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Celebrating Labor Day: Labor Podcast and Radio Roundup
In addition to the AFL-CIO's own "State of the Unions," there are a lot of other podcasts out there that have their own approach to discussing labor issues and the rights of working people. Here are the latest podcasts from across the labor movement in the United States.
Follow the links below to find podcasts. They also can be found wherever you listen to podcasts:
Building Bridges: Your Community and Labor Report: "Reminiscent of Apartheid South Africa, Trump and Netanyahu form unholy alliance to silence Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib’s support of the nonviolent Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Movement in support of Palestinian people, with Ali Albunimah, co-founder of The Electronic Intifada and author of the Battle for Justice in Palestine."
Heartland Labor Forum: "We’re going to cover some labor news—most of it local that you hear little about anywhere else. Then we preview Kansas’ first Troublemakers School training worker activists in how to be effective hell raisers. You may even find out which Kansas City icon corporation just fired all its union...
Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Operating Engineers
Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is the Operating Engineers.
Name of Union: International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
Mission: To serve the needs and develop the skills of a constantly expanding and varied group of construction and maintenance professionals through collective bargaining, legislative action and extensive skills training programs.
Current Leadership of Union: James T. Callahan serves as the general president of IUOE. He was first elected in 2011. Previously, he served as international vice president and business manager of IUOE Local 15 in New York. Callahan was one of many operating engineers who responded immediately on 9/11, and he worked the entire recovery effort at Ground Zero.
Brian E. Hickey serves as general secretary-treasurer. IUOE also has 14 vice presidents: Russell E. Burns, James M. Sweeney, Robert T. Heenan, Daniel J. McGraw, Daren Konopaski, Michael Gallagher, Greg Lalevee, Terrance E. McGowan, Randall G. Griffin, Douglas W. Stockwell, Ronald J. Sikorski, James T. Kunz Jr., Edward J....
Pathway to Progress: The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
Wikimedia Commons
History has long been portrayed as a series of "great men" taking great action to shape the world we live in. In recent decades, however, social historians have focused more on looking at history "from the bottom up," studying the vital role that working people played in our heritage. Working people built, and continue to build, the United States. In our new series, Pathway to Progress, we'll take a look at various people, places and events where working people played a key role in the progress our country has made, including those who are making history right now. Today's topic is the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
We recently marked the 56th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The full title makes it clear that the historical touchstone was about civil rights and worker rights. And the labor movement was key to the success of the march.
By any account, the march on Aug. 28, 1963, was a success. More than 250,000 people participated in what was then the largest demonstration for human rights in U...
Economy Gains 130,000 Jobs in August; Unemployment Steady at 3.7%
The U.S. economy gained 130,000 jobs in August, and the unemployment rate remained at 3.7%, according to figures released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In response to the August job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs said: "The weak numbers show the Fed did the right thing to do a course correction and lower rates this summer. But they now need to consider more cuts to keep the slow down from escalating." He also tweeted:
Difficulties for workers shows when unemployed women find it hard to find jobs and so end up more likely to quit looking than to get a job. The number unemployed more than 27 weeks increased (unemployed means looking for work, NOT drawing UI benefits) increased 77,000 @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/UZHV4q8NBD
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) September 6, 2019
And, the number who found part time work, but wanted full-time work went up 397,000. The broadest measure of labor utilization problems--U-6, which includes those working part-time but want full-time and those who are discouraged, rose from 7.0...
Responding to Dorian: What Working People Are Doing This Week
AFL-CIO
Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week.
Actors' Equity Association:
We asked Equity Members around the country to let us know what it means to be #EquityStrong as we approach #LaborDay. Let us know what #EquityStrong means to you! pic.twitter.com/sBWVVlq7T7— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) August 30, 2019
AFGE:
Why we're suing the Federal Service Impasses Panel→ #1u https://t.co/4oKoYRMSEW pic.twitter.com/P18TAVyH2U— AFGE (@AFGENational) September 5, 2019
AFSCME:
After 450 EMS workers in Riverside won a groundbreaking four-year contract, nearly 80 EMS workers in nearby Imperial County also took action, voting overwhelmingly to join together through AFSCME Local 4911. https://t.co/nAuHnDup8I— AFSCME (@AFSCME) September 4, 2019
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‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: Humble Courage and 90210
AFL-CIO
On the latest episode of “State of the Unions,” podcast co-hosts Julie Greene and Tim Schlittner talk to SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris about the future of work, sexual harassment and her journey from young actor to labor leader.
Listen to our previous episodes:
North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Chief of Staff Mike Monroe exploring the Department of Labor proposal that would undermine world-class apprenticeships in the construction industry.
A discussion with Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Montserrat Garibay (Education Austin/AFT-NEA) in the wake of the deadly mass shooting in El Paso, Texas.
UNITE HERE President D. Taylor talking about the activism of airline catering workers and the current moment for union organizing.
Highlights of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka's (UMWA) town halls in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Detroit, where he discussed NAFTA and trade.
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler (IBEW) talks about pushing the labor movement to be bold, take risks and not be afraid of failure....
Say No to IRAPs: In the States Roundup
AFL-CIO
It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on Twitter.
Alaska AFL-CIO:
You still have a few days to take action and say NO to #IRAPs to protect high-quality apprenticeships. Learn more by listening to the episode linked below. #1u https://t.co/ys9onsDnZ5
— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) August 23, 2019
California Labor Federation:
Uber, Lyft, Chase, Walmart...all of these massive corporations cheat workers & consumers by hiding clauses in the fine print that allow them to escape accountability when they defraud us. CA can lead to put a stop to this. #YesonAB51 #EndForcedArbitration @LorenaSGonzalez https://t.co/WHHwdRCASJ
— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) August 26, 2019
Connecticut AFL-CIO:
Yesterday, we lost a long time union brother, Dan Nacin, a letter carrier, who...
Stand Up and Be Recognized: Worker Wins
Our latest roundup of worker wins begins with actors and actresses winning new contracts and includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
SAG-AFTRA Signs New Agreement with Ad Agency BBH After 10-Month Strike: After a strike that lasted 10 months, SAG-AFTRA has negotiated a new contract with advertising agency BBH. The deal means BBH will provide union wages, pension and health contributions to all actors. David White, national executive director for SAG-AFTRA, said: "We are pleased to welcome BBH back to the SAG-AFTRA family. The tremendous solidarity of our entire membership is to thank for in helping bring BBH back to the table. Our members look forward to once again collaborating with BBH and providing their professional talent to create innovative, memorable and award-winning commercials."
Netflix and SAG-AFTRA Reach Deal with Significant Improvements for Actors: Netflix and SAG-AFTRA have reached a new three-year contract that includes several major improvements for actors that appear in the streaming service's movies and shows. The...
Unambiguously Pro-Worker: The Working People Weekly List
AFL-CIO
Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.
Presidential Candidates Warned: They Must be 'Unambiguously Pro-Worker' to Earn Union Leader's Endorsement: "The national leader that represents nearly 12.5 million union workers says the two dozen candidates running for president must be 'unambiguously pro-worker and pro-union' to earn the organization's endorsement. 'The path to the nomination and the White House runs through the labor movement,' Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, a federation of 55 national and international unions, said Wednesday via video-conference to the Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO's annual convention. Trumka said the organization is looking for someone who lives and breathes unions, puts workers first every time—not just in front of a union audience—and has 'more than platitudes' on growing the labor movement."
Save Our Apprenticeships: What Working People Are Doing This Week: "Welcome...
Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Elevator Constructors
AFL-CIO
Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is the Elevator Constructors.
Name of Union: International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC)
Mission: To promote and protect the interests of elevator constructors, with a focus on dignity, skills and the well-being of members.
Current Leadership of Union: Frank J. Christensen serves as general president, with James K. Bender II serving as assistant general president and Larry J. McGann as general secretary-treasurer.
Current Number of Members: 29,000.
Members Work As: Elevator constructors.
Industries Represented: Construction sites across industries throughout the United States and Canada.
History: On July 15, 1901, 11 men met at the Griswold Hotel in Pittsburgh. They were all elevator constructors in the early days of that field of work and they came from several cities. They drafted bylaws and a constitution, elected officers and formed the National Union of Elevator Constructors, which would later become the IUEC.
They applied for...
