Labor Radio-Podcast Daily

WMATA paratransit workers in MontCo prepare for strike

They’ve been trying to negotiate a fair first contract for over a year. Today’s labor history: formation of the National Trades' Union. Today’s labor quote by Franklin Roosevelt.

Remembering “The Wailin’ Mailman”

Roger Wendell “Buck” Hill walked DC’s streets delivering mail by day but at night he was a saxophonist who accompanied such greats as Miles Davis, Max Roach and Dizzy Gillespie. Today’s labor history: Lusty Lady Club dancers unionize. Today’s labor quote by Ramona Falls, organizer for Minneapolis’ chapter of Sex Workers Outreach Project.

Transdev workers authorize strike

Vote unanimously to strike if ongoing negotiations stall. Today’s labor history: 250,000 turn out for DC march for jobs and freedom. Today’s labor quote by Martin Luther King, Jr.

DOL abruptly cancels popular apprenticeship program

“We moved nearly 5,000 people into apprenticeship…3,800 of them were from communities of color, over a thousand were women.” Today’s labor history: Truman seizes railroads to prevent a general strike. Today’s labor quote from an African proverb.

Maryland state workers demand better pay, more staffing

Some say the staffing crisis is a matter of life and death. Today’s labor history: birth of strikebreaker Allan Pinkerton. Today’s labor quote by A. Philip Randolph.

Labor History Today (8/25/19): Rodeo women, Frances Perkins, MLK and desegregating Glen Echo

On this week’s show: Heidi Thomas on the history of rodeo women; Frances Perkins’ labor landmarks; Common revisits MLK’s "I Have A Dream" speech; labor and civil rights activists unite to desegregate Glen Echo Amusement Park. Questions, comments or suggestions welcome, and to find out how you can be a part of Labor History Today, email us at LaborHistoryToday@gmail.com Labor History Today is produced by Union City Radio and the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor. Produced & engineered by Chris Garlock and Patrick Dixon.

2019.09.02 Labor Day Special Promo

Tune in from 8 am to 12 noon on Monday, September 2, as Union City Radio celebrates Labor Day with the annual “WORKERS RISING” LABOR DAY SPECIAL. We’ll be playing music about work and workers and visiting with members of the Labor Radio/Podcast Network. Our guests will include Mary Gray, author of “Ghost Workers,” labor historians Joe McCartin and Jim Gregory and we’ll take the quiz on How to Tip in America. That’s the annual “WORKERS RISING” LABOR DAY SPECIAL, on WPFW 89.3 FM starting at 8am on Monday, September 2.

The dire need for infrastructure investment

“These are all things that we can invest in now and move forward on,” says Mike Monroe, Chief of Staff at North America's Building Trades Unions. Today’s labor history: Farm Workers Organizing Committee chartered by AFL-CIO. Today’s labor quote by Cesar Chavez.

Latest local labor actions

Locked-out BSO musicians picket; Your Rights At Work; DC Health Justice Coalition; NoVA Labor vigil. Today’s labor history: Sacco and Vanzetti executed. Today’s labor quote by Joyce Miller.

“American Factory” film released on Netflix

Early days of hope and optimism give way to setbacks as high-tech China clashes with working-class America. Today’s labor history: Nat Turner’s Revolt begins. Today’s labor quote from the R.J. Phillips Band.