How did you get information about unions in the past particularly when distances felt long and media was not so rapid? You look up the stories that were written up in the traditional newspapers which I've done it various times. They have no relationship to what's actually going on from the perspective that I know as someone who has looked at the archives and the history. People are changing the narrative all the time. What one needs to do in this case as in any organizing case is to create a narrative that appeals to lots of people. That in some ways overwhelms the narrative that is based on misinformation or on anti-union biases or whatever it is.
We don't know about you, but we are fans of weekends. And social security. And health insurance. And the end of child labor! And all of these workplace protections exist because of the advocacy of labor unions. In this episode, American political scientist Margaret Levi shares the long history of organizing labor, and explains how unions create equality and protect worker rights. Margaret also discusses her optimism about today’s young workforce and why she believes that an equitable future requires a revival of the labor movement.