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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of a respected educator and labor leader |
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drew to a close with the passing of Linda Bridges of Austin on |
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January 13, 2015, at the age of 65; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Bridges began her notable career as an |
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elementary special education teacher in the Corpus Christi |
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Independent School District; she later became a charter member of |
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the Corpus Christi American Federation of Teachers and went on to |
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serve the organization as president for nearly a quarter-century; |
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in that role, she helped develop the process of elected |
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consultation, which enables district faculty and staff members to |
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elect an organization to represent them in discussions with the |
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administration regarding wages, benefits, and working conditions, |
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and that innovative system was quickly adopted by other districts |
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throughout the state; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to her outstanding efforts with the |
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local union, Ms. Bridges served the Texas chapter of the AFT as |
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chair of the legislative committee and as a member of the executive |
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committee and the executive council; her incisive leadership was |
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rewarded with her election as president of the state chapter in |
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2005, and over the course of her decade-long tenure, she worked |
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tirelessly in behalf of millions of Texas students and played an |
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instrumental part in expanding the organization's membership from |
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48,000 to more than 65,000; she also served the federation at the |
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national level as vice president, as chair of the subcommittee on |
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nonbargaining states, and as a member of the organizing and |
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advisory committees; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Bridges gave generously of her time and talents |
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to a number of other organizations as well, serving as vice |
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president and as a trustee of the Texas AFL-CIO, as president of the |
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Coastal Bend Labor Council, as a director of the United Way of the |
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Coastal Bend, as chair of the Juvenile Assessment Center, and as a |
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regent of Del Mar College; and |
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WHEREAS, A woman of great vision and integrity, Linda Bridges |
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benefited the lives of countless students and teachers through her |
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immeasurable contributions to public education in Texas, and her |
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achievements will continue to resonate for years to come; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Linda Bridges and |
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extend sincere sympathy to all those who mourn her passing; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That when the Texas House of Representatives |
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adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Linda Bridges. |