Jacobin Radio Dig: Blue Collar Empire w/ Jeff Schuhrke
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Apr 4, 2025 Jeff Schuhrke, a Professor of Labor Studies and author of Blue Collar Empire, joins guest host Micah Utrecht to dive into the shadowy history of the U.S. labor movement during the Cold War. They discuss how organized labor became entangled in anti-communist strategies, undermining leftist unions both here and abroad. Schuhrke reveals the complexities of labor leaders aligning with imperialistic agendas, and how this legacy has shaped the current conservative state of workers' movements. They also explore contemporary implications for labor activism and the need for global solidarity.
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Labor Movement Decline
- The American labor movement's decline is partly due to the victory of right-wing, anti-communist forces.
- These forces prioritized anti-communism over dynamic social movement building.
Domestic Repression
- Domestic repression of radicals within the U.S. labor movement was a prerequisite for exporting anti-communism globally.
- Purging communists domestically paved the way for similar actions abroad.
Communist Influence in the CIO
- During the Great Depression and the New Deal, communist trade unionists played a key role in the rise of the CIO.
- They promoted industrial unionism, inclusivity, and rank-and-file democracy.