Episodes
Saturday Jan 27, 2024
Biden vs Trump on the Economy; Teamsters Organizing FedEx Express and Delta Airlines
Saturday Jan 27, 2024
Saturday Jan 27, 2024
Leslie is first joined by the Chairman of Sonecon, and former U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs, Dr. Rob Shapiro.
The two delve into his latest piece for Washington Monthly, titled, "Data Don’t Lie: Biden’s Economic Record is Much Better than Trump’s."
(Link here: https://washingtonmonthly.com/2024/01/26/data-dont-lie-bidens-economic-record-is-much-better-than-trumps/)
Then, Leslie interviews Deputy Director of the Teamsters' Airline Division, Bob Fisher.
They discuss why and how workers at FedEx Express and Delta are organizing in an effort to unionize, and why that's so significant nationally.
The website for Sonecon is www.Sonecon.com and Dr. Shapiro's handle on X is @RobShapiro.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow them on X and Instagram, where their handle is @Teamsters, and “like” them on Facebook at Facebook.com/Teamsters.
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
How Unions Help Communities
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
The two have an in-depth discussion detailing how Unions help communities.
This includes:
- Nurses in New Jersey who were on an unfair labor practice strike for nearly five months last year
- Energy workers in Puerto Rico, where the issue of their electric grid is quite literally life and death
- Military veterans around the United States, including where the USW drafted legislation requiring employers to post official notices of the health, social and other services available to support veterans as they build new lives on the home front
Dave Wasiura represents members across the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the territory of Puerto Rico.
Dave began his career as a fourth-generation metalworker in Buffalo, N.Y., when he followed in his father’s footsteps and took a job at the American Brass facility. Since then, he’s led political and organizing efforts in addition to bargaining contracts across a wide variety of industries.
The website for the USW is www.USW.org.
Their handle on X, Instagram and Facebook is @steelworkers.
Friday Jan 12, 2024
Friday Jan 12, 2024
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.
Scott first shares his thoughts on 2023's weak manufacturing numbers in the U.S., why there's more to the data than meets the eye, and reasons that the future looks bright.
He and Leslie then chat about not one but two(!!) new books on companies that have started up making apparel in the U.S. over the past decade. Both of these books--'Making It in America,' available now--and 'American Flannel'—available in March—are worth a read.
Finally, Scott shares why he's more than a little worried by China’s rise in automobile production, and why he believes it’s an existential threat to American manufacturing jobs.
For over 16 years, Scott 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.
Their website is www.AmericanManufacturing.org and their Twitter handle is @KeepItMadeInUSA.
Scott's handle is @ScottPaulAAM.
Friday Dec 22, 2023
AFL-CIO President Talks New Tech-Labor Partnership with Microsoft
Friday Dec 22, 2023
Friday Dec 22, 2023
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 Union's new tech-labor agreement with Microsoft, including the rules regarding use of artificial intelligence (AI).
They also talk about the upcoming 2024 elections and what the AFL-CIO is planning to do this cycle to elect 'pro-worker' candidates, all of the high-profile strikes that happened in 2023, organizing efforts, and child labor laws.
A visionary leader and longtime trade unionist, Shuler believes the labor movement is the single most powerful vehicle for progress and that unions are a central force in leading lasting societal transformations. She is committed to busting myths about labor, leveraging the labor movement’s diversity for innovative approaches to social justice and making the benefits of a union voice on the job available to working people everywhere.
The website for the AFL-CIO is AFLCIO.org and their Twitter handle is @AFLCIO. Liz's handle is @LizShuler.
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
The two discuss today's successful negotiating breakthrough on behalf of their members at DHL, who had been forced to strike in response to unfair labor conditions.
They also talk about contract negotiations for their members who work at Anheuser-Busch, and review the Presidential roundtables that the Teamsters hosted last week.
Second, Princeton Professor Julian Zelizer, a NYT best-selling Author and CNN Political Analyst, joins Leslie to talk about his most recent CNN opinion piece, which is titled, "Seven Reasons a 2nd Trump Term Would Be Dangerous." (https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/07/opinions/trump-second-term-dangerous-zelizer/index.html)
Teamsters President Sean O'Brien is focused on mobilizing rank-and-file members through education and increased engagement—traveling extensively to visit with them at worksites throughout the country.
In addition to fighting for workers, Sean has helped raise millions of dollars for charitable causes, including Local 25’s signature event, “Light Up the Night,” an annual gala to raise money for children with autism.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow them on Twitter and Instagram, where their handle is @Teamsters, and “like” them on Facebook at Facebook.com/Teamsters. Sean's Twitter handle is @TeamsterSOB.
New York Times best-selling author Julian Zelizer, who has been among the pioneers in the revival of American political history, is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941 Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University.
He is also a CNN Political Analyst and a regular guest on NPR’s "Here and Now." He is the award-winning author and editor of 25 books including, The Fierce Urgency of Now: Lyndon Johnson, Congress, and the Battle for the Great Society, the winner of the D.B. Hardeman Prize for the Best Book on Congress and Fault Lines: A History of the United States Since 1974, co-authored and Burning Down the House: Newt Gingrich, The Fall of a Speaker, and the Rise of the New Republican Party. The New York Times named the book as an Editor's Choice and one of the 100 Notable Books in 2020. His most recent books are Abraham Joshua Heschel: A Life of Radical Amazement and The Presidency of Donald J. Trump: A First Historical Assessment, which he edited, and Myth America: Historians Take on the Biggest Lies and Legends About Our Past which he co-edited with Kevin Kruse. He is currently working on a new book about the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and the 1964 Democratic Convention entitled ‘Is this America?’: Reckoning With Racism at the 1964 Atlantic City Democratic Convention. In the summer of 2023, NYU Press will publish his new co-edited book, Our Nation At Risk: Election Security as a National Security Issue. In January 2024, Columbia Global Reports will publish his book, In Defense of Partisanship. Zelizer, who has published over 1200 op-eds, has received fellowships from the Brookings Institution, the Guggenheim Foundation, the Russell Sage Foundation, the New York Historical Society, and New America.
You can follow him on Twitter, where his handle is @JulianZelizer.
Friday Dec 08, 2023
2023 AAM ’Made in America Holiday Gift Guide’
Friday Dec 08, 2023
Friday Dec 08, 2023
The two discuss this year's 'Made in America Holiday Gift Guide.'
It’s the AAM's biggest list ever, featuring more than 200 companies that manufacture products in the United States. In honor of the guide’s 10th anniversary, they’ve included both new gift ideas and old favorites, noting the year previous picks were included.
The guide is organized by 23 different clickable categories, including, giftables, toys, kids, bath and beauty, Handbags and accessories, apparel, jewelry, socks, shoes, auto accessories, electronics, food, hobbies, stationery, holiday supplies, stocking stuffers, home, furniture, kitchen, outdoor gear, tools and pets!
Also, as always, you can view the list by state if you'd like.
The website for the gift guide can be found at http://TinyURL.com/2023AAMGiftGuide and the AAM website is www.American Manufacturing.org.
The X handle for AAM is @KeepItMadeInUSA and Beth's handle is @ebrotherton.
Since joining AAM in 2014, Beth has led efforts to grow and strengthen AAM's digital presence, managed advocacy campaigns designed to strengthen manufacturing, and helped elevate the conversation about manufacturing in the news media.
A Golden State native, Beth holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and journalism from the University of Southern California.
She lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, two children, and a rescue dog.
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Workers Seizing the Moment
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
The two discuss how workers across the economy – from automakers to health care workers – are using their collective power to ensure they have fair contracts and safe working conditions.
The first step in this process is organizing, and as workers seek greater protections on the job, they’re capitalizing on this unique moment.
It’s not just the hot labor market, though the recent low unemployment has certainly helped.
The pandemic helped workers in a number of industries understand that they’re essential. It has also highlighted what they needed from their employers – in terms of job security, living wages, and more – as well as the power of working together to achieve these goals.
Also, Joe Biden, the most pro-labor president in recent memory, has tasked his administration with helping workers to exercise their right to form unions. This unprecedented support, and whole of government approach, has helped tip the balance back toward workers, and away from greedy corporations.
Workers are also experiencing a time of great potential as we look to the clean energy transition. Clean technology – like electric vehicles – require a wide variety of raw materials and other components.
It’s essential that jobs from mining to manufacturing are good, community supporting jobs. That means ensuring workers can exercise their right to organize.
The final step in organizing is not, as some might think, a successful vote, but a first contract. This is where corporations like Starbucks double down on their efforts to break workers’ collective will.
We’ve seen this protracted bargaining at places like Kumho and OHL/Geodis, though the USW was ultimately successful in both cases.
What workers need to help them successfully weather the immense challenges they face, including getting this vital first contract, is the PRO Act.
The website for the United Steelworkers is USW.org and their handle on X and Instagram is @steelworkers. You can find them on Facebook by visiting Facebook.com/Steelworkers.
Saturday Nov 04, 2023
Most Equitable Economic Recovery in American History
Saturday Nov 04, 2023
Saturday Nov 04, 2023
The two examine what is now the most equitable economic recovery in American history.
First, they break down data from a new Treasury Department report, which provides "new evidence that the recovery from the economic harm of the COVID-19 pandemic was the most equitable recovery in recent history. The report – which includes new Department research alongside new data released by the Federal Reserve Board – finds that the speed and strength of the response by the Biden-Harris Administration helped to thwart the worst economic outcomes anticipated from the COVID shock for Black and Hispanic families, and that, across a broad array of economic indicators, the financial well-being of Black and Hispanic families have remained strong relative to recoveries in recent history."
(Link here: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1834)
Second, they discuss a Twitter thread on what 'Bidenomics' is, and how it's going two years into the Biden administration.
The data rich thread was posted by Heather Boushey, a Member of the Council of Economic Advisers & Chief Economist for the President's Invest in America Cabinet.
(Link here: https://twitter.com/hboushey46/status/1715711474994422140)
Finally, Leslie and Scott talk about why President Biden isn't getting more credit in the polls for the strong economic recovery that has happened under his leadership.
This includes a Bloomberg article from Matthew Yglesias examining that exact topic.
(Link here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/10/22/biden-s-economy-is-great-everywhere-except-in-the-polls/d6bae722-70d6-11ee-936d-7a16ee667359_story.html)
For over 16 years, Scott 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.
Their website is www.AmericanManufacturing.org and their Twitter handle is @KeepItMadeInUSA.
Scott's handle is @ScottPaulAAM.
Saturday Oct 14, 2023
Teamsters Rally to Protect American Jobs from Mexican-Owned Grocery Chain
Saturday Oct 14, 2023
Saturday Oct 14, 2023
They discuss a leaflet action being held on October 17th where more than 50 local unions will be taking part in at Chedraui-owned grocery stores.
Here is some more background on the issue:
· Grupo Comercial Chedraui is a Mexican company that is publicly traded on the Mexican stock exchange. The company has grown significantly and now operates three supermarket chains, and makes the majority of its revenue from the United States.
· Chedraui owns three store banners in the United States with around 375 total locations. The three banners are:
o Smart & Final, which is concentrated in Southern California but also has locations in Nevada and as far east as Phoenix.
o El Super, which is also concentrated in Southern California and has locations in Nevada, Arizona, and as far east as New Mexico and Juarez in Texas.
o Fiesta Mart, which is entirely in Texas. Most of its locations are in either Houston or the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
· Teamsters Local Union 630 won two elections at Smart & Final warehouses in the Los Angeles area just this year. The two groups at the Commerce and Riverside facilities comprise around 700 total workers. After years of suffering from low wages and poor benefits, these workers decided to join the Teamsters union to improve their workplace.
· Yet, on the heels of the election at the Commerce facility, Chedraui announced that it would be consolidating its distribution operations into a single facility in Rancho Cucamonga, right before the union election at the Riverside facility. An internal company announcement distributed to workers stated that when this move takes place, the workers will have to reapply for their jobs and will not be guaranteed jobs at the new facility, regardless of their experience or how long they have worked for the company. The company has not responded to workers’ inquiries regarding the status of their jobs at the new facility and what pay and benefits will be available.
· Local 630 members rallied in August and September to demand fair treatment by Chedraui, with a focus on protecting American jobs and living standards, and bargaining a fair contract.
· To date, the Teamsters have filed seven unfair labor practice charges against Smart & Final and Chedraui, alleging egregious violations of federal labor law, including that the planned facility relocations and termination of all employees are motivated by anti-union discrimination; that the company has interfered with workers’ right to organize by withholding a regularly scheduled cost of living adjustment and blaming it on the Union; and by holding mandatory captive audience meetings where the company CEO promised workers benefits and job security at the new facility in exchange for rejecting the Union.
· The company has been engaging in bad-faith surface bargaining, likely with the intention of running out the bargaining clock and then either attempting to decertify the Teamster bargaining units or withdrawing recognition when it transfers its operations and forces employees to reapply.
· This consumer leaflet action on 10/17 comes ahead of bargaining resuming on 10/18. The Teamsters are calling on consumers to demand that Chedraui respect its US workers, cease its violations of US labor law, honor its employees’ choice to become Teamsters, and bargain a fair contract.
Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.2 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Visit Teamster.org to learn more and follow them on Twitter @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
Saturday Oct 14, 2023
Israel Orders Entire Population of Northern Gaza to Move South
Saturday Oct 14, 2023
Saturday Oct 14, 2023
Israel's military said the order, which has raised fears of an imminent ground offensive on the densely populated enclave, was intended to minimize civilian casualties in the war against Hamas.
But the United Nations said it was "impossible" and risked a humanitarian disaster.
"We call on all civilians in Gaza City to move south," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Friday in a press conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Tel Aviv.
"We don't want to harm them. Whoever wants to save his life should go south. Hamas is camouflaging itself inside the civilian population and we are going to go in and dismantle its infrastructure," Gallant said.
More than 1,530 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis have been killed, thousands have been injured, and hundreds of thousands of others have been displaced since the latest fighting between Israel and Hamas began. Hamas is believed to be holding about 150 hostages in Gaza.