This week on the Labor Force Podcast:Machinists at Boeing and aerospace workers at GE show what real solidarity looks like.Hotel workers in Houston hold the line for a living wage.Google’s hidden army of AI raters get chewed up and tossed aside.Starbucks baristas keep fighting through stonewalling and retaliation.Hollywood animators and production crews push union power into new territory.And a reality check on the so-called “resilient economy” that keeps most of us broke while Wall Street celebrates.If you’re struggling to stay afloat, you’re not alone—the system is rigged to keep people desperate. But every picket line, every strike, every act of solidarity proves workers are cracking that system open, piece by piece.Stay informed. Stay angry. Stay in solidarity.

In this episode of the Labor Force Podcast, we cover strike updates shaking up industries across the country—from Teamsters holding strong in Massachusetts and Minnesota, to Boeing machinists in St. Louis, to Hilton hotel workers in Houston making history in Texas. We dig into the widening gap between right-to-work states and free bargaining states, and what new research says about wages, union density, and democracy itself.We also take stock of America’s uneasy relationship with capitalism, rising fears of recession, and the growing appeal of democratic socialism—highlighted by Zohran Mamdani’s bold campaign for NYC mayor. What does this moment mean for workers, for unions, and for the future of our economy? Tune in for insights, analysis, and solidarity.

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.