'Tomorrow Starts Today' with Hope

Photo Credit: Richard Carson

Making History: Setting themselves on a course to build more power, hundreds of Houston city employees represented by the Houston Organization of Public Employees (HOPE/AFSCME Local 123) held their founding convention in March.

“Tomorrow Starts Today” was more than the theme of HOPE’s convention—it was the reality, as members overwhelmingly approved a constitution and bylaws. They also nominated their first member-run executive board.
The union—a partnership between AFSCME and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)—represents more than 13,000 Houston city employees, including park maintenance aides, library aides and custodians.

HOPE was established in 2006 after AFSCME successfully lobbied the state Legislature to extend “meet-and-confer” rights to city workers, giving them the same rights as police and firefighters. One year ago, HOPE members won a first-ever contract between a Texas city and its non-uniformed civilian workforce.