Austin, Texas – From January 8-12, representatives of the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) participated in the 2025 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human & Civil Rights Conference in Austin, Texas. As a gathering of almost one thousand union workers from over thirty labor organizations, the event focused on unity through solidarity for America’s labor movement.
The conference featured a variety of speakers who reinforced this theme, including AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and US Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. Topical panels were also featured, which focused on the advancement of the Labor movement for all American Workers. Then, on the event’s final day, breakout training was provided to strengthen worker advocacy and the collective bargaining process.
Reflecting on the conference’s impact, ATDA’s liaison to the AFL-CIO for Civil, Human, and Women’s rights, Erica Ray, said, “It was great to be back together with our union siblings from all over the country, especially after the AFL-CIO has now added over 2 million additional members from SEIU (Service Employees International Union). The bigger we are, the better and stronger we are. We know we have a fight ahead for our ATDA members, but we are ready for that fight!”
ATDA Secretary-Treasurer Bill Sikes, who also attended the event, said “I am honored to have attended this event, and I was overwhelmed by the welcome we received from so many other union members. It served as an important reminder that our solidarity binds us together as we fight for the pay, benefits, and working conditions that our highly skilled members deserve. We will fight that fight for all of our members because we’re all in this together.”
