Solidarity Works
54 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago -Welcome to Solidarity Works, a podcast from the United Steelworkers (USW) union.
We’re here to have conversations and start conversations about the past, present, and future of the labor movement, as well as talk about the work the union is doing, with USW activists leading the way.
Listen to us here or on your favorite podcast streaming service, like Spotify, Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, and more.
Homepage Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
The Future of Solidarity: Next Gen Activists Take the Lead
March 27, 2024 13:14 - 16 minutes - 11.9 MBThe USW’s Next Gen program saw its humble yet historic beginnings in a resolution at the International union’s Constitutional Convention in 2011. It endorsed the training and development of younger Steelworker activists to take on increasingly greater roles in their local unions, their governments and their communities. Since then, young and newer members of the USW across the United States and Canada have answered the call to become activists, and we're talking with three of them for our ...
Tackling Two-Tier: Workers Unite and Dismantle Divisive Wage Systems
February 28, 2024 14:32 - 18 minutes - 12.2 MBWhen late International President Tom Conway took the helm of the USW in July 2019, he made a promise that his administration would work to reduce or eliminate tiered wage and benefit systems in union contracts. Many USW locals have heeded late President Conway’s call and made great strides in eliminating these tiered systems in recent years. Today we’re talking with USW Vice president Luis Mendoza about how members in the paper sector have done just that, including workers at WestRock, Am...
Saving Maxo Vanka: USW Members Preserve Historic Murals
January 31, 2024 12:00 - 17 minutes - 12.5 MBWhen Croatian painter and immigrant Maxo Vanka first visited Pittsburgh in 1935, he fell in love with the steel town and developed a friendship with Father Albert Zagar of the St. Nicholas Croatian Church in Millvale. Zagar longed for color on his church’s plain walls, but he didn’t want the usual imagery found in most religious houses. He knew Vanka was the perfect artist for the job. Vanka then painted 25 individual murals that cover every inch of the church, and today, artists and ac...
Union-Made Holidays
November 29, 2023 12:00 - 26 minutes - 16.9 MBMembers of the USW across the U.S. and Canada make the highest quality products in their industries, from Bulleit Bourbon distilled in Kentucky and All-Clad cookware handcrafted in Pennsylvania to clothing spun in Portland, Maine, at American Roots and Custom Foam pillows fabricated and molded in Ontario, Canada. Today we’re speaking with several USW members about the products they and their union siblings make and why these products are the ideal gifts for the labor supporter in your life...
We're Made for This: USW Members Serving in Local Politics
October 25, 2023 13:38 - 15 minutes - 11.2 MBCheck out the latest episode of Solidarity Works to hear from two USW members who have stepped up to run for office in their communities. You’ll hear about what inspired them to make these moves and why union members are uniquely equipped to serve in local government to be a voice for workers and families.
America's Nuclear Legacy: Cleaning Up the Past, Powering the Future
October 02, 2023 14:40 - 20 minutes - 18.1 MBMembers of the United Steelworkers union are known for being masters of production. On top of creation, we also help repair damage done in the past to ensure our communities can thrive in the future. We do this by cleaning up toxic nuclear sites to protect local residents and wildlife, and we conduct vital tests for various nuclear sector needs. In the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk with Jim Key, who heads the USW Atomic Workers Council, about what the sector looks like today ...
Organizing the South: Why It Matters and How We Do It
August 30, 2023 16:02 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBThis May, members at electric bus manufacturer Blue Bird in Georgia voted to join the USW. Then, in August, members at Kumho Tire, also in middle Georgia, ratified their first contract after a years-long battle to have their voices heard. Check out the latest USW podcast episode to learn how these historic campaigns happened and why they matter not just for the South but for the entire country.
Taking Charge: Health Care Workers Seize Their Safety
July 26, 2023 11:00 - 24 minutes - 19.2 MBThis week, nearly 200 USW members who work in the vast and diverse health care sector are gathering in Pittsburgh for their first Health Care Workers Council Conference since 2018. A lot has changed in the industry over these past five years, not only due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also because of automation, short staffing, and skyrocketing rates of workplace violence. Health and safety has quickly become one of the top priorities for the sector’s workers, and USW members especially ar...
Unionism on Turtle Island: Indigenous Peoples and the Fight for Reconciliation
June 28, 2023 13:37 - 26 minutes - 21.1 MBFor this episode of Solidarity Works, we’re talking with two USW members who are currently serving as Indigenous Engagement Coordinators for the union’s District 3 and 6 in Canada. Listen to learn about how they’ve been reconnecting to their Indigenous roots and how local unions can make a difference in making sure their Indigenous members not only survive but thrive within their communities and workplaces.
Jobs for Justice: From Prison Chaplains to Public Defenders
May 31, 2023 11:30 - 32 minutes - 17.6 MBWhen Sean Gardener, a Buddhist chaplain in Canada, first walked into the prison where he would be providing spiritual care to people behind bars, he expected to feel nervous or fearful. Instead, he felt at home. Listen to our latest episode of Solidarity Works to hear from Sean, along with a public defender in Pennsylvania, talk about working in the criminal justice field and share their experiences as USW members.
Still Fighting: USW Veterans Mobilize and Make History
April 26, 2023 11:00 - 27 minutes - 15.7 MBAt the start of this year, the USW announced a new initiative with our Rapid Response and Veterans of Steel activist groups to push for legislation that helps our military veterans, especially in the workplace. For the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk with several USW members about their experience serving in the military and why legislation is needed to uplift veterans as they navigate re-entering civilian life. Learn more at usw.org/vetsofsteel
Leveling the Playing Field: How Sports Unions Change the Game
March 29, 2023 11:00 - 26 minutes - 17.4 MBFrom the XFL and USFL to Rugby Canada, professional athletes are organizing with the USW to gain a stronger voice on the job and protect their health and safety. Listen to the latest episode of Solidarity Works to learn about how sports unions change the game and bring teamwork to a whole new level.
Rising Tides: Race, Class, and Building a Fair Economy
February 22, 2023 16:30 - 25 minutes - 17.1 MBIn the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk with USW Vice President of Human Affairs Kevin Mapp and Pride at Work Co-President Brittani Murray about uniting workers across race, class, and gender to build a labor coalition that lasts. Music in this episode is by Ketsa.
The Next Frontier of Labor: Workplace Innovation and Technology
January 25, 2023 14:55 - 31 minutes - 17.9 MBAs workplace innovation and technology evolve more rapidly than ever before, the labor movement is stepping up to ensure workers’ voices are represented in this Fourth Industrial Revolution. In the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk with the director of the AFL-CIO Tech Institute, as well as two USW members in health care and manufacturing, about how employers can center humanity in the future of technology, how to manage tech as it impacts new industries, and how it can be used ...
Labor of Love: The History and Future of LGBTQ+ Organizing
November 30, 2022 14:21 - 22 minutes - 13.1 MBListen to the latest episode of USW’s Solidarity Works podcast to learn about some of history’s forgotten labor heroes, as well as a new Pride at Work partnership that aims to increase union membership among LGBTQ+ workers! Find it at usw.to/podcast or wherever you access your favorite podcasts. To download a host of LGBTQ+ resources from the USW, visit www.usw.org/steelpride.
Why Midterms Matter -- A Deep Dive with Roxanne Brown
October 26, 2022 12:52 - 27 minutes - 14 MBThis month, we’re talking with USW Vice President at Large Roxanne Brown about what’s at stake for workers this November during midterm elections. We’re also joined by Local 1557 member and activist JoJo Burgess about his experience getting out the vote in Pennsylvania. Learn more at www.uswvoices.org.
Raising the Bar on Women's Health and Safety
September 28, 2022 11:00 - 17 minutes - 11 MBFinding equipment that fits properly is a common issue for women in certain industries, as is having access to adequate restrooms and changing facilities. This is one of the many reasons why the USW has released a new action guide in the United States called Raising the Bar on Women’s Health and Safety. Listen to the latest episode of Solidarity Works to hear from several Women of Steel about their experiences advocating for their safety and health on the job, and how your local can use th...
The Battle of Bay City: Bus Drivers Fight Back Privatization
August 31, 2022 14:16 - 13 minutes - 7.66 MBBay City Public School bus drivers in Michigan are back at the wheel this school year, and they’re fired up and ready to go after beating back privatization efforts this past May. Listen to the latest episode of Solidarity Works to hear about their impressive fight and their continued campaign to keep their jobs intact and their students safe.
Bayard Rustin and the Art of Angelic Trouble-making
June 29, 2022 11:00 - 22 minutes - 14.6 MBFor the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk with two activists from the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice about the life and legacy of the late labor and civil rights’ leader, who has often remained in the shadows of history. We also chat about their work with the LGBTQ+ community and how everyone can play a role in building a more inclusive, loving movement for all. Music from this episode is by Ketsa. (https://ketsa.uk)
Brewing Change: Young Workers and the Starbucks Labor Movement
May 25, 2022 11:00 - 23 minutes - 13.5 MBYoung workers are voting to unionize at lightning speed at Starbucks locations across the US and Canada. Listen to our latest episode to hear from one of these new labor activists, Sarah Broad, talk about her journey as a barista and organizing one of the largest corporations in the world. To learn how to organize with the USW, visit usw.org/join.
When Disaster Strikes: Meet the USW Emergency Response Team
April 27, 2022 11:00 - 23 minutes - 13.4 MBAllan McDougall, the first director of the USW Emergency Response Team, learned firsthand the importance of healing and the need for long-lasting support from unions more than thirty years ago while working in a mine in Canada. After witnessing multiple co-workers’ deaths and suffering in silence with alcoholism, Allan took control of his life and health, and brought that experience to the groundbreaking USW program. Listen to the latest episode of Solidarity Works to learn more about how...
Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence
March 23, 2022 11:00 - 25 minutes - 13.9 MBFor the latest episode of Solidarity Works, two USW activists and leaders -- Teresa and Mayson -- share their stories of surviving intimate partner abuse and how unions can help break the cycle of domestic violence. Learn more from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence at ncadv.org.
How to Defend a Dream
February 23, 2022 12:00 - 25 minutes - 14.6 MBIn honor of Black History Month, the latest episode of Solidarity Works highlights three USW activists who are building upon the work and legacies of civil rights and community leaders like Dr. King, Bayard Rustin, and Rosa Parks. Listen at usw.to/podcast or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Beyond Books: Organizing the Carnegie Library Workers
January 26, 2022 12:00 - 16 minutes - 9.81 MBIn August 2019, 300 workers across 19 branches of the historic Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh voted enthusiastically to join the United Steelworkers union, and earlier this month, they officially became members as they ratified their first agreement! For the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk to two library workers about their monumental organizing campaign and about their roles as pillars of the community.
The Fight for Health Care Heroes at Kaiser Permanente
December 15, 2021 12:00 - 24 minutes - 15.8 MBIn the early morning hours of Saturday, November 13, United Steelworkers Local 7600 reached a tentative agreement with health care giant Kaiser Permanente, preventing an impending strike. More than 40,000 health care workers across the West Coast would have, if necessary, walked off the job that following Monday in their fight for safe staffing and wage justice in the Inland Empire. Today, we're sitting down to talk with Local 7600 President Micheal Barnett and Vice President Norberto Gome...
Organizing Academia: A Conversation with Pitt Faculty Union Activists
October 27, 2021 11:00 - 19 minutes - 10.5 MBLast week, more than 3,000 faculty members at the University of Pittsburgh voted to become members of the United Steelworkers union after a robust organizing campaign that began in 2014. Today, we're talking with two faculty members and activists who have been with the campaign from the start about what it took to secure this historic election and what comes next in the fight for a first fair contract. Learn more at www.pittfaculty.org.
We Supply America: The Bus Tour and the Battle Cry of a Nation
August 25, 2021 11:00 - 22 minutes - 14.6 MBThe wheels may have ground to a halt, but the fight never ends! Listen to the latest episode of Solidarity Works to learn about the USW’s We Supply America infrastructure campaign and the six-state bus tour that allowed us to highlight all the amazing work our members do that can help rebuild our country. Visit www.uswvoices.org to learn more.
Everything but the Shade
July 21, 2021 11:00 - 39 minutes - 17.6 MBThis week, hundreds of USW members in the paper and pulp industry are convening for the biennial paper bargaining conference to have their voices heard and to set their local unions’ priorities for the future. With more than 90,000 members and more than 500 contracts, the union’s paper sector is massive and has lived multiple lives throughout the decades as it merged and evolved to overcome a slew of challenges. For the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk to USW Vice President ...
Risk & Reward: An Interview with Labor Author and Organizer Anne Balay
June 16, 2021 11:00 - 37 minutes - 16.1 MBAnne Balay published her first book, Steel Closets, featuring the stories of forty gay, lesbian, and trans steelworkers, in 2014. Four years later, after a personal career setback, she persevered and published her second book, Semi Queer, focusing on the world of gay, trans, and black truck drivers. For the latest episode of Solidarity Works, and in honor of Pride Month, we talk to Balay about the adrenaline of survival, overcoming other people’s prejudices as well as our own, and the ric...
Untapped Power: A Conversation on Asian American and Pacific Islander Workers
May 26, 2021 11:00 - 19 minutes - 10.1 MBTo close out Asian American and Pacific Islander Month, USW Solidarity Works speaks with three activists with the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) who are on the ground fighting for their diverse communities every day. Learn about combatting anti-Asian racism, immigration and documentation hurdles in America, and how to get involved with APALA by visiting usw.to/podcast. To learn more about APALA, visit www.apalanet.org.
Rebuilding for Resilience: Infrastructure and the American Jobs Plan
May 12, 2021 12:53 - 24 minutes - 12.2 MBThe United States is the wealthiest country in the world, yet we rank 13th when it comes to the overall quality of our infrastructure. The American Jobs Plan aims to change that. For the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk with USW President Tom Conway as well as with a local union member at Dow Chemical in Michigan about the importance of investing in infrastructure and in our communities.
May Day: The Movement That Shook the World
April 28, 2021 11:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBInternational Workers’ Day, also known as May Day or Labour Day in most countries, is a celebration of the working class. Its roots are found in the fight for the eight-hour day, which began in Chicago and culminated in the infamous Haymarket Affair on May 4, 1886. For the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we are going back in time to explore this explosive watershed moment for the American labor movement.
American Rescue: What Economic Recovery Means to Workers
April 07, 2021 11:00 - 18 minutes - 25.1 MBPresident Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan into law on Thursday, March 11, a historic piece of legislation that aims to jolt the economy back to life. For the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk to two members of the union as well as USW Legislative Director Roy Houseman about what this bill means for workers, their families, and their communities. (usw.to/podcast)
Women and Work: A Year of Reckoning and Reflection
March 24, 2021 11:00 - 18 minutes - 8.87 MBOne year ago, much of the United States entered various stages of lockdown due to the coronavirus. Since then, a lot has changed for most workers, but today, women remain the most economically impacted by the upheaval. Healthcare concerns, both physical and mental, are on the rise as well for many women and their families, as the pandemic moves into its second year and as vaccines are just now becoming more widely available. For the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk to two Women ...
The Lowell Mill Girls: Celebrating America's First Union of Working Women
March 10, 2021 12:00 - 13 minutes - 9.07 MBIn the early 19th century, long before the mass movements for labor and civil rights would grip the nation, a group of determined women and girls working in the textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts, mobilized to create the first union of working women in American history. Take a trip back in time for the latest episode of Solidarity Works, where you will revisit this legendary moment that proved to the country and the world that ordinary people can do extraordinary things, and that even ...
Fighting for Freedom: The Life and Legacy of A. Philip Randolph
February 24, 2021 12:00 - 33 minutes - 15.1 MBOn August 28, 1963, nearly a quarter of a million people gathered in the nation’s capital for the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Martin Luther King Jr.’s rousing “I Have a Dream” speech is the most cited moment from that monumental event, but another man, the very mastermind behind the march itself, opened the record-breaking day with a beautiful, succinct speech in his resounding baritone voice. His name was A. Philip Randolph, and for the latest episode of Solidarity ...
A Solid Foundation: Inside the President's Cabinet
February 03, 2021 13:00 - 47 minutes - 22.7 MBThere’s a lot that looks familiar in President Joe Biden’s Cabinet, but there is also a newness potent throughout, from installing the nation’s first openly gay Secretary to establishing the brand-new Office for Energy Jobs within the Department of Energy. Listen to the first Solidarity Works podcast episode of 2021 to learn more about the history of the U.S. Cabinet, what roles some of the Secretaries play, and what the USW is hoping to see come out of the new administration’s core group ...
The Lochner Legacy: How SCOTUS Impacts Workers
October 14, 2020 11:30 - 19 minutes - 12.1 MBCheck out the latest episode of Solidarity Works for a conversation with Guillermo Perez about labor law and the Supreme Court, the history and impact of the Lochner Era, and what labor needs to do to fight back against legislative attacks on workers’ rights.
More Than a Game: A Conversation on Labor and Collegiate Sports with NCPA Director Ramogi Huma
September 23, 2020 11:00 - 19 minutes - 10.6 MBTune into the latest USW podcast episode to hear from National College Players Association Founder and Director Ramogi Huma on the intersection of labor and sports activism, the power of collective action, and the challenges facing college athletes during this unprecedented moment of the coronavirus pandemic. www.ncpanow.org
First Class: How the USPS Made America
September 09, 2020 11:00 - 14 minutes - 9.77 MBFrom providing hundreds of thousands of family-supporting union jobs, to connecting people to lifelines including medication and paychecks, the United States Postal Service continues serving the American public 245 years after its founding. Learn about the agency’s history, its current challenges, and how to help keep it funded and strong for the future in the latest Solidarity Works podcast episode.
Let It Shine: Women, Work, and Wielding Power in 2020
August 26, 2020 11:00 - 29 minutes - 15.2 MBFor the latest episode of Solidarity Works, hear from Coalition of Labor Union Women President Elise Bryant, USW Women of Steel Director Ann Flener-Gittlen, and Local 9460 President Deanna Hughes about what it means to step up as a woman in leadership, how to overcome the fears that can hold women back, and what women need to do in this crucial election year to move forward together.
Defending Democracy: Protecting and Honoring the Vote in 2020
August 12, 2020 11:00 - 36 minutes - 18.1 MBIn January 1965, after two full years of fighting for Black Americans’ right to vote throughout the South, the Dallas County Voters League and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee had felt they had hit a wall with white indifference and inaction. And so, they called upon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to join their campaign in Selma, Alabama. Today, in 2020, the fight for the vote continues. Listen to the latest Solidarity Works episode to hear from USW Vice President Roxanne Brown, a...
A More Perfect Union: A Conversation with Union Veterans Council Executive Director Will Attig
July 08, 2020 11:00 - 28 minutes - 13.6 MBListen to the latest USW Solidarity Works podcast episode to hear from Union Veterans Council Executive Director Will Attig on the top issues veterans are currently facing, how labor and veterans can work together to create change, and why more and more service members are stepping out into the streets. You’ll also hear from USW International President Tom Conway about the union’s Veterans of Steel program.
Back to Our Roots: A Conversation with Pride@Work Executive Director Jerame Davis
June 24, 2020 11:00 - 32 minutes - 15.9 MBListen to the latest USW podcast episode to hear from Pride at Work Executive Director Jerame Davis on the recent SCOTUS victory for LGBTQ+ workers, how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the community, and how the current swell of protests around racial injustice has helped remind a movement of its roots.
Poor People's Campaign: Tackling the Interlocking Injustices of America
June 10, 2020 11:00 - 38 minutes - 17.9 MBOn June 20, 2020, the Poor People’s Campaign, led by friend of the USW Rev. Dr. William Barber, will host the largest digital and social media gathering with the Mass Poor People’s Assembly & Moral March on Washington. A reboot of MLK’s monumental event in 1968, this campaign calls for all hands on deck to address systemic racism, poverty, and all other interlocking injustices of America. Listen to the latest USW podcast episode to hear Barber speak on seizing this moment in history to make ...
Better Together: Fear and Mental Health in the Age of COVID-19
May 27, 2020 11:00 - 19 minutes - 21.4 MBFear, grief, anger -- workers everywhere are experiencing a storm of emotions amidst the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic. It’s up to every one of us to ensure mental health is a priority, and to remember that there are real humans with real trauma behind the headlines. As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, the latest USW Solidarity Works podcast episode focuses on creating a dialogue around these issues. Listen to it on your favorite streaming service or at usw.to/podcast.
Stories of Survival: Reporting and Resilience in Puerto Rico
May 13, 2020 11:00 - 23 minutes - 11.7 MBWorkers in Puerto Rico, including USW members in health care, public services, and technology, have endured wave after wave of destruction and chaos in recent years. It’s the job of Local 6135 members at GFR Media to document it all as it unfolds. Listen to the latest USW podcast episode to hear about reporting and resilience on the Caribbean island. And make sure to follow the USW on social media, @steelworkers, and check out the work of our reporters and photographers for GFR Media at el...
Mobilizing America: Manufacturing During a Crisis
April 22, 2020 11:00 - 19 minutes - 10.7 MBThe coronavirus outbreak has squeezed the U.S. manufacturing sector as many companies have been forced to shut down, but others have ramped up production both to help provide front-line workers with the equipment they need as well as provide everyday essentials and services to keep America running. Check out the latest USW podcast episode, featuring International President Tom Conway, to learn about the mobilization happening amidst COVID, how and when it’s been done before, and what’s neede...
On the Frontlines: Health Care Workers and the Battle Against Covid-19
April 08, 2020 11:00 - 17 minutes - 10.9 MBThe coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has forced millions of American health care workers, including 51,000 USW members, onto the frontlines of the war against the surging outbreak. Tune in to the latest Solidarity Works podcast episode to hear about some of the conditions they are facing, what protections they need to do their jobs safely and what the union is pushing for in Washington, D.C., to make that happen. Shout-out to Blue Dot Sessions for the music used in this episode.
Frances Perkins and the Fight for Worker Safety
March 25, 2020 11:00 - 39 minutes - 42.2 MBWhen the darkness of the Great Depression swept across the globe starting in the 1930s, one woman in America lit the flame that would finally help bring light to millions of U.S. workers and their families. As we close out Women’s History Month, the USW podcast Solidarity Works spotlights Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve as a president’s cabinet secretary, as a reminder of what can be accomplished by ordinary people during extraordinary times. Make sure to check out the United Ste...