The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) has released its Pro‑Worker Scorecard for the 89th Texas Legislative Session, grading state lawmakers on their alignment with ten legislative priorities aimed at improving wages, benefits, and workplace conditions across Texas. For public employees and those overseeing retirement systems, the scorecard provides insight into where elected officials stand on issues that can impact compensation, benefits, and long-term retirement security.

Note: TEXPERS does not align itself with the policy positions of the AFL-CIO or any advocacy organization. However, it monitors and reports on legislative initiatives from a wide range of entities whose actions may influence public employee retirement systems in Texas.

Scorecard Results by the Numbers

• 46 members earned a 100% score.
• 1 member, Rep. Mike Olcott (R–Fort Worth), received a 0%, voting against all ten pro‑worker priorities.

• 6 Senators received perfect scores.
• The remaining members fell short of full alignment with the AFL-CIO’s legislative agenda.

The Ten Priorities That Shaped the Scorecard

The AFL-CIO’s Fair Shot Legislative Agenda includes policies directly relevant to public employees and retirees. These include:

1. Raising wages and strengthening pensions
2. Improving workplace safety
3. Expanding paid leave and family support
4. Protecting immigrant workers
5. Increasing educator pay and public school funding
6. Reducing state employee turnover through higher pay and restored benefits
7. Providing COLAs for TRS and ERS retirees
8. Fixing the state’s unemployment insurance system
9. Creating clean energy jobs
10. Investing in apprenticeship programs

Why It Matters for Public Employees

Many of the AFL-CIO’s stated goals intersect with the interests of public employees and retirees. Key takeaways include:

• COLA Support (Priority #7): Advocates are calling for stronger, more inclusive cost-of-living adjustments for all retired public workers, especially those in the Employees Retirement System (ERS), where most have not seen a COLA in over two decades.
• Defined Benefit Advocacy (Priority #6):
• Wage Growth (Priorities #1 and #5): Increased pay for state and local government workers is positioned as a remedy to staffing shortages and economic inequities in the public sector.
• Workplace Standards (Priority #2): Measures to mandate heat protections and workers’ compensation insurance for all employers—including government contractors—would directly impact public employees in fields such as public works, safety, and emergency response.

A Tool for Policy Awareness

While the AFL-CIO’s scorecard is advocacy-driven, it provides public retirement stakeholders with a clear view of legislative support for broader public sector stability. Understanding which lawmakers support pension-positive and worker-supportive policies can help trustees, administrators, and retirees make informed decisions about engagement and outreach.

Explore the Scorecards & Priorities

• Fair Shot: 10 Pro-Worker Priorities for the 89th Legislative Session
• Texas House Scorecard
• Texas Senate Scorecard

About the Author: Allen Jones is the director of communications and event marketing for TEXPERS. He joined the Association in 2017. Before TEXPERS, he worked in the news media industry, producing content for newspapers, magazines, and online publications and leading newsrooms as an editor and publications manager. [email protected]   

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