September is here, but the labor movement hasn’t cooled down one bit. In this episode, we cover strikes stretching from Massachusetts to Houston, workers pushing back in the defense industry, and a historic new path for Uber and Lyft drivers to unionize in California.We’ll dig into:Massachusetts trash collectors striking for parity and dignity.Defense industry walkouts at GE Aerospace and Boeing, where machinists are calling out unfair contracts and healthcare costs.Houston hotel workers launching the city’s first-ever hotel strike, fighting for fair wages and safer workloads.California rideshare drivers gaining new union rights—and the big questions that remain.Why labor power matters for democracy, and what billionaire Ray Dalio sees coming if inequality keeps growing.

This week on the Labor Force Podcast:Strikes stretching from trash haulers to Boeing machinistsA razor-thin UAW win at a new battery plantNational park workers unionizing in drovesA Labor Day push: Workers Over BillionairesThe healthcare grind—why “preventive” doesn’t mean coveredNew data on young adults hitting pause on the American DreamA well-deserved Labor Day to all who toil in these capitalist hunger games. #UnionYES

Another day, another blessed dollar—except not if you’re building billion-dollar jets for $20 an hour or getting paid zero bucks while passengers board.In this episode:Boeing on the Brink – 3,200 workers walk out in Missouri and Illinois, shutting down production of fighter jets and commercial planes. Their message? Respect doesn’t come cheap, and “best and final” isn’t final.Air Canada Attendants Take Flight – Ten thousand flight attendants defy back-to-work orders, throw half a million travelers into chaos, and win pay for work that used to be “invisible.” Unpaid boarding time is officially grounded.The Great Divide – New data shows the wealthy keep cruising while everyone else drowns in debt. Welcome back to America’s K-shaped recovery: champagne for the top, hamster wheel for the rest.Gen X: The Skipped Generation – The NYT delivers a reality check: no corner offices for the slackers. Boomers cling, millennials leapfrog, and Gen X sits in the middle, rolling its eyes and saying, “Whatever, man.”

From trash piling up in Massachusetts to machinists walking out in St. Louis, the fight for fair pay and respect is raging coast to coast. This episode takes you inside the standoffs, the backroom games, and the political stonewalling—plus a look at the federal government’s latest assault on collective bargaining rights.We dig into the immigration crackdown gutting factory floors, hear from the union leaders watching skilled crews disappear overnight, and ask the question no one in power wants to answer: who’s going to do the work when the workforce is gutted by politics?Then, we look at a hard truth—hundreds of thousands of Americans in their 80s are still clocking in, not for fun, but because the system won’t let them stop. Their stories are raw, inspiring, and infuriating.In this episode:Six weeks of garbage and growing pressure in Massachusetts’ trash strikeBoeing machinists in St. Louis stand their ground for pay, respect, and securityTrump-era “national security” excuses strip union rights from federal workersThe New York prison officers’ illegal strike and the falloutHow immigration crackdowns are ripping holes in manufacturing crewsWhy retirement is out of reach for so many—well into their 80s

In this episode, we pull no punches. First, we unpack the shocking firing of BLS chief Erika McEntarfer by President Trump—an unprecedented move that sends tremors through the foundations of data integrity and democracy itself. What happens when truth gets treated as sabotage?Then, we check in on the labor frontlines:🚛 Teamsters Local 25 ramp up their month-long strike against Republic Services in Boston, with massive political support behind them.🛩️ Boeing workers in St. Louis walk off the job, demanding not just raises but long-overdue respect.🎰 The Las Vegas Strip is now fully unionized for the first time in 90 years, thanks to the unwavering efforts of the Culinary Workers Union.We also take a sharp turn into the gig economy, where ride-hail drivers in California and Massachusetts are pushing for collective bargaining rights, challenging the corporate grip of Uber and Lyft.Finally, we explore the unsettling insights of Dr. Luke Kemp from Cambridge University on the causes of societal collapse. From ancient Rome to modern capitalism, Kemp argues that collapse often liberates the people at the bottom—and asks if we’re living under the last Goliath.Along the way, we spotlight the cruelty of America’s health care system through a surreal (but real) story of a tourist, a bat, and a broken insurance structure.💥 Topics Covered:Political interference at the Bureau of Labor StatisticsOngoing strikes at Republic Services and BoeingHistoric labor victories on the Las Vegas StripGig worker organizing and the future of app-based laborDr. Luke Kemp’s take on collapse, inequality, and what still might save usThe harsh realities of our health insurance system🛠️ Takeaways:Trust in data is essential for democracy and labor rights.Strikes are surging as workers push back against corporate intransigence.Union power is growing—even in unlikely places.Collapse isn’t always catastrophe—it can be a reset.Change starts with collective action—and personal responsibility.

In this episode, we take a sweeping look at the pressure points hitting America’s working class—from overflowing garbage in Massachusetts to high-stakes labor battles at Boeing and BlueOval SK. We examine what’s really behind the so-called “crisis” facing working-class men, challenging the misleading narratives that pit workers against one another. Then, we zoom in on something more personal but just as critical: friendship, connection, and the quiet epidemic of isolation in an always-online world.📌 Topics Covered:Republic Services trash strike in Massachusetts and its legal, political, and public health falloutConcession workers at Fenway Park walk off the job and return amid tense negotiationsBoeing defense workers in St. Louis reject a contract offer—what’s behind their potential strikeUnion organizing at the BlueOval SK battery plant and its significance for the EV economyThe Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger and the risks it poses for safety, labor, and local communitiesSudden labor shortages due to immigration enforcement and its ripple effects across entire industriesDebunking the myth that feminism is to blame for men’s struggles—shifting the focus to systemic inequalityWhy five real friends might be the most important form of mental healthcare we’re not talking about🔧 Key Themes:The connection between class, labor, and mental healthUnion power in a shifting economyReal talk about masculinity, vulnerability, and the social cost of disconnectionWhy solidarity—on the picket line and in personal relationships—is our best shot forward🎧 Takeaways:Blame won’t fix broken systems, and isolation won’t protect us from burnout. Whether it’s on the shop floor or in our social lives, the real power comes from standing together. Connection isn’t optional—it’s essential.

In this jam-packed episode, we take a wide-angle look at the state of work, wages, burnout, and organizing in 2025—and what it all means for workers today. From the basketball court to the shop floor, from Congress to the college classroom, there’s one message echoing across every sector: enough is enough.🏀 WNBA’s Bold StandWe break down the meaning behind the “Pay Us What You Owe Us” shirts at the All-Star Game, the revenue split realities, and why WNBA players’ demands aren’t just fair—they’re foundational to a much bigger fight for equity across labor.Federal Workers vs. Union-BustingA look at the Protect America’s Workforce Act, the discharge petition effort in Congress, and the broader push to restore union rights to nearly a million federal workers impacted by Trump-era executive orders.🛒 Kroger Workers Organize from the Ground Up8,000 grocery workers in Indiana are standing firm against weak contract offers and leading one of the most member-driven campaigns in the country right now. We unpack what’s working and how solidarity is being built, apron by apron.Pittsburgh AFL-CIO bus tour rallyFormer OSHA staff are speaking out about dangerous flaws in workplace safety enforcement—pointing to underfunding, red tape, and intentional delays that put workers' lives at risk. At the same time, frontline healthcare and university workers describe how the lack of insurance, rising medical costs, and shrinking research funding are harming real people every day. Their message is clear: unions and public investment aren’t optional—they’re essential.🎓 Is College Still Worth It?Gen Z is questioning the value of higher education amid soaring costs, uncertain job markets, and underemployment. We explore the alternatives—trade schools, apprenticeships—and what this shift means for the future of work.💼 Quiet Cracking and the Burnout BreakdownYou’ve heard of quiet quitting—but what about quiet cracking? We dive into this newer concept of workplace erosion, where people at every level are slowly breaking down under pressure. We also talk burnout, boundaries, and the power of saying “no.”✊ Final Message: Solidarity Isn’t OptionalThis episode ends where all labor stories begin—with collective power. Whether you’re fighting for a fair contract, pushing for policy change, or just trying to stay afloat in a draining job, one truth remains: the most potent weapon the working class has is solidarity.#LaborForcePodcast | #UnionStrong | #Burnout | #GenZWork | #Solidarity

In this episode, we dig deep into the labor standoffs, service breakdowns, and survival strategies defining this American summer.🔹 First up: The trash piling up in Boston isn’t just a nuisance—it’s the product of a two-week strike by Teamsters Local 25 against Republic Services. With failed negotiations, accusations flying, and the strike spreading coast to coast, we explore what happens when essential workers walk off the job—and the services we all take for granted suddenly stop.🔹 Then: A tragic death in California highlights the human cost of the Trump administration’s renewed crackdown on undocumented immigrant workers. Farmworkers are organizing in protest—and demanding to be seen not as threats, but as the backbone of America’s food supply.🔹 Next: Legal services workers across New York are escalating a coordinated strike campaign, fighting for the resources and respect they need to serve some of the city’s most vulnerable residents.🔹 Also: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder brings us to Easthampton, Massachusetts, where a food pantry is buckling under the weight of demand. We talk hunger, dignity, and the real-world consequences of budget cuts to programs like SNAP.🔹 Finally: Meet the Gen Z workers turning 3-job hustles into TikTok content, not for clout, but out of necessity. From Dunkin’ shifts at dawn to late-night content creation, we look at what it means to survive—let alone thrive—in a system stacked against you.Takeaway: From the curb to the court, the fields to the food banks, and the TikTok feed to the picket line, this episode asks: What happens when the people who keep everything running start saying no?📢 Subscribe, leave a review, and share if you believe essential work should come with essential dignity.