99 episodes

Gripping stories of the historic battles for worker rights and how they fuel today's struggles.

Labor History Today laborhistorytoday

    • History
    • 4.9 • 16 Ratings

Gripping stories of the historic battles for worker rights and how they fuel today's struggles.

    “I'm taking pictures of the history of today”

    “I'm taking pictures of the history of today”

    In 1946, as part of a strike-ending agreement negotiated between the Department of the Interior and the United Mine Workers of America, photographer Russell Lee went into coal communities located in remote areas across the United States, documenting miners in 13 states. Photographs from this federal project have rarely been studied or exhibited—until now. "Power & Light: Russell Lee's Coal Survey" is on view now at the National Archives here in Washington, DC. On Friday, I toured the exhibit with photojournalist Earl Dotter, known as the “American Worker’s Poet Laureate,” and sat down with him afterwards to get his thoughts and reflections. Later in the show, the R.J. Phillips Band pays tribute to another great social photographer, Jacob Riis, born on May 3, 1849. On this week’s Labor History in Two: The Battle of Harlan.
    Questions, comments, or suggestions are 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 the Labor Heritage Foundation and the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor.
    #LaborRadioPod #History #WorkingClass #ClassStruggle @GeorgetownKILWP #LaborHistory @UMDMLA @ILLaborHistory @AFLCIO @StrikeHistory #LaborHistory @wrkclasshistory  

    • 23 min
    “UAW’s Southern Gamble” pays off

    “UAW’s Southern Gamble” pays off

    To call the April 19 vote by Volkswagen AG workers in Tennessee to unionize historic may be a bit of an understatement. Not only was it the first foreign-owned auto plant in the South to organize, the vote was a mind-blowing 2,628-985, or 73% in favor. The win by the United Auto Workers came after decades of losses as plant after plant opened across the South. On today’s show, Dr. Stephen Silvia explains how foreign automotive companies whose workers had strong unions in their home countries followed an American playbook to stifle organizing efforts in the United States.Silvia is a professor in the School of International Service at American University and author of The UAW’s Southern Gamble: Organizing Workers at Foreign-Owned Vehicle Plants.He talked with Dan Golodner on the Tales from the Reuther Library podcast. On this week’s Labor History in Two: OSHA goes into effect.
    Questions, comments, or suggestions are 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 the Labor Heritage Foundation and the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor.
    @ReutherLibrary #LaborRadioPod #History #WorkingClass #ClassStruggle @GeorgetownKILWP #LaborHistory @UMDMLA @ILLaborHistory @AFLCIO @StrikeHistory #LaborHistory @wrkclasshistory  

    • 37 min
    The Return of John Brown

    The Return of John Brown

    Abolitionist John Brown is mistaken for a Black Lives Matter activist in Gene Bruskin’s latest labor musical, and a tour guide keeps Black worker history alive.Excerpted from the Labor Heritage Power Hour radio show.Questions, comments, or suggestions are 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 the Labor Heritage Foundation and the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor.
    #LaborRadioPod #History #WorkingClass #ClassStruggle @GeorgetownKILWP #LaborHistory @UMDMLA @ILLaborHistory @AFLCIO @StrikeHistory #LaborHistory @wrkclasshistory  

    • 35 min
    The ’34 Toledo Auto-Lite strike

    The ’34 Toledo Auto-Lite strike

    The 1934 Toledo Auto-Lite strike is one of the three most important in U.S. history, yet it’s largely unknown; why? Plus: CBTU president Terry Melvin on why the AFL-CIO’s Gompers Room was renamed the Solidarity Room. On this week’s Labor History in Two: Debs goes to prison.
    Questions, comments, or suggestions are 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 the Labor Heritage Foundation and the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor.
    #LaborRadioPod #History #WorkingClass #ClassStruggle @GeorgetownKILWP #LaborHistory @UMDMLA @ILLaborHistory @AFLCIO @StrikeHistory #LaborHistory @wrkclasshistory  

    • 30 min
    Trumka remembers Pittston

    Trumka remembers Pittston

    On the 35th anniversary of the Pittston Coal strike, we revisit our 2019 interview with Richard Trumka about the historic strike.On this week’s Labor History in Two: The Upper Big Branch mine disaster.Questions, comments, or suggestions are 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 the Labor Heritage Foundation and the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor.
    @MineWorkers @LizShuler #LaborRadioPod #History #WorkingClass #ClassStruggle @GeorgetownKILWP #LaborHistory @UMDMLA @ILLaborHistory @AFLCIO @StrikeHistory #LaborHistory @wrkclasshistory  

    • 34 min
    Connecting the ACLU, NRA and IWW

    Connecting the ACLU, NRA and IWW

    Labor historian Joe McCartin on the labor connection to National Rifle Association v. Vullo.  On this week’s Labor History in Two: Remembering ILWU leader Harry Bridges. Read more: New York's Coercion of Private Companies to Blacklist the NRA Has a Long and Dark History
    Questions, comments, or suggestions are 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 the Labor Heritage Foundation and the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor.
    @ACLU #LaborRadioPod #History #WorkingClass #ClassStruggle @GeorgetownKILWP #LaborHistory @UMDMLA @ILLaborHistory @AFLCIO @StrikeHistory #LaborHistory @wrkclasshistory  

    • 21 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
16 Ratings

16 Ratings

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