates say Houston is Approaching an Eviction Doomsday”
Houston Public Media, 7/17/2020
"…many of Houston's community advocates — like the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, Workers Defense Project and Texas Housers — have argued that local action is urgent and necessary.We're talking every day to people that are experiencing these historic hardships. ‘People who are having to wait in lines to feed their families and who are sleeping in their cars," said Jay Malone, political director for the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. "So we know how serious this is and we expect our elected officials to step up and behave like we're in the crisis that we know we're in.’”
“Houston Federation of Teachers Recommends Guidelines for Reopening Schools in the Fall”
Houston Business Journal, 7/14/2020
“Decisions about reopening Houston schools must include the wisdom of all those directly impacted. Student and worker safety must be the top priority. We have only one chance to get it right. If we get it wrong, it can have disastrous consequences,” Hany Khalil, executive director of the Teas Gulf Coast Labor Federation, said in a statement.
Quorum Report, 7/9/2020
“Houston-area unions representing workers at the George R Brown Convention Center applauded the decision by Houston Mayor Sylvester to cancel the contract with the Texas GOP to host the Texas Republican Party convention.”
“New data shows nearly $29M in lost rent, grim housing outlook for Houston”
Houston Chronicle, 6/24/2020
In an effort to tackle Houston’s already-struggling housing crisis and help vulnerable populations facing evictions during the pandemic, Harris County earlier this month launched a Housing Stability Task Force led by Harris County Recovery Czar State Rep. Armando Walle and City of Houston COVID-19 Recovery Czar Marvin Odum. The 24 members making up the task force were announced Wednesday and include(s) Jay Malone (of the) Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation.
“Turner’s police reform task force met with skepticism, even from some members”
Houston Chronicle, 6/24/2020
“I’m a single voice, but I’m the lead voice of many, many people, and they’re going to be pushing me if I start slacking off or anything,” said Wolf, whose coalition includes more than 90 unions and 60,000 members. “They’ll be right behind me rallying with bullhorns and signs.”
The Woodlands Online, 6/24/2020
Harris County and City of Houston recovery czars Rep. Armando Walle and Marvin Odum on Wednesday announced the names of the members of a joint task force designed to bridge gaps in housing stability. The Housing Stability Task Force, which will be co-chaired by Harris County Justice of the Peace Jeremy Brown and civic leader Ric Campo of Camden Property Trust, (including) Jay Malone (of the) Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation.
“Home ownership increasingly out of reach of region’s renters”
Houston Chronicle, 6/23/2020
Lacy Wolf, president of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, said that COVID has made already vulnerable members of the community even more vulnerable. “When we surveyed our 95 affiliated unions at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis in March, 41 percent listed paying rent as the top concern of their members, and this has only grown in the subsequent months,” she said in an emailed statement. “We continue to call on our leaders in Harris County and Houston to address this ongoing crisis by suspending evictions in Justice of the Peace courts and passing municipal ordinances that give renters grace periods to pay back rent.’”
“Reopening the Right Way is a Social Justice Issue”
Op-ed, Galveston Daily News, 6/17/2020
“The Texas labor movement adds our voices to the millions of Americans condemning another lawless, racist killing in our country at the hands of police officers. We want the economy to reopen and our lives to resume. But we know the terms of “normal” must change so black Texans and other working families who deal every day with economic injustice emerge stronger.”
“150 cars form caravan to urge Houston-area senators to pass HEROES Act”
Fox 26 Houston, 6/17/2020
150 cars full of workers formed a caravan today, urging Texas' U.S. Senators to pass the HEROES Act and police reform. Cars wrapped around the offices of Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, hoping for action on three fronts: protecting public health during the pandemic, preventing further economic freefall, and creating racial equality. These workers, from postal employees to janitors to teachers, say they need the Republican-led Senate to pass the HEROES Act to provide more stimulus, unemployment, and economic aid.
“Houston Adjusts After the Economic Collapse of COVID-19”
Governing, 6/15/2020
Many laid-off workers, particularly in front-line sectors such as retail, restaurants and hospitality, fear returning to work without jeopardizing their health. Employers wonder if they will. In Houston, economists expect an even tougher time because of the region’s dependence on oil and gas, which is reeling from the unprecedented plunge in demand and prices. As the energy industry goes, so, too, do the businesses and workers who provide goods and services to it.
“Dramatic shift in economy underway as Houstonians adapt to new normal”
Houston Chronicle, 6/12/2020
“Workers are in a dilemma where, if they've been at home for some time unemployed, they are desperate to be able to go back to work,” said Hany Khalil, the executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. “But there are deep concerns about whether their workplaces will be safe.”
“Hidalgo, Turner request eviction moratorium be extended through Aug. 24”
Community Impact, 6/4/2020
Hany Khalil, the executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, lauded the action as area unions, too, renewed their call for Harris County justices of the peace to suspend eviction proceedings through July 24.
“Survey finds many Houstonians unprepared for economic crisis”
Houston Chronicle, 5/18/2020
When the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation began asking unions throughout the Houston area about the financial situations of their members on March 17, the financial strain of layoffs and furloughs, which had begun to balloon that week, was already apparent. “Even in March, (nearly half) of our affiliates were already struggling to pay rent and basic necessities,” said Jay Malone, political director of the local labor council.
“Houston passes $15 million rental assistance program”
Community Impact, 5/6/2020
Gulf Coast AFL-CIO Politcal Director Jay Malone said that while he supports the measure and sees it as a promising starting point, more protections for renters are still needed, such as mandatory grace periods to give tenants time to work with landlords. “In the ordinance overview, they’re estimating it could go to 7,000 to 13,000 people,” Malone said. “The scale of the problem is way greater. ... Additionally, the funds are limited to below 80% [area median income], and there are a lot of people who made more than that, have lost their income and they’re left in the cold.”
The Katy News, 5/1/2020
“Today we remember that solidarity is the only source of power for working people. This virus makes clear just how interconnected we are, and we know that none of us will be safe until all of us are safe,” said Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation Executive Director Hany Khalil. “Excluding immigrant families from COVID relief is dangerous and wrong, and today we say no more! We’re all in this together, and we will not stop fighting until we win justice for all working families, regardless of where we were born.”
“As state restrictions ease, some Houston restaurant owners hold off on reopening”
Community Impact, 4/30/2020
Meanwhile, the Gulf Coast AFL CIO is pushing for more formal workplace protections for workers who will be interacting with the public as businesses reopen, according to an April 29 release. “The Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation today again called on Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and the Harris County Commissioner[s] to pass work safe rules,” the statement read. “These rules should include requirements for the provision of adequate personal protective equipment, strong health and safety protocols, and protections against retaliation if their work sites aren't safe.”
"Turner resists push for paid sick leave ordinance in Houston during coronavirus pandemic"
Houston Chronicle, 4/27/2020
Labor leaders say the COVID-19 pandemic has bolstered their argument for a paid leave mandate, arguing such a policy would slow community spread of the disease here.Mayor Sylvester Turner largely has ignored the push, making clear he will not take action on paid sick leave while the health and economic crisis continues to play out.
"Houston union leaders call for emergency rent relief amid pandemic"
KTRK, 4/16/2020
With unemployment numbers climbing and the country at an all-out economic standstill, a group of Houston pastors and union leaders want more protection for the city's renters. The group is calling on Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to pass a city ordinance that provides emergency relief to help working tenants, according to a statement by the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation.
"Housing, labor advocates press Houston for more protections for renters during pandemic"
Houston Chronicle, 4/16/2020
Their proposals include a 60-day grace period to allow those who fall behind on rent to catch up, a cap on late fees, and a ban on notices to vacate, which advocates said some landlords have deployed deceptively.
“As statewide eviction ban nears end, Houston renters need more help, union leaders say”
Community Impact, 4/16/2020
Area labor leaders are calling for more specific protections from city hall, such as a ban on eviction notice postings, limits on late fees and mandatory waiting periods for landlords before fees are enacted. They also warned that when the state’s ban on evictions is lifted, which could be as soon as April 30 if not extended, more protections need to be in place for renters still struggling to make ends meet. The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economy Security Act does, however, provide extended protections for those living in public housing.
“Houston Unions Demand Paid Leave, Job Protections As Coronavirus Impacts Workers”
Houston Public Media, 3/26/2020
A coalition of labor unions in the region have called on the city of Houston to pass local laws to protect workers from the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. That includes requiring employers to provide personal protective equipment for employees who interact with the public, and keep landlords from collecting rent from struggling tenants for two months, as well as a paid sick leave ordinance.
“Labor Federation to Announce Results of COVID-19 Worker Impact Survey”
The Katy News, 3/26/2020
ALF President Lacy Wolf said, “This survey makes it clear that the crisis is not coming for Gulf Coast workers – it’s already here. No sectors have been spared from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Workers experiencing layoffs, furloughs, and reduced hours need immediate relief.” For some industries, the impacts have been devastating. The Theater Workers (IATSE) and Actors (SAG-AFTRA) unions report that 99% of their members have already been laid off. UNITE HERE!, which represents hotel and airport concession workers, also says that their members are experiencing devastating layoffs.
"As Texans flood state with unemployment apps, reserves to pay benefits are dangerously low"
Houston Chronicle, 3/21/2020
"Shutdowns have hit the local economy hard. People who work at local theaters and event venues were “99 percent unemployed in a matter of days,” said Hany Khalil, the executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, which works with unions across the Houston region.
"2 Port of Houston terminals close after worker tests positive for COVID-19"
Houston Chronicle, 3/19/2020
Workers on ships - who work in close proximity to one another - are concerned about higher rates of infection, and those working at the port fear that the frequent handling and trade of goods may also leave them more exposed, said Hany Khalil, executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. At the same time, workers fear what the two terminal shutdowns portends for the port’s economic future...“Given how important the port is to the Houston regional economy, it’s going to be a real challenge.”
"In this trying time, Houstonians need paid sick leave"
Op-ed, Houston Chronicle, 3/18/2020.
As local, state and federal authorities take belated action to slow the spread of COVID-19, the city of Houston must use its authority to enact a paid sick leave ordinance immediately.
"Hidalgo orders bars to close, restricts restaurants to takeout for 15 days"
Houston Chronicle, 3/17/2020
"In the bar and restaurant sector, we're talking about low-wage workers, often uninsured, with little savings to weather the health and economic storm," Khalil said. "And we need to make sure that they are provided for. They're not responsible for the situation."
"Fighting Coronavirus, Houston is The Largest U.S. City Without Paid Sick Leave Law"
Houston Public Media, 3/16/2020
Amid community spread of the coronavirus, organizations will be calling on Houston officials to pass an ordinance similar to those in Austin, San Antonio and Dallas, despite the opposition they’re facing in courts, according to Hany Khalil, executive director of Texas Gulf Coast AFL-CIO.