IAM Union members participated in the Texas AFL-CIO COPE Convention, which focused on the theme “Workers vs. Billionaires — Which Side Are You On?” The event brought together union members from across Texas to show unity and support for labor issues.
A key part of the convention was supporting Taylor Rehmet, an IAM District 776 member and activist who is running for Texas Senate District 9. During the conference, IAM delegates called union voters in the district to encourage turnout for Rehmet ahead of Election Day on January 31.
Jody Bennett, IAM Resident General Vice President and a native Texan as well as a District 776 member, said: “This moment is about a clear choice: workers or billionaires. For too long, billionaires have written the rules while working families pay the price. The labor movement is drawing a line, and in Texas that means supporting leaders like Taylor Rehmet who come from our ranks and fight for working people.”
The convention also included the first debate between Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett. The debate addressed issues facing working families and discussed billionaire influence in politics. While delegates decided not to take action in the contested U.S. Senate primary, they endorsed several other federal, state, and local candidates who are union members or support pro-worker policies.
