Behind the Counter: Unmasking the Truth of Unionizing in the Fast Food Industry with Mira Lazine

In this Strange Matters/Varn Vlog collaboration, we discuss Mira Lazine's account of organizing the McUnion in Strange Matters Issue 2. What if we told you that the friendly face behind your fast food order is grappling with challenges you'd never even imagined? We're inviting you into a raw, deep, and humanizing conversation with Mira Lazine, who has been on the front lines of unionizing in the fast food industry. They shed light on the high turnover rates, the harsh quest for better employment conditions, and the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on an already precarious unionization effort. They also debunk the misconceptions regarding who constitutes the fast food workforce, revealing a broad spectrum of individuals from all walks of life.

Our adventure begins with the inspirational and challenging journey of Luzin, who was radicalized by the Bernie Sanders campaign in 2016 and has held on to his anarchist beliefs despite skepticism from coworkers. Luzin helps us understand the two major union models, the IWW model of solidarity unionization and the bureaucratic union model. Taking us step-by-step through the process, they shed light on the complexities of reaching out to workers on different shifts, building trust, and leveraging power mapping in unionizing. 

But let's not forget the digital age we live in. We dive into the power of technology and its impact on our behavior, especially the dangers of over-reliance on social media and the dopamine feedback loop it creates. Mira and Luzin share stories of surprising allies and betrayals that surface during the process of unionizing, highlighting trust as an ongoing theme. This episode isn't just about the complexities of organizing within the fast food industry; it's about human resilience and strength, and a testament to the people behind your fast food order. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that you won't want to miss.

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Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube