Labor Force Podcast

Mike Struchen
  • 2.0 (1)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Stories of the working class in a time of renewed labor militancy and awareness that capitalism is a rotten deal.

  1. 4D AGO

    No Work, No Peace: From May Day to Market Meltdown

    In this episode of the Labor Force Podcast, we unpack a moment where economic pressure is hitting from every angle. From nationwide May Day protests and calls for an “economic blackout” to rising gas prices driven by global conflict, the strain on working people is intensifying. We connect the dots between supply shocks, inflation, and the growing risk of stagflation—while tracing how the American Dream shifted from rising wages to a system built on debt and survival. On the labor front, workers continue organizing, striking, and pushing back against instability and corporate resistance. Finally, we explore the deeper impact: how economic insecurity doesn’t just affect finances, but also meaning, belonging, and well-being. Closing Thought: The American Dream didn’t disappear—it was put on a payment plan. And for many, staying afloat is the new goal.

    57 min

  2. APR 27

    Workers Pay First, Recover Last

    This episode breaks down why the economy feels so bad for workers right now. Rising prices are only half the story—the real issue is wages aren’t keeping up. We explore how employer power in the labor market keeps pay down, creating a “squeeze economy” where workers absorb the hit. We also connect the dots across falling job satisfaction, limited mobility, and instability in government leadership. From SNAP benefit cuts and their impact on mental health to the growing role of AI, workplace surveillance, and layoffs, the pattern is clear: workers are being asked to do more with less. Finally, we take a closer look at burnout—often mislabeled as laziness—and what it says about a system pushing people past their limits. We close with upcoming May Day actions and the broader fight to build an economy that works for workers, not billionaires.

    45 min

  3. APR 18

    Pressure, Profits, and Pushback

    This week on Labor Force Podcast, we break down an economy that looks stable on paper—but feels anything but in real life. From a major new push to rebuild union power to strike victories in Los Angeles and Colorado, workers are showing what collective action can still achieve—even under intense pressure. But that pressure is coming from all sides: rising costs tied to global conflict, corporations maintaining strong profits while households struggle, and an accelerating shift in the labor market driven by AI. We dig into the growing disconnect between economic data and lived experience, why consumer sentiment is collapsing even as markets hold strong, and how companies are using crisis moments to protect margins while shifting costs onto workers. We also examine what’s at stake with immigration policy, as new data shows just how deeply immigrant labor is embedded in the U.S. economy—and what mass deportation could actually do to wages, prices, and entire industries. Plus: Nearly half a million New Yorkers face losing health coverage—and why the system keeps creating these “coverage cliffs” A controversial closure of a unionized Apple store The next major battleground in Southern auto unionization Why AI may be quietly choking off entry-level jobs—and what that means for the future of work And finally, we close on the “above-ground economy”—where even luxury is being redefined downward, and the American Dream is starting to look more like a simulation than a reality.

    44 min

  4. APR 10

    Chasing Discounts on Survival

    You can feel it—not in the headlines, but in everyday life. In this episode, we break down what it means when people are lining up to save a few cents on gas while nearly half the country struggles to afford basic necessities. This isn’t just inflation. It’s something deeper—a shift in what “normal” looks like in the American economy. We connect the dots between rising costs, stagnant wages, and a growing sense that stability itself is slipping out of reach. From major labor actions across industries—including meatpacking, healthcare, and utilities—to the increasing pressure workers face from automation and A.I., the pattern becomes clear: the system is demanding more while giving less. We also explore a major shift in the labor movement—why more college-educated workers are turning to unions after the long-promised payoff of a degree has started to crack. When the “safe path” no longer leads to stability, organizing starts to look less like an option and more like a necessity. Finally, we zoom out. Drawing on historical analysis, we examine capitalism not as a permanent system, but as one shaped—and reshaped—by power, conflict, and collective action. Because the real story isn’t just that people are struggling. It’s what happens next. Topics Covered: The rising cost of living and the normalization of financial strain Why this moment may be a structural shift—not a temporary cycle Major labor actions: strikes, lockouts, and ongoing negotiations The growing role of A.I. in reshaping (not just replacing) jobs The collapse of the “college = stability” promise The rise of college-educated workers in union organizing Capitalism as a historical system—and what that means for the future Key Takeaway: When survival starts to feel like a full-time job, the problem isn’t individual. It’s systemic. And when more people begin to recognize that, the pressure for change doesn’t disappear. It builds.

    47 min

  5. APR 3

    This Isn’t a Spike—It’s the System

    Gas prices are back over $4—and once again, we’re being told it’s temporary. But this isn’t just about oil. It’s about a fragile global system where one disruption sends costs soaring for everyone else. In this episode, we break down what’s really driving the spike, why inflation may be sticking around longer than promised, and how warning signs like the “Walmart Recession Signal” point to a broader economic slowdown already taking shape. At the same time, workers are pushing back. From major union wins forcing Amazon to recognize the right to strike, to locked-out refinery workers holding the line, to a federal judge calling out union-busting at the VA—labor is testing its leverage in real time. We also dig into the growing momentum behind a potential May Day general strike, the renewed push to tax the rich in New York, and what Oracle’s mass layoffs reveal about how corporations are using AI to cut workers out of the future. This isn’t one story—it’s the same story from every angle: rising costs, concentrated power, and a growing question about what happens when workers decide they’ve had enough.

    38 min

  6. MAR 28

    Shutdown, Slowdown, Breakdown

    What happens when workers are expected to keep everything running—but stop getting paid? This episode breaks down the fallout from a government shutdown hitting TSA workers, the spread of instability into everyday spaces like airports, and the bigger pattern behind it all: rising costs, unstable hours, and an economy that keeps pushing risk onto workers. From underemployment and unpredictable schedules to growing strikes across industries, the pressure isn’t random—it’s systemic. We also look at what other countries get right about stability and what that says about life for workers here.

    48 min

  7. MAR 21

    Different Doors, Same Burning House

    Gas prices surge. Costs climb. And we’re told it’s not a priority. In this episode, we break down what the Iran conflict reveals about who the economy actually works for—and why working people are always treated as “the last concern.” From rising energy costs and the reality of the “$145K to get ahead” economy, to union-busting legislation in Florida, it’s the same pattern: decisions made at the top, consequences pushed down. But it’s not all one-way. We also look at workers fighting back—from meatpacking strikes in Colorado to major gains in the WNBA, and growing momentum for unionization in the video game industry. Then we dig into the reality behind AI at work. Instead of less stress and more freedom, many workers are seeing the opposite: more monitoring, more tasks, and less control over their time. Finally, we zoom out to the bigger risk. Financial systems, tech, and global conflict are more connected than ever—and when things break, it won’t be executives taking the first hit. Key themes: Rising gas prices and the real cost of war “Strong economy” vs. worker reality The $145K income gap and the “hamster wheel” effect Union-busting efforts and worker resistance AI, productivity, and labor intensification Systemic risk and who pays when it all falls apart

    45 min

  8. MAR 14

    Bills for Workers, Profits for Billionaires

    From rising oil prices to unpaid TSA workers, this episode looks at how economic crises repeatedly shift the burden onto working people while corporations continue to profit. We break down the ripple effects of the Iran conflict on gas prices and inflation, the government shutdown forcing 50,000 TSA employees to work without pay, and how rising healthcare costs quietly suppress wage growth. We also cover major labor fights unfolding across the country—from the rally to “Fix Tier 6” pensions in New York to a looming strike at a JBS meatpacking plant in Colorado and faculty preparing to walk out at Portland Community College. Along the way, we examine a new report exposing “corporate welfare,” where low wages at major corporations leave workers dependent on public programs like Medicaid and SNAP while executives collect massive pay packages. Finally, we look at a growing debate inside the labor movement: whether organizing Amazon—and putting more union members on the ballot—could determine the future of worker power in the United States.

    58 min
See All (46)

Ratings & Reviews

About

Stories of the working class in a time of renewed labor militancy and awareness that capitalism is a rotten deal.

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Struchen
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mike Struchen
  • Show Website
    Labor Force Podcast