Winning the Vote Is Just the Beginning.
In this segment, we examine what happens after workers organize—and why winning a union election is often only the first step.
In this episode:
🥩 More than 1,700 Teamsters at Cargill in Colorado reach a tentative agreement after a 70-day lockout.⚓ ILWU solidarity forces C&H Sugar back to the bargaining table after longshore workers refuse to cross picket lines.🌿 Workers at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden launch a public boycott to pressure management during contract negotiations.⚖️ Wisconsin's Act 10 legal battle continues as an appeals court reinstates restrictions on public-sector collective bargaining.🏛️ Congress considers the Faster Labor Contracts Act, a bipartisan proposal aimed at preventing employers from delaying first union contracts for years.
From lockouts and strikes to consumer boycotts, court battles, and federal legislation, this episode explores the many ways workers are fighting to secure contracts after organizing—and why the future of collective bargaining may depend on whether employers can continue using delay as a union-busting strategy.
If you enjoy independent labor reporting and working-class news, be sure to like, subscribe, and share to help more people find the show.
#LaborForcePodcast #LaborNews #Unions #Teamsters #ILWU #UFCW #CollectiveBargaining #WorkersRights #LaborMovement #StarbucksUnion #AmazonLabor #UnionStrong #WorkingClass #Politics #Economy

Is capitalism losing America's confidence?
New polling shows favorable views of capitalism have plummeted, while most Americans believe the economy is rigged for the wealthy. In this episode, we connect that shift in public opinion to rising grocery prices, soaring housing costs, expensive gas, shrinking purchasing power, and why many workers feel they're falling behind despite a growing economy.
We also examine why consumer confidence is slipping, why investors are growing more cautious, and what all of this says about the future of the American economy.
#Capitalism #Economy #Inflation #Labor #Workers #ConsumerConfidence #Politics #Podcast

Union organizing is spreading far beyond factories and warehouses.
In this segment, we examine the growing movement among Kaiser Permanente physicians, the Mount Nittany Medical Center strike, Harvard graduate workers' strike threat, Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh employees winning their union, and SUNY faculty negotiating AI protections into their new contract.
We also break down a new Economic Policy Institute report arguing that stronger unions could raise wages, reduce inequality, and give workers more power across the economy.
As hospitals become more corporate and AI reshapes the workplace, one question connects all of these stories:
Who gets a seat at the table when decisions about work are made?
If you enjoy worker-focused news and analysis, like, subscribe, and share.
#LaborForcePodcast #Union #LaborNews #WorkersRights #Healthcare #AI #CollectiveBargaining

Will AI replace your job—or simply change it?
In this segment, we separate AI hype from reality. We examine why today's AI still struggles with real-world work, the controversy surrounding an AI robot introduced in a New York school district, and why even AI companies admit there's little evidence of widespread job displacement—at least for now.
We also explore how AI is quietly reshaping workplaces through hiring freezes, heavier workloads, and changing power dynamics, and why even Silicon Valley workers are increasingly organizing for a voice in how AI is deployed.
The future of work isn't just being programmed. It's being negotiated.

When politicians talk about low wages, the debate almost always centers on the hourly rate: $15, $17, or $20 an hour. But there’s a massive side of the equation we rarely talk about: hours.
If you make $17/hour at 40 hours a week, you’re making ~$35,000 a year before taxes. Cut those hours in half, and your income drops off a cliff—no matter how high the hourly rate is.
In this segment, we break down new research from the People's Policy Project (as highlighted by Jacobin) detailing the crisis of involuntary part-time work in America.
Have you ever dealt with unpredictable hours or being kept just below full-time status to miss out on benefits? Let me know your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
#LaborRights #MinimumWage #Economics #WorkerRights #Podcast #PeoplesPolicyProject #Jacobin #FairScheduling

Millions of Americans feel trapped in jobs they no longer want—and one of the biggest reasons isn't their paycheck. It's their health insurance.
In this segment, we examine the growing problem of "job lock," where workers stay in jobs they dislike because losing employer-sponsored health coverage could put their family's finances—and their health—at risk.
We also look at what this means for retirees, as new estimates show healthcare costs in retirement continue to climb.
If employment isn't truly voluntary because healthcare is tied to your job, how free is the American worker?
If you enjoy in-depth conversations about labor, economics, and the realities facing working Americans, subscribe to the Labor Force Podcast and join the discussion.
#LaborForcePodcast #Workers #Healthcare #HealthInsurance #JobLock #Economy #Inflation #Labor #Unions #Retirement #WorkingClass #EconomicJustice

In this segment, we explore why rising fuel costs don't just mean paying more at the pump—they drive up grocery prices, shipping costs, school supplies, and nearly everything else that depends on diesel-powered supply chains.
Drawing on reporting from CNBC, the Associated Press, and The American Prospect, we examine how global conflict, shrinking refining capacity, and supply chain pressures are squeezing household budgets. We also take a closer look at the lockout of 800 union refinery workers at BP's Whiting refinery and ask a difficult question: if refinery workers are so essential to keeping the economy running, why are they so often treated as expendable?
Finally, we discuss the growing number of families relying on food pantries and community organizations as higher living costs continue to outpace wage gains.
If you've ever wondered why a war thousands of miles away can suddenly make life more expensive at home, this episode connects the dots.
If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it to help amplify the voices of working people.
#LaborForcePodcast #LaborNews #WorkingClass #Unions #UnionStrong #Economy #Inflation #GasPrices #Diesel #SupplyChain #CostOfLiving #OilPrices #WorkersRights #Energy #BP #RefineryWorkers #WorkingFamilies #EconomicJustice

Why does the economy feel great to some Americans and impossible to others? In this segment, we examine the growing divide between investment income and wage income—and why rising productivity no longer guarantees higher pay.
Drawing on reporting from The American Prospect and research from the Economic Policy Institute, we explore how workers have become more productive while receiving a shrinking share of the wealth they create. We also revisit the remarkable story of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, whose members turned automation into shared prosperity instead of mass displacement.
As AI reshapes the workplace, the question isn't simply whether technology will replace jobs—it's who will benefit from the wealth it creates.
If you enjoy thoughtful discussions about work, economics, labor, and the future of the American workforce, subscribe to Labor Force and join the conversation.
#LaborForce #LaborPodcast #Workers #Unions #Economy #AI #Productivity #Wages #WorkingClass #EconomicInequality #LaborMovement #FutureOfWork