-
June 2023 by Kristina Flakowitz
I worked at TCE’s Austin office for five years ending the Summer of 2021. During my five years as a canvasser, Field Manager, Senior Field Manager, and Project Manager, I watched countless dedicated and talented people commit years to the organization, and all to leave with a feeling of being overworked and underappreciated.Going into TCE’s COVID era, most of the staff had been with the org for 3 years or more (roughly 17 staff members total). We all knew it was time for change, so we dedicated multiple hours every week to discuss ways to improve the organization as a whole. Some of the goals that we had were to come up with a sustainable business model that provided job and pay security, a plan to retain a more diverse staff, addressing the org’s tendency to use toxic positivity in training, and to provide real pathways for canvassers to have a career in organizing. They called these meetings “The Evolution of Canvassing”. This was supposed to be a setting where staff of various seniorities could propose ideas, and leadership would work with us to see what ideas could be implemented. Unfortunately, in almost every instance, instead of leadership finding ways to implement these new ideas, they found ways of why it would be impossible to do so. It was clear that TCE was not truly looking to change.After hitting roadblocks with leadership during these meetings for over a year, a huge portion of staff were clearly discouraged. By the time TCE went back to knocking on doors, only a single canvasser remained, amongst a handful of directors. Leadership allowed one passionate person after another to leave organizing. Most of us are still not working in the field today. This is a huge loss to TCE and the people of TX.Paying canvassers what they are worth has never been a priority for TCE. They have always depended on a rotating supply of college students, and the few committed folks that are willing to sacrifice pay for the “greater good.”Overall my time with TCE was a positive one, I gained invaluable life skills, great friends, and my life partner in that office. Unfortunately, they all have countless stories of their own about how TCE took advantage of their time and good will.I have heard and said many times that “canvassing skills are life skills.” I still 100% agree with this, but would suggest finding a different organization to acquire these skills with.Austin TCE staff 2016-2021
-
February 2023 by Dallas B Howell
I mean look, they do some good stuff, if all you care about is recycling batteries (which is important, but change your name Texas Campaign on E-Waste). They rely on a new batch of replaceable college kids every summer to get the job done, which means they don't want to give a living wage to people who could actually do this as a career. The canvassers are pushing to be unionized so they have some protections for their job and don't have to spend 2-3 days a week crying on some curb in some Texas suburb because they might not be able to pay their rent, but the "progressive" higher ups (cough Robin Schneider) don't want their employees to be able to pay their bills. I say this as someone who canvassed for this group for about two years in the Dallas area (the normal turn over is a few days). So, it's not like I'm just making this stuff up. As someone that sees the good that has come from the blood, sweat, and tears of college kids and a few others that just want to do right in the world, I wish those people who worked so hard were not thrown in the garbage like the batteries this company wants to recycle.
-
January 2023 by Google user
I mean look, they do some good stuff, if all you care about is recycling batteries (which is important, but change your name Texas Campaign on E-Waste). They rely on a new batch of replaceable college kids every summer to get the job done, which means they don't want to give a living wage to people who could actually do this as a career. The canvassers are pushing to be unionized so they have some protections for their job and don't have to spend 2-3 days a week crying on some curb in some Texas suburb because they might not be able to pay their rent, but the \\\"progressive\\\" higher ups (cough Robin Schneider) don't want their employees to be able to pay their bills. I say this as someone who canvassed for this group for about two years in the Dallas area (the normal turn over is a few days). So, it's not like I'm just making this stuff up. As someone that sees the good that has come from the blood, sweat, and tears of college kids and a few others that just want to do right in the world, I wish those people who worked so hard were not thrown in the garbage like the batteries this company wants to recycle.
-
December 2021 by chelsea tobin
A group that doesn't shy away from taking on big polluters! I can't imagine a more important place to be working on environmental issues than in the great state of Texas. Kudos to this organization for all their hard work!
-
October 2020 by Joshua W.
TCE is a top-tier organization that believes that face to face interaction is the highest value interaction. They have worked for decades and lead or been part of many successful campaigns. I am an environmental activist and all of my friends think of TCE as a well-organized and worthwhile group of dedicated activists. Here are some examples of their victories:
