Episode 84: Tech, Policy, and Labor with René Lara, Legislative Director, Texas AFL-CIO

(RUN TIME - 35:44) Welcome The BG Podcast! Conversations at the intersection of business, community, and public policy, from the Austin metro and around Texas. Today's episode features a discussion with René Lara, Legislative Director with the Texas AFL-CIO. He and Bingham Group CEO A.J. discuss the unionization of Kickstarter employees (on February 18), a first for a major tech firm, and implications for the sector particularly consumer facing businesses. See: Kickstarter employees vote to unionize (The Verge, 2.18.2020)-> https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/18/21142308/kickstarter-employee-vote-union-unionize ABOUT THE GUEST Hailing from El Paso, René from the University of Texas at Austin, the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the UT School of Law.  As a capitol staffer, René Lara worked for State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos of Austin on the Senate Education, Finance and Nominations committees. From 1995 to 2006, René represented the Texas AFT on issues of importance to educators.  Today, René Lara serves on the boards of the Workers Assistance Program (WAP), Texans for a Secure Retirement (TSR), and the El Paso Social Network in Austin.  He has worked for the Texas AFL-CIO in 2008. LINKS: Twitter: @renerlara LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rene-lara-37748355/ Texas AFL-CIO Page This is episode was recorded on February 26, 2020. Subscribe to BG Reads to get episodes emailed to you every Wednesday.