Honoring Dr. King by Standing With Workers
On a cold evening in April 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stepped onto the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was there for one reason: to stand with workers who had decided they could no longer accept injustice as the price of earning a living.
The sanitation workers of Memphis, represented by AFSCME, were mostly Black men doing some of the city’s most dangerous work. They labored long hours for poverty wages, often without proper safety equipment. Many were routinely demeaned and addressed as “boy.” When two workers were crushed to death by a malfunctioning garbage truck, something shifted. The workers walked off the job.
Looking Back on 2025: A Year of Action, Connection, and Commitment
2025 was a year marked by action, connection, and steady determination for AFSCME Texas Retirees.
Throughout the year, retirees showed up across Texas and beyond. Members took part in legislative hearings, ERS fairs, community events, marches, and town halls, ensuring retiree voices were present wherever decisions were being discussed. From local gatherings to statewide advocacy, retirees remained engaged and visible in the fight for fair treatment and retirement security.
Texas Labor Day 2025 Events & Celebrations
Labor Day is right around the corner, and across Texas communities are gathering to celebrate workers, solidarity, and the holiday weekend. Here’s a roundup of some of the key events happening in Austin, Dallas, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Conroe, Denton, and Tyler.
Standing Up for Retirees: Town Hall with Rep. Greg Casar Draws Hundreds in Austin
Last week, U.S. Representative Greg Casar hosted a Town Hall in his home district of Austin, spotlighting threats to Medicaid, Medicare, and other essential programs that millions of retirees rely on.
Standing Strong for a 13th Check: Rick Farias Testifies at the Capitol
Our message to lawmakers has been consistent and clear: Retired state employees spent their careers making Texas safer, stronger, and healthier. It’s time for the state to honor that commitment, just as it has for retired teachers, by approving this modest but much-needed benefit.
Fighting for Fairness: AFSCME Texas Retirees Push for a 13th Check and a COLA Adjustment at the Legislature
For more than two decades, Texas state retirees have been waiting for a well-deserved pension increase. Since 2001—when Rick Perry was in his first months as governor—retirees have gone without a boost to their pensions, even as the cost of living has skyrocketed by 78%. The rising cost of essentials like food, housing, and healthcare has made it harder than ever for retirees to make ends meet.
That’s why AFSCME Texas Retirees is fighting at the Capitol to demand action.
A Step Forward, but Far From Enough: Fighting for a Real COLA for Texas Retirees
After more than 20 years without a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), some retired state employees will see a small increase in their pension checks starting in January 2025.
AFSCME Texas Retirees Endorse Colin Allred For U.S. Senate
AFSCME Texas members have proudly endorsed labor champion Colin Allred to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate.
Exercise Your Right to Vote During Early Voting
Early voting marks a crucial moment for retirees across the state. In the face of challenges at the Texas Capitol and beyond, we must recognize the power we hold in our hands — the power to vote.