Dallas AFL-CIO leader Mark York is looking for ways to help our brothers and sisters in the flood disaster areas. He is also concerned about the thousands of evacuees pouring into North Texas. Money and volunteers are needed.
On August 31, York and other North Texas unionists sat in on a two-hours-plus teleconference involving state and national AFL-CIO leaders. National AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Liz Shuler began by emphasizing the extent of the damage to the Gulf Coast and the duration of the problem.
"Some people say weeks, months, but we all know it’s going to be years," she told the Texans. She assured them of help from national. They intend to raise $5 million in additional funds. As a first installment, she brought a check for $100,000! The AFL-CIO housing investment trust is working on a program to invest $500 million over the next 5 years. AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust is also making a major commitment. Labor will commit to training and apprenticeships for the workers who will rebuild the disaster areas. Shuler said, “We will be here for the long haul. The working people of America are here for you!”
Speakers from the Coastal Bend, Gulf Coast, and Golden Triangle areas talked about the extent of the damage and the efforts already underway to help. Some shelters already have such big piles of donated clothing and other materials that they have run out of room, but the biggest need of all is cash donations. The Texas AFL-CIO's relief fund raised $150,000 in the first few days and continues to solicit donations.
THE LINK to donate IS WWW.TEXASAFLCIO.ORG/DONATE
TO VOLUNTEER IN DALLAS: dallashelpforharvey.net
The immediate crisis is far from over. One Houstonian said that floods will get even worse over the next 2 days. Lee Forbes will be in charge of relief efforts and will work from the "war room" in the Texas AFL-CIO office in Austin; but command centers will soon be set up in each of the major disaster areas.
Texas AFL-CIO President John Patrick concluded the long meeting with, “Let’s get to work!”