Work Stoppage

Ep 84 - Work Stoppage 2021 Year in Review

For the last episode of Work Stoppage of 2021, we decided to take a look back at the stories and trends that we covered in the labor movement this year. We discuss the first major efforts at unionizing Amazon [7:00-24:11], the ways in which OSHA let workers down [24:12-35:19], and the many companies that put forward a "progressive" image only to use the same union busting tactics of every other company [35:20-51:35]. We also talk about the unfortunately large number of stories we covered this year on modern slavery [51:36-1:02:49], the year long struggle and triumph of the Indian Farmers Movement [1:02:50-1:15:51], and finally the fall upsurge in the labor movement here in the US during "Striketober" [1:15:52-1:25:30]. We try and draw what lessons we can take from these major trends labor took in 2021, and look ahead to what might be in store for 2022.

As always, thank you to all our listeners, we love doing the show and look forward to another year covering the labor movement!

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Overtime Episode 8 PREVIEW - The Repressive State Apparatus - A Brief History - Pt 1

If you’re not a patron you can get the full episode by visiting patreon.com/workstoppage and support us with $5 a month.

Join us down the rabbit hole on this first part of a series of patrons-only Overtime episodes where we discuss an overview of the history of the US repressive state apparatus, and how it has been used to crush working class movements.  In this episode we discuss the history of violent state suppression of strikes, and how the federal government worked hand in hand with private armed forces like the Pinkertons to infiltrate and crush early labor unions.  We talk about how repression of the movement changed with the legalization of collective bargaining and the ejection of communists from the major unions during the Red Scare.  We also get into some of the early covert programs developed to fight left-wing movements and Black liberation groups, COINTELPRO and Operation Mockingbird.  Future episodes will go over programs like Operation Gladio, Operation Condor, the CIA’s involvement in the drug trade, Operation Cyclone, and more in the long sordid history of US covert warfare.  All with the ultimate goal of understanding the repressive tactics used by the US against working class movements around the world, so we can understand how that affects our movement today.

(Note: I realized in the preview I said the Church Committee was 1965, it was actually 1975)

Ep 83 - Understaffing Kills

We start this week’s episode with a check in with Doughnut Workers United, who finally officially won their unfair labor practice charges against Voodoo Doughnuts for illegally firing workers protesting unsafe working conditions during this summer’s heat wave.  Next, we go over the end of the Kellogg’s strike, covering the new contract’s wins but also the notable fact that it doesn’t eliminate the two tiered employment system.  Also this week, the longest nursing strike in 15 years may be about to end, as workers at St. Vincent’s hospital have reached a tentative agreement to end their 9 month long strike.  We also discuss a whistleblower at Apple who was fired for inquiring into potentially unsafe working conditions, and exposed the company’s culture of extreme (and probably illegal) levels of secrecy.  Pharmacists are yet another profession facing proletarianization, as the industry has been consolidated among a few huge firms, leading to low wages and massive overwork due to understaffing, so some are fighting back and launching a walkout.  Finally, one of the least talked about areas of healthcare is long term home care, where workers face brutal conditions, leading to workers in NYC protesting loopholes in labor law allowing them to be forced  to work 24 hour shifts.

Donate to the Pharmacists’ strike fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rux92-national-pharmacist-and-technician-union

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Ep 82 - Why We Fight

It’s a heavy start to this week’s episode, as we begin with the horrific aftermath of the multi-state tornado system that killed over 80 people, including at least 14 workers forced to stay at their jobs by their management.  These workers were murdered by their employers in the pursuit of profit, for which the companies are unlikely to ever be brought to justice.  We follow up that difficult segment with an update on the Kellogg’s strike, where workers overwhelmingly rejected a tentative agreement that would have maintained the two-tier contract system, standing strong to protect the rights of future workers.  Moving on to the first unambiguously happy story of the episode, Starbucks workers in Buffalo won their union elections at two of the three Buffalo stores that held votes last week, and have inspired union drives in at least 6 more stores.  Also this week, workers at Activision Blizzard King went on strike to protest the firing of testers at Raven Software and also announced their drive to form the first unionized workforce at a major game studio.  We also discuss the IATSE strike on the set of the film “Nefarious”, where the right wing production company used Oklahoma’s right to work law and free child labor from a local technical school to try and evade union protections.  Finally, we close on a high note, as the biggest new bargaining unit of the year was recognized as 17,000 student researchers finally had their branch of the UAW recognized by the University of California system.

Donate to the family of Larry Virden, killed by Amazon in the tornado: https://www.gofundme.com/f/2nd7wq-dads-funeral

Support the striking Kellogg’s workers:  https://labor411.org/411-blog/five-ways-to-support-the-kellogg-strike/

Donate to the striking ABK workers: https://www.gofundme.com/f/abk-strike-fund

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Ep 81 - Student Workers of Columbia Interview

On a very special interview episode of Work Stoppage, we were lucky enough to be joined by Charlie, a PhD student and organizer with Student Workers of Columbia, who are currently engaged in the largest strike in the country.  We discuss the history of student worker organizing at Columbia and the process students have been going through to try and get their first contract with the university.  We go over the conditions which led to the strike, from poverty wages in one of the most expensive cities in the world, to insufficient access to healthcare, dental care, childcare, and other issues.  Charlie explains some of the difficulties faced by the students, especially in the earlier strike this spring, of organizing during covid, but also how students and faculty have rallied around the striking student workers during the current strike.  Columbia has consistently refused to bargain in good faith with the workers, even going so far as to send an email to all students with veiled threats to fire workers who stay on strike.  We talk about how the community has responded to the strike, the student workers’ relationship with the broader labor movement including the UAW, and how our listeners can support the workers.

 

Support the workers by donating to their hardship fund : https://opencollective.com/student-workers-of-columbia/projects/withheld-stipends

 

Donate to feed the strikers: https://www.gofundme.com/f/feed-and-support-striking-student-workers

 

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Follow the Student Workers of Columbia on Twitter @SW_Columbia, follow the pod @WorkStoppagePod, John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee.

Ep 80 - One Worker, One Vote

John's back, Lina's away, and businesses keep oppressing their workers. We start this week's episode with an Amazon roundup, as the NLRB officially orders a new election in Bessemer, the NY AG demands Christian Smalls be reinstated, and independent researchers find Amazon concealed 20,000 workplace related COVID cases. Next we have a rare discussion of labor relations in the sports world, as the owners in Major League Baseball have locked out the players is a dispute over player salaries. The big labor news of the week was the membership of the UAW voting to switch election of their leadership from an undemocratic delegate system to a one member, one vote system, potentially setting the stage for a new rank and file upsurge at next years convention. Workers at a Rich Products' ice cream cake plant in Los Angeles have been on strike for a month, as their multibillion dollar parent company refuses to give the workers a measly $1/hr raise and more than 3 sick days a year. Finally, we discuss the recent story of hackers accessing receipt printers and making them print out an "Antiwork Manifesto".

 

Jon Donaire Workers Strike Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/official-jon-donaire-strikers-gofundme-page

 

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Ep 79 - And More US Slavery

We weren’t able to line up everyone’s schedules this week so it’s just Lina and Dan on this week’s episode of Work Stoppage. We start with the Kellogg’s strike, where a new tentative agreement has been reached to potentially end the two month long strike. Next we discuss the international effort to reign in Amazon’s labor abuses with strikes around the world on Black Friday organized by the Make Amazon Pay coalition. Then we talk about yet another horrific example of modern slavery, this time with the breaking of a ring of trafficking and abuse of migrant workers in Georgia here in the US. We also cover the recent spate of sickouts, unionizations, strikes, and protests amongst school bus drivers all across the country, as they face paltry wages, chaotic schedules, and few safety protections. Finally, the art world has seen a surge in workplace organizing since the beginning of the pandemic, with visitor staff, creative workers, security guards, and many others uniting to fight back against the massive disparity in pay between the workers that keep museums running and the rich boards that direct them.

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EP 78 - Mass Struggle Gets The Goods

The holidays are right around the corner but the class struggle never stops.  We start this weeks episode checking in with the Amazon Labor Union in New York, where issues with turnover and vicious union busting have forced the union to temporarily withdraw their NLRB election petition.  14,000 Kroger workers in Houston have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, which could start as soon as this week.  We finally got the results of the Teamsters election this week and it’s a landslide victory for Teamsters United and the TDU, with big implications for the struggle against UPS and Amazon in the coming years.  OSHA continues to serve its function running cover for corporations this week after they issued an insultingly small fine to Smithfield for inadequate safety measures during the pandemic.  Our big story this week, in one of the most inspiring victories of the year the Indian Farmers’ Movement has succeeded in forcing Modi and the BJP to announce the repeal of the three neoliberal farm laws that they’ve been fighting against for well over a year.  Finally, UPMC workers in Pittsburgh staged a one day strike last week demanding living wages, safe staffing, and health care that doesn’t leave them with mountains of medical debt.

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Ep 77 - HelloUnion

There are new contracts all over the place on this week’s episode of Work Stoppage.  We start with Kaiser Permanente, where a tentative agreement has been reached to prevent the planned implementation of a two tiered contract.  Then we discuss the end of the month long John Deere strike, after workers ratified a new deal which contains hard fought gains but maintains their two tiered system.  Also this week, IATSE has ratified a new contract against the wishes of a majority of union members due to the use of an undemocratic delegate system.  HelloFresh workers have faced sub-poverty wages, racist abuse from management, dangerous working conditions, and now a vicious union busting campaign as they fight for their right to collectively bargain.  Finally, Burgerville workers have fought hard for three years, making admirable gains for workers across the company, and now finally have a historic tentative contract agreement to become the first recognized fast food union in the country.

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Ep 76 - S Is For Strike

We start this week’s episode of Work Stoppage catching up with some of the bigger strikes in the country.  First, Starbucks has pulled out all the stops in its union busting efforts, even bringing in former CEO and failed presidential candidate Howard Schultz to try and convince workers to vote against their union as ballots go out this week. Then we check in on the Kellogg’s strike, where the company has refused to budge on its two-tiered contract system and workers have dug in for the long haul.  Mercy Hospital workers have ended their 5 week long strike after ratifying a new contract that met all their key demands. 3000 student workers at Columbia University have gone on strike again over poverty wages, insufficient healthcare, and unfair grievance procedures. In Germany, 2500 Amazon workers with the Verdi union federation have struck over the company’s refusal to accept the industry standard collective bargaining agreement, while at the same time Amazon has been found to have illegally stolen $60M in tips from Flex drivers.  Finally, 800 teachers in Scranton, PA have struck after four years without a contract after suffering years of austerity budgets and rising class sizes.

Support the striking Kellogg’s workers who have had their healthcare cut off:  https://bctgm.org/2021/10/08/5-ways-to-support-the-kelloggstrike/

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Ep 75 - Masterfully Malicious

A lot has happened on the John Deere picket lines since we last talked about the strike, so we start there this week.  One UAW worker was tragically killed after being struck by a vehicle walking to their car from the picket line, and the union has turned down Deere’s most recent contract offer after it failed to remove the current two-tiered system.  We also follow up with the organized Netflix workers, who have filed unfair labor practice charges against the company, and Amazon workers in Staten Island have officially filed with the NLRB for a union election.  Also in New York, taxi drivers have been protesting for months, including a recent two week hunger strike and have finally won relief from predatory medallion debts often running well over half a million dollars for many drivers.  UFCW workers recently ended a six week strike at Heaven Hill bourbon distillery but their new contract was actually approved with only a minority of yes votes.  Finally, we’ve got a great example of malicious compliance as UPS drivers in Columbus show up en masse to screw with the company’s exploitative weekend scheduling practices.

Relief fund for the family of the recently killed UAW striker: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ebzuse

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Overtime Episode 7 - Lenin on the Trade Union Question PREVIEW

If you’re not a patron you can get the full episode by visiting patreon.com/workstoppage and support us with $5 a month.

As a Labor News show, we talk about unions constantly and how vital they are to building any sort of socialist project. But the labor movement has been around a long time without prompting a revolution, so what should our organizing tactics be if our ultimate goal isn't just slightly better wages and working conditions, but a revolutionary transformation of society? On this patrons-only episode, Dan dives into Lenin's work to dig into the Marxist perspective on union organizing and its relationship to socialist politics. Contrasting the Bolsheviks' orientation on the trade union movement to revolutionary syndicalism and social democratic reformism, Lenin aimed for a dialectical approach to the process of raising working class consciousness both within and without the trade union movement. While acknowledging the different material conditions 100 years later, there's still a lot we can learn as organizers about the difficult balance of agitating within often reformist institutions in order to meet the masses where they are. This review of Lenin's theoretical work on the subject centers on the lessons learned from the long struggle for a unified workers movement and how we can apply them today.

Ep 74 - Mai Più Fascismi

John is on the mend so the gang’s back together for this week’s episode of Work Stoppage, which starts with a follow up on the United Paizo Workers, whose union was voluntarily recognized by the company! Then we discuss the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins and how everything that led to it demonstrates why the IATSE workers voted so overwhelmingly to strike. Also this week, workers in Italy have rallied to defend the country’s major trade unions after attacks from neo-fascists. Hundreds of thousands of South Koreans staged a one day general strike this week to protest the country’s massive inequality and exploitation of workers. Finally, 36,000 Kaiser Permanente workers have voted to authorize what could be the largest US strike of the year so far.

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Ep 73 - Deere Season

John’s under the weather this week, and Lina and Dan start off with a follow up on the IATSE strike, where a tentative agreement was reached by the bargaining committee over the weekend but may not be ratified when the membership gets to vote. We also check in with Starbucks Workers United as the company has closed two of the stores that had been attempting to unionize, while insisting that it has nothing to do with the union drive. Also this week, Netflix employees plan a walkout after an organizer with the company’s Trans Employee Resource Group was fired in the wake of worker complaints about the handling of the recent Dave Chappelle special. Over 160,000 workers in South Africa’s biggest union are on strike for fairer wages, and threaten to completely shut down the country’s lucrative auto parts industry. The biggest US strike of the year so far is underway as 10,000 UAW workers at John Deere are on the picket lines in three states, and the company is struggling to find enough scabs to keep plants open. Finally, we discuss the announcement of the first union in the tabletop gaming industry, Paizo Workers United.

John Deere Strike Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-john-deere-strike

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Ep 72 - Striketober

Major strikes are popping up all over and Striketober is in full swing. This week we start with our friends at Doughnut Workers United, where the NLRB recently ruled in their favor that Voodoo Doughnuts illegally fired several of their workers for striking and must rehire them and pay back pay.  Then we discuss the recent car attack on protesting farmers in Lakhimpur, Uttar Pradesh, where four farmers were killed.  One of the biggest strikes in recent memory looms across the US as IATSE voted overwhelmingly to strike after decades of understaffing and an enforced culture of overwork.  Kellogg’s workers are also on strike nationwide facing many of the same issues as Nabisco workers, with the company pushing a two tiered employment system and threatening to cut jobs.  Finally this week, 2000 nurses and hospital workers are on strike in Buffalo, and a factory in Argentina celebrates 20 years of worker control and self-management.

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Ep 71 - AI: Algorithmic Imperialism

Our first story this week is following up with Automobile Mechanics Local 701 in Chicago, where hundreds of mechanics have narrowly agreed to end their 8 week long strike and accept a new contract. Then we discuss a package of reforms passed in New York City to address some of the most egregious aspects of gig work for delivery drivers. We also cover harsh working conditions and intimidation at the El Milagro tortilla company in Chicago, where workers faced a lockout after demanding better treatment. While some listeners may be aware of the often exaggerated claims made by companies about their use of “AI” in the products, this week we cover how often times the work is actually being done by refugees for extremely low wages. This week also saw a huge action by the Indian Farmers’ movement, which shut down transit and commerce across the country in a 10 hour general strike. Finally, in an example of the power of the threat of the strike even on a smaller scale, concessions workers at Oracle Park in San Francisco have been able to force their employer to grant them the fair wages and benefits they deserve.

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Ep 70 - Google Wage Theft

We’re back to the news on this week’s episode and we start with some follow ups. First we discuss the victory of the Nabisco workers in their 5 week strike and break down the specific wins in their new contract. Then we check in with the workers at Activision Blizzard King who have filed an unfair labor practice charge alleging the company is intimidating workers organizing in the wake of the recent lawsuit and revelations about ABK’s toxic culture. We discuss Verso Books UK dragging out their negotiations with their workers’ union, and also cover a push by developers and contractors to eliminate a needed safety regulation in the NYC construction industry. Also this week, revelations from leaked emails show Google has been underpaying thousands of temporary workers around the world in violation of Pay Parity laws. Finally, the Teamsters have started the process of making good on their pledge to organize Amazon, launching union drives at 9 warehouses in Canada.

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Ep 69 - Hudson Workers United Interview

On this week’s episode of Work Stoppage we were lucky enough to be joined by a couple guests from Hudson Workers United (@HWUnited) to tell us about their drive to organize workers in the legal industry. They tell us about the difficult conditions they’ve face during the pandemic, the strategies that have worked for them in their struggle to build collective power, and the backlash they’ve faced as a result.

Disclaimer: By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that Work Stoppage makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, Work Stoppage does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Work Stoppage assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. WORK STOPPAGE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.

Overtime Episode 6 PREVIEW - Saul Alinsky & The Fall of Effective Organizing

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In this Overtime Episode Lina goes over some of the legacy of Saul Alinsky, who is often credited with creating the organizing model that is still used by many people and unions today. All quotes from this episode are from the book No Shortcuts: Organizing for Power in the New Gilded Age by Jane McAlevey. We encourage anyone who wants to get a better understanding of how to do labor organizing to read this book. Look out for the sequel to this episode were we will go over the effective alternative to this organizing model.

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Ep 68 - Sweatshop Shutdown

Every week’s a busy week in the world of Labor, and this one’s no different.  First we follow up with Starbucks Workers’ United (@SBWorkersUnited) and their quest for recognition of their union, as Starbucks management has pulled out all the stops to fight them.  Then we cover several Amazon related stories, from California passing a bill to regulate algorithmic work quotas, to the company’s fake offer of “Free College”, to investigations of discrimination against pregnant workers.  Then we check in on a big recent conference of farmers organizations in India to coordinate the movement against the neoliberal farm laws.  Finally, we discuss a California bill aimed at stopping some of the most egregious labor exploitation in the US, garment workers forced to work in sweatshop conditions in Los Angeles.

More Perfect Union’s Video on the sweatshop conditions:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEid6y3wP0M

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