The Leslie Marshall Show

Protecting Workers from Deadly Heat

Leslie is joined by Steve Sallman, Director of the United Steelworkers Health, Safety and Environment Department, where he's worked for over 19 years.

The two discuss the urgent and timely topic of protecting workers from deadly heat.

As the planet gets hotter, and wide swaths of the United States are seeing record temperatures, heat is becoming an ever more urgent workplace health and safety issue – in both in-door and out-door occupations.

It’s no surprise that unions work to provide solutions.

The USW works to negotiate common sense solutions into their contracts like rest breaks, ample supplies of water, electrolytes, and proper ventilation.

UPS drivers made this a centerpiece of their recent contract negotiations too, signaling that this was so significant that they were willing to strike as necessary.
They ultimately got what they needed, including fans and air conditioning in their trucks.

However, all workers need protections, starting with a national standard on heat exposure like workers have for other hazards like falls and asbestos exposure.
Without proper controls and protections, working in the heat can cause illness and even death.
According to the BLS, there have been 436 work related deaths caused by heat exposure since 2011, and an average of 2,700 cases per year of heat-related illness.
The real number could be much higher, given that many workers who are exposed to extreme heat are undocumented and reluctant to come forward.
Even when it’s not immediately obvious, heat is harming a worker’s body, which can cause them to suffer long-term consequences, like renal damage.

The Biden administration is taking this threat seriously, enabling workers to make some headway.
Just last month, President Biden ordered the DOL to issue the first ever hazard alert for heat.
In the same announcement, the department also announced that OSHA would intensify enforcement of existing safety provisions when it comes to heat.
Biden also announced funding to improve weather forecasting, as well as additional money for clean drinking water in Western states impacted by drought.

A handful of states – California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Minnesota – also issued their own heat exposure standards. Only Minnesota and Oregon have protections for indoor workers as well.

But corporations and the Republicans who serve them are unfortunately pushing back hard, lobbying against protections and, in some cases, even overturning them.

Business groups in Oregon are suing the state over heat related workplace protections.
Even worse, Republicans in Texas earlier this summer even took the extreme step of passing a law that eliminates local ordinances requiring water breaks for construction workers.
After Austin in 2010, and Dallas in 2015, required water breaks, reported heat illness numbers in Texas dropped from 770 to 170.
Now workers are bracing for what comes next.

This isn’t just a matter of lost productivity, though heat can impact that as well. It’s truly life and death.
In June, a postal worker in Texas collapsed and died in triple digit heat.
This summer, a Houston-area construction worker also collapsed and died of hyperthermia.
Countless more will soon be at risk once the new Texas law goes into effect.

The USW continues to fight for workers, as demonstrated by the union’s comments to OSHA in the federal register.
Until then, the USW continues to push for an OSHA standard and works to protect workers through their contracts and other health and safety work.

The website for the United Steelworkers is www.USW.org.
Their handle on Twitter and Instagram is @steelworkers.

U.S. Attitude Toward ’Made In America;’ ’Bidenomics;’ Trade Relations with China

Leslie is joined by Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a partnership established by some of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union.

The two discuss how Americans feel about 'Made In America' products, whether 'Bidenomics' is working, and why it’s time to end 'permanent normal trade relations' with China.

The AAM website is AmericanManufacturing.org and their Twitter handle is @KeepItMadeInUSA.
Scott's handle is @ScottPaulAAM.

Federal Trump Indictment Unsealed; First Female AFL-CIO President Details Opening Year Leading the Union

Leslie begins today's show with her 'Ripped from the Headlines' news segment, where she details the now unsealed 38-count federal indictment against former President Trump in the classified documents case.

During the remainder of the show, Leslie is joined by Liz Shuler, president of the 60 unions and 12.5 million members of the AFL-CIO, and the first woman leader of America’s labor movement.

The two discuss the resurgence of the labor movement, key accomplishments from the past year, and building a modern and more inclusive movement.

The website for the AFL-CIO is AFLCIO.org and their Twitter handle is @AFLCIO. Liz's handle is @LizShuler.

Publishers and Authors Sue Florida for Book Bans; Iowa Votes to Rescind Some Child Labor Laws

Leslie begins today's show with her 'Ripped from the Headlines' news segment.

Here are the stories that she gave her take on:

1. ASSOCIATED PRESS: "‘No corner of the global economy will be spared’: How America’s first-ever default would tank the entire world"

2. AUDIO: Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, outlines Republican Carelessness and Hypocrisy when it comes to the debt ceiling

3. AXIOS: "Nearly 2 billion at risk from "unprecedented" climate conditions"

4. AXIOS: "U.S. lawmakers OK'd more pro-gun bills than safety measures since Uvalde"

5. AXIOS: "Surgeon general issues advisory about social media risks for kids"

For the remainder of the show, Leslie is joined by Jessica Levinson, Professor at Loyola Law School, Legal Contributor for CBS News, Columnist for MSNBC, and host of the 'Passing Judgment podcast.'

The two discuss two important legal stories that affect America's children.

The first story is about Penguin Random House, advocates and authors suing a Florida school district over book bans.

The subject of the second story is legislation that was recently passed by Iowa's Republican legislature that would rollback certain child labor laws in the state. The Department of Labor is pushing back on the legislation though, which will likely setup a court battle between the two.

Jessica's Twitter handle is @LevinsonJessica and you can find her podcast, 'Passing Judgment,' by searching for it at the webpage: Podcasts.Apple.com.

Workers Making History

Leslie is joined by Roxanne Brown, the USW’s International Vice President at Large, who oversees the union’s public policy and legislative agenda as well as its political work. She has spent more than two decades advancing policies on Capitol Hill and with regulatory agencies on behalf of USW members. She has extensive experience in manufacturing, environmental and energy policy.

The two discuss how Union workers right here in the United States are making history.

Last week, workers at Blue Bird Corporation's Fort Valley, Georgia facility notched an historic victory by voting to join the USW. The approximately 1,400 Blue Bird workers manufacture school buses, including low-emission and zero-emission models, making this significant on many levels.

Leslie and Roxanne discuss those details, and more, during the remainder of the interview.
This includes talking about how the 'Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,' the 'Inflation Reduction Act' and the 'CHIPS and Science Act ,' are all driving significant positive developments in domestic manufacturing.

You can follow Roxanne on Twitter, where her handle is @BrownRox. Follow the USW, on both Twitter and Instagram, using the handle @steelworkers, and visit their website at USW.org.

China’s Slave Labor of Uyghurs; American Industrial Strategy; The Return of U.S. Manufacturing

Leslie is joined by Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a partnership established by some of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union.

The two discuss:

1. "Congressional Pressure on SHEIN and Temu Increases — and on Nike and Adidas, Too" (by AAM's Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch)

2. "White House National Security Advisor: It’s De-risking, not De-coupling" (by AAM's Matthew McMullan)

3. "The Return of Manufacturing to the United States Won’t be Without Challenges" (by AAM's Matthew McMullan)

For over 16 years, Mr. Paul and AAM have worked to make American manufacturing a top-of-mind issue for voters and our national leaders through effective advocacy, innovative research, and a savvy public relations strategy.

WEBSITE: AmericanManufacturing.org

TWITTER: 1. AAM - @KeepItMadeInUSA 2. Scott Paul - @ScottPaulAAM

NYT Best-Selling Historian on Biden’s Re-election Campaign; Pulitzer Center Grantee’s New Book on Grieving

Leslie is first joined by New York Times best-selling author Julian Zelizer, who has been among the pioneers in the revival of American political history. He is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University, a CNN Political Analyst, and a regular guest on NPR’s "Here and Now."

The pair discusses his two most recent pieces for CNN.
They're titled, "Why Biden is Lying Low Ahead of 2024," and "Why DeSantis’ War on Disney is a Big Mistake."

During the second half of the show, Leslie is joined by Dina Gachman, a Pulitzer Center Grantee and a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Vox, Texas Monthly and more. She’s a New York Times bestselling ghostwriter, and the author of "Brokenomics: 50 Ways to Live the Dream on a Dime," as well her latest book, just out this month.

That book is what Leslie and Dina discuss during their interview. It's titled, "So Sorry for Your Loss: How I Learned to Live with Grief, and Other Grave Concerns."

Julian Zelizer is the award-winning author and editor of 25 books including his latest, "Myth America: Historians Take on the Biggest Lies and Legends About Our Past," which he co-edited with Kevin Kruse.
His website is JulianZelizer.com and his Twitter handle is @JulianZelizer.

Dina Gachman lives near Austin, Texas, with her husband and son.
Her website is DinaGachmanWrites.com and her Twitter handle is @DinaGachman.

Fred Guttenberg Debunks Myths that Fuel Gun Violence

Leslie begins today's show with her 'Ripped from the Headlines' news segment.

Here are the stories that she commented on:

1. AXIOS: "Biden's never-Trump campaign for '24"
2. AXIOS: "White House threatens to veto GOP debt ceiling bill"
3. AXIOS: "What to know as the civil trial over E. Jean Carroll's rape allegation against Trump starts"
4. CNN: "Company with ties to GOP megadonor and longtime friend of Justice Thomas had business before Supreme Court"


For the remainder of the show, Leslie is joined by Gun Reform Advocate, and Author, Fred Guttenberg.
Fred has dedicated his life to saving lives fighting for gun safety in America. He began his public life after the murder of his beautiful 14 year old daughter Jaime in the Parkland school shooting on Feb 14th of 2018. Fred’s mission ultimately led him to write his first book, "Find the Helpers."
And now, Fred and International gun policy consultant Thomas Gabor team up in a brand new book, titled, "American Carnage: Shattering the Myths That Fuel Gun Violence." The book will dismantle some of the most common myths about guns and gun violence. Its release date is May 2nd.

Here is just a sample of the myths and slogans exposed as false in 'American Carnage':

- Gun owners frequently use firearms to fend off attackers
- An armed society is a safer society
- Guns don’t kill people, people kill people

You can purchase both of Fred's books, and find out more information about what events he's participating in, at FredGuttenberg.com. His Twitter handle is @Fred_Guttenberg.

Could ’Relational Organizing’ Success in Wisconsin Be a National Model for 2024?

Leslie begins today's show with her 'Ripped from the Headlines' news segment.

Here are the stories that she gave her take on:

1. CNN: "The US economy could depend on McCarthy corralling his extremist Republican troops"
2. AXIOS: "Fetterman returns to Senate after depression treatment"
3. AXIOS: "Trump, other potential 2024 rivals slam DeSantis over Disney feud"
4. AXIOS: "Record number of Americans say they're politically independent"
5. AXIOS: "Sprawling heat wave envelops large swath of Asia"
6. AXIOS: "FDA approves 2nd omicron booster for high-risk people"

For the second half of the show, Leslie is joined by Mike Pfohl, Executive Director of Empower Project, which works to get us back to the foundational roots of organizing. 'Empower Project' has assisted groups with Relational Organizing in rural districts, urban and suburban districts, communities of color, and in multiple languages.

Leslie and Mike discuss what 'relational organizing' is, and explore whether its recent success in the high profile Wisconsin Supreme Court election could be a model for elections in 2024.

'Empower Project' partners with progressive organizations and non-profits, and works with leaders already engaged in targeted communities. Relational Organizing is about building real power and a movement that is sustainable beyond the next election, with organizers who will continue to work to ensure their communities thrive.

Empower Project's website is EmpowerProject.us and their Twitter handle is @EmpowerProjUS.

Workers Leading the Way

Leslie is joined by Tom Conway, President of the United Steelworkers (USW), North America’s largest industrial union.
They’re 1.2 million members and retirees strong in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. They proudly represent men and women who work in nearly every industry there is.

The two have a broad conversation about how workers are leading the way in the United States as our society is facing big challenges, from rampant economic inequality to the continuing human and economic toll of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and more.

Here are the subtopics that they covered during the interview, with a big focus on how workers and their unions are taking matters into their own hands to improve their lives, and fight for social and economic justice on a wider scale:

Organizing unions is one of the surest ways to improve wages, ensure safer working conditions and have a voice on the job, and workers in a wide variety of sectors are organizing to draw on their collective power.

- Last fall, 700 workers at Bobcat in Bismarck, N.D., voted to join the USW, and just last week 200 more at a Bobcat facility in Rogers, Minn., did the same.
- Football players in the USFL organized with the USW last year. This year, they overwhelmingly ratified a first contract to help provide safety and stability to their jobs. Now, players in the XFL are also looking to join the USW.

Workers and their unions are leading the way on trade, working to contain bad actors like Russia and China, and foster growth in domestic industries.

Workers are also using their activism to roll back bad laws, like the historic repeal of the so-called right-to-work (RTW) law in Michigan.

USW members have been on the vanguard fighting for less-publicized but equally needed legislation, including bills to help veterans.

The website for the USW is USW.org and their handle on both Twitter and Instagram is @steelworkers.