Solidarity Works

United Steelworkers
  • 5.0 (24)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED MONTHLY
Solidarity Works

Welcome to Solidarity Works, a podcast from the United Steelworkers (USW) union. We’re here to have conversations and start conversations about the past, present, and future of the labor movement, as well as talk about the work the union is doing, with USW activists leading the way. Listen to us here or on your favorite podcast streaming service, like Spotify, Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, and more.

  1. NOV 27

    Mining Matters: A Conversation with USW Vice President Emil Ramirez

    From salt and copper to soda ash and iron ore, members of the USW mine the many crucial resources needed to keep the U.S, Canada, and the world moving. It’s an industry that goes back 150 years, and it’s an industry that has seen exponential change over the past several decades. In the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we’re speaking with USW Vice President of Administration Emil Ramirez about all things mining. He talks about what the historic sector looks like in District 11, which he calls home, as well as what the future of the industry as a whole looks like as technology continues to expand.

    20 min

  2. OCT 30

    The Life, Death, and Legacy of Karen Silkwood

    Most people who are familiar with Karen Silkwood likely learned of the chemical technician through the 1983 film Silkwood starring Meryl Streep and Cher. But the movie is no mere Hollywood drama; it is based on the true story of a young woman and union member who fought to expose her employer for deliberately misleading workers and exposing them to harmful chemicals.  This battle ended in Karen Silkwood’s death on November 13, 1974, a death that few people see as accidental. Today we’re recounting the legacy of Karen Silkwood as we approach the 50th anniversary of the fatal car crash that took her life. We’re also talking with Jim Key, former head of the USW Atomic Workers Council and who, like Karen, became a whistleblower in the nuclear industry and who feared for his safety as he fought to protect himself and his co-workers.

    25 min

  3. OCT 2

    Fighting for Fair Trade: Why It Matters and How We Do It

    Last month, members of the United Steelworkers union from across the U.S. traveled to the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C., to talk to their elected officials about the importance of reauthorizing Trade Adjustment Assistance. This program, which expired in 2022, provides training and educational opportunities for workers who lost their jobs due to foreign countries like China circumventing trade rules. In today’s episode, we’re talking with David Van Pevenage, who was part of the D.C. coalition and who worked at a WestRock paper mill in Washington state until it was shuttered due to unfair trade. We’ll also hear from USW Legislative Director Roy Houseman, who was fortunate enough to benefit from TAA years ago, about why this program is so vital to American workers and their communities. Music in this episode by BlueDot Sessions.

    24 min

  4. AUG 28

    Workers of the World: Labor and Global Solidarity

    The USW partners with labor organizations around the world to connect workers with common employers and help them build power. In the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk with Local 12075 President Kent Holsing and USW retiree Mike Zielinski about some of these partnerships, including a years-long alliance with rubber workers in Liberia, and why this solidarity is vital for union members everywhere. Music in this episode was brought to you by IntraHealth International and Kevin MacLeod.

    25 min

  5. JUN 26

    Bills, Bills, Bills: USW Members Take Legislative Action

    the podium at the state house in Lansing, Michigan, to give powerful testimony about his experience as a veteran.  He and other activists were there to voice their support for Bill 5736, which would require employers to display a poster that outlines resources available for veterans and their families.  This is just one of many pieces of legislation USW members are fighting to pass for workers and their families across the United States, and they’re doing it through the union’s Rapid Response program. Check out the latest episode of Solidarity Works to hear from Eric and other USW activists about what inspires them to take legislative action and why you should, too! Learn more at usw.to/rapidresponse.

    12 min

  6. MAY 29

    Full Steam Ahead: Restoring Domestic Shipbuilding

    In 1975, the United States was a leader in global shipbuilding. The industry employed 180,000 workers who built more than 70 commercial ships in American shipyards. In the early 1980s, that changed as federal spending on domestic manufacturing was slashed and foreign competitors like China employed predatory practices to dominate the industry. Of course, the USW isn't letting this go without a fight. In this episode, we talk to USW Sub-District 1 Director Jamie Walker about the union's campaign to restore domestic shipbuiding. Learn more at www.full-steam-ahead.org.

    10 min

  7. APR 24

    Health and Safety Wins in Washington

    More than 80 years ago, U.S. Labor Secretary Frances Perkins identified silica dust as a deadly hazard. Finally, this past April 16, MSHA, through the Department of Labor, issued a final rule reducing silica dust exposure to better protect America’s miners. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, known as OSHA, also clarified a rule in another major victory for workers this month to ensure workers are able to choose their own representative to join OSHA agents during workplace inspections. Today, we’re talking with two USW health and safety experts about both of these new rules’ impacts and how the union has been fighting nonstop to keep workers safe, and will continue to do so in the future. Music in this episode is by Ketsa.

    24 min

  8. MAR 27

    The Future of Solidarity: Next Gen Activists Take the Lead

    The USW’s Next Gen program saw its humble yet historic beginnings in a resolution at the International union’s Constitutional Convention in 2011. It endorsed the training and development of younger Steelworker activists to take on increasingly greater roles in their local unions, their governments and their communities. Since then, young and newer members of the USW across the United States and Canada have answered the call to become activists, and we're talking with three of them for our latest episode.  They'll share how they became involved in their local unions, what they believe is currently driving young workers to organize, and why they believe the labor movement’s future is bright because of the next generation’s diversity.

    16 min
See All (61)

Trailer

5
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

Welcome to Solidarity Works, a podcast from the United Steelworkers (USW) union. We’re here to have conversations and start conversations about the past, present, and future of the labor movement, as well as talk about the work the union is doing, with USW activists leading the way. Listen to us here or on your favorite podcast streaming service, like Spotify, Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Information

  • Creator
    United Steelworkers
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © We welcome you to download and play our podcast and share with others for personal use; please acknowledge Solidarity Works as the source of the material.
  • Show Website
    Solidarity Works

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada