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Uncategorized

Support workers building the new dorm at UH

The University of Houston is spending $124 million to build a brand-new 1,200-bed dormitory to replace the aging Quadrangle. It’s a symbol of UH’s increasing popularity and growing prestige among Texas universities. There’s just one problem — UH isn’t making sure the general contractor or subcontractors on site are paying the workers who are building it the prevailing wages required by Texas Prevailing Wage Statute Section 2258

Both Federal and Texas state law mandate that publicly-funded projects pay workers the prevailing wage, similar to a minimum wage, specific to the work they are performing and the local area. 

Eight workers building the Quadrangle Housing Replacement to lay drywall for the project have filed a prevailing wage complaint, claiming they are being paid as general laborers, not drywall installers. This type of wage theft is called miscategorization, and it’s a common way for companies like Austin Commercial, the general contractor, to pad their bottom line by paying workers less for what should be higher-paid work.

While more workers have come forward than the eight workers who filed the complaint, even that small number of workers is owed over $43,000 in stolen wages — that’s more than $5,000 per worker. How would you feel if your boss paid you $5,000 less than you earned for your work?

The workers at UH aren’t alone: Texas workers lose $1.2 billion every year to wage theft, including one in five construction workers. We must stand with all working people who aren’t being paid what they earned and deserve. We all pay for the University of Houston, and our money should not sponsor worker exploitation–it must be spent fairly.

The University of Houston has until February 16 to respond to the workers’ prevailing wage complaint. Chancellor Renu Khator has the power to make the contractor pay its workers the money they’ve earned.

Call Chancellor Khator at 713-743-8820 and tell her that our public university must treat the workers building their institution fairly. She must fix this problem. 

Want to do more? Contact these two city councilors and ask them to urge Chancellor Khator to make sure Austin Commercial is in compliance with the law and get workers paid what they’re owed. 

MARTHA CASTEX-TATUM: call 832.393.3016 or email districtk@houstontx.gov
CAROLYN EVANS-SHABAZZ: call 832.393.3001 or email districtd@houstontx.gov
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Medicare For All Uncategorized

Houston DSA Endorses Paid Sick Leave in the City of Houston

Houston DSA is very happy to announce that its general body has endorsed a campaign for Paid Sick Leave by a unanimous vote at the March General Meeting!

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Meeting Minutes

Protected: November General Meeting Minutes

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Eco-Socialists Working Groups

Eco-Socialists November Meeting Notes

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Uncategorized

Medicare for All 11/13 Meeting Notes

These are the meting notes taken at the inaugural Houston DSA Medicare for All Working Group meeting. This group was created to work on advancing Medicare for All in the Houston area as a part of a national campaign that was voted on at the DSA Convention in August 2017.

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Uncategorized

Comrades of Comedy 8/26 CANCELED

Hello y’all! With the risk of flooding on Saturday night, Rec Room has decided to close their venue. So our fundraising show, “Comrades of Comedy” will not be taking place tomorrow night. Please don’t take it out on them though! They were gracious enough to open their space to us and they’re working on finding us alternative dates. We will keep you posted as soon as we know when the event will be held. If you bought tickets through Eventbrite, we will refund you the full value of your purchase.

If you need assistance during the storm, please reach out to us at Houston DSA. You have access to a national and statewide network of democratic socialists ready and willing to help people in need.

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Uncategorized

Houston DSA Delegation Statement

Our delegation at the national convention voted overwhelmingly to support the resolution calling for prison abolition. We also endorsed and voted for Danny Fetonte, whom many of us know as an outstanding labor organizer who has worked hard to build DSA chapters in Texas. We were not aware that his past organizing work included work for CLEAT. We strongly oppose the work of CLEAT and regret that Danny’s work for them was not disclosed to us all before voting.  Moving forward, we defer to the NPC to reach a resolution. We in Houston are particularly aware of the harm caused by police and prisons, and call for the solidarity and support of our comrades as we move forward together.

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Action Press Release

Press Release for Sunday’s Culberson Protest

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

HOUSTON DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA AND ALLIED GROUPS ORGANIZE PROTEST OF REP. CULBERSON’S DISASTEROUS VOTE TO REPEAL AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

MAY 5, 2017

HOUSTON, TX – The Houston chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (Houston DSA) is allying with local groups, such as Indivisible Houston, to organize a protest against Representative John Culberson’s vote in favor of the American Health Care Act (HR 1628; aka, AHCA). The protest will take place on Sunday, May 7, 2017 from 2:00 – 5:00pm in front of the office of Rep. Culberson (R) at 10000 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77024.

Houston DSA and Indivisible Houston aim to bring attention to the millions of Americans that will lose health insurance coverage under this act and to denounce the elimination of rules prohibiting insurance companies discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions such as, asthma, cancer, pregnancy and even sexual assault. While communities in Houston will suffer under this new law, it cuts $350 billion in taxes for the wealthiest 1%.

Furthermore, Houston DSA and allied groups firmly call for both parties to take up HR 676, which would enact Medicare for All. Medicare for all (or single payer) is broadly popular with a 58% approval rating according to Gallup polling. Just as Obamacare will reduce the rolls of the uninsured by 24 million at the last estimate compared to the AHCA, Single Payer will reduce that number by a further 28 million people. So, the moral imperative for single payer is clear. Now more than ever, we need a health care system that leaves no one behind and doesn’t bankrupt our families.

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ABOUT HOUSTON DSA – Houston DSA is the Houston local of the Democratic Socialists of America, the largest socialist organization in the country. We fight for more democracy — in our politics, workplaces, and communities. Our members are building and supporting progressive movements for social change while establishing an openly democratic socialist presence in U.S. communities and politics through activism, political education, and community organization.

ABOUT INDIVISIBLE HOUSTON – Indivisible Houston is a chapter of the grassroots movement based on the principles outlined in the Indivisible Guide. We are dedicated to uniting Houston’s eight congressional districts to oppose the agenda of the Trump White House. We do this by pressuring members of Congress to represent their constituents and obstruct authoritarianism.

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