Labor Force Podcast

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

  1. 2H AGO

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. MAR 8

    Capital’s Playbook: War, AI, and Union Busting

    In this episode of the Labor Force Podcast, we look at several stories that reveal a common thread in today’s economy: power. From war policy to automation to union rights, the same question keeps coming up—who controls the system, and who benefits from it? We start with the escalating U.S.–Israeli war on Iran and the broader imperial framework behind it, examining why anti-war movements have historically depended on working-class organizing. Then we turn to the growing impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, after major layoffs at Block showed how corporations are increasingly using AI to cut labor costs while boosting profits. We also cover new attacks on unions, including federal efforts to terminate collective bargaining agreements for IRS workers and legislation in Florida that could weaken public-sector unions across the state. Finally, we look at a major labor fight in the WNBA, where players are demanding a larger share of the league’s rapidly growing revenue, and discuss broader economic debates about inequality, climate, and the push for alternatives to a growth-at-all-costs economic model. Across all these stories, one theme is clear: the future of work—and the economy itself—will depend on whether workers organize to shape it.

    57 min

  7. FEB 28

    The Revolution Chart: Why Workers Are Losing the Economy

    In this episode, we unpack the growing gap between political economic messaging and working-class reality. From retirement security tied to speculative markets and rising health care costs to tariffs that quietly raise consumer prices, we examine how today’s “economic populism” often leaves corporate power untouched while workers absorb the risk. We also break down new data showing unionization rising in 2025 despite an increasingly hostile labor policy environment, alongside nationwide postal worker mobilizations, major health care and academic labor disputes, and new rail safety legislation shaped by worker advocacy. Finally, we explore the so-called “revolution chart” — rising corporate profits alongside labor’s shrinking share of the economy — and what growing inequality reveals about burnout, mental health, and class consciousness in modern America.

    1 hr

  8. FEB 20

    Same Class War, New Technology

    From hospital picket lines to Southern auto plants to a legal brothel in Nevada — and all the way to corporate offices rocked by AI layoffs — this episode connects the dots. More than 31,000 health care workers at Kaiser Permanente are still on strike, demanding enforceable staffing standards and real raises after years of burnout. In New York, nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian proved that holding the line can win concrete gains. In Chattanooga, Volkswagen workers shattered the “Southern wall” with a first UAW contract that delivers major raises and job security language. And at Sheri’s Ranch in Nevada, sex workers are organizing to protect their dignity, safety, and control over their own likeness in the age of AI. Meanwhile, white-collar workers are facing mass layoffs as corporations deploy artificial intelligence to cut labor costs. The promise of meritocracy is cracking. The myth of insulation is collapsing. This isn’t a culture war story. It’s not blue-collar versus white-collar. It’s the same system applying the same logic across industries: maximize profit, minimize labor, automate when possible. The real question is whether workers — all workers — respond with fragmentation or solidarity.

    36 min
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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
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mike Struchen
  • Show Website
    Labor Force Podcast