It's our first episode of the new year, so let's ring it in with some class struggle! We start with some headlines on workers at Amazon, Starbucks, Milk-Bone, VW, Hilton Hotels, and the University of Southern California. For our first full story we discuss a recent investigation by The Guardian into the appalling conditions faced by the migrant workers who produce Champagne. Next, ski patrol workers in Park City, Utah are on strike at the country's biggest resort company. Mental health workers at Kaiser Permanente have been on strike since October, the latest group of workers fighting criminal understaffing in the US healthcare system. Speaking of nurses, we discuss recent analysis by People's Dispatch on the way imperialism forces many nurses in Brazil to migrate to the West. Finally, we discuss reports of a potential neutrality agreement between the UAW and Rivian. Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX  Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter,  John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee More info on the show at http://workstoppagepod.com/

Its our final show of the year, and we take a look back on the major union victories, industrial actions, and trends in labor that characterized 2024. Millions of workers took to the streets in opposition to the US-Israeli genocide in Palestine, which looks to shape labor relations on campus in 2025. Worker organizing has surged since 2020, and we look back on all the violence unleashed by the supposedly democratic West against worker mobilization this year. Perhaps no single business is as emblematic of the modern US economy as Amazon, and this year the Teamsters unified the struggle to organize workers there and took it to the next level. As our society becomes more and more unequal, more workers who used to be self-employed professionals: doctors, lawyers, and highly compensated tech workers, have been forced to organize. This year also saw a new level of corporate attacks on the NLRB, portending a major struggle over workers rights in the second Trump Administration. Finally, it  wouldn't be a year end show without some predictions, so we take a stab at our thoughts on the year to come. Happy New Year! Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX  Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter,  John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee More info on the show at http://workstoppagepod.com/

This week highlights a surge in labor movements, with strikes at Starbucks and Amazon reflecting growing discontent over unsafe conditions. Gig economy workers, particularly in healthcare, face dire staffing crises, raising concerns about worker rights and public health. The Teamsters lead historic Amazon walkouts, while union solidarity is emphasized across various sectors. Lastly, ongoing labor struggles in Las Vegas showcase the determination of workers fighting for fair contracts amidst corporate resistance. Humor and holiday solidarity cap off the discussion!

Tune in for an eye-opening discussion about labor movements around the globe. Discover how workers are uniting to rebuild after devastating hurricanes. Hear about striking Woolworths employees in Australia standing up against algorithmic control. Learn about the Canadian government's controversial intervention to halt postal strikes. Plus, the Teamsters are primed for action at Amazon if negotiations stall. This episode highlights the power of solidarity amidst escalating challenges in the workforce.

This discussion kicks off with an inspiring look at South Korean citizens rallying against an attempted coup. Union organizing activities heat up, with Boston doctors and Amazon Teamsters making headlines. Labor conditions at Bigfoot Beverages and in New York's healthcare sector raise serious concerns. Volkswagen and Costco are scrutinized for their union resistance and harsh worker treatment. Meanwhile, innovative policies like Japan's four-day workweek are explored, shedding light on the changing landscape of labor rights and work-life balance.

We are joined by C Moline a coordinating committee member of Build a Fighting NALC to talk about the many issues with the current TA that was presented to city postal workers by NALC national. We also go over working conditions for postal workers, international solidarity, and what the near future for NALC members looks like. From the 'Vote No' campaign to rallies in the streets, workers are organizing in the face of it being illegal for them to strike.  C Moline and others speaking in solidarity with Palestinian workers: https://www.youtube.com/live/wKrMIy97Nw0?t=99s Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX  Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter,  John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee More info on the show at http://workstoppagepod.com/

Despite the holiday, workers never stop, so labor news doesn't either! After several stories of the agonizingly slow wheels of "justice" for workers in the legal system in our Headlines, we dive into our main stories. First we check in on the teachers of Beverly and Marblehead, MA, where new contracts have finally been ratified. Next we check in on the surge of organizing by the Teamsters at Amazon locations all over the country. Healthcare workers continue to unionize in big numbers, and not just nurses, we've got three stories this week of doctors unionizing. Shen Yun, everyone's least favorite billboard, have been SHOCKINGLY revealed to be using some extremely sketchy child labor practices. Finally, we check in with the ongoing strike by Canada Post workers, and some international solidarity. Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX  Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter,  John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee More info on the show at http://workstoppagepod.com/

Dive into the intricate relationship between U.S. labor unions and Zionism, especially during the Cold War. Discover how anti-communism shaped union support for U.S. imperialist policies, often stifling grassroots movements for Palestinian solidarity. Explore the contrasts between labor Zionism and Bundism, and uncover the real impacts of Israel's labor practices on indigenous populations. The discussion highlights a growing shift within unions toward advocating for Palestinian rights, showcasing a monumental change in labor activism.

We've got a jam packed episode, as workers all around the world are on the move. First we've got headlines covering stories in Germany, South Korea, California and Florida. For our first main story, workers at a Whole Foods in Philadelphia filed to unionize this week, in another major effort to push back against the exploitation of the Bezos empire. Also in Philly this week, city workers in three unions reached new agreements with significant wages and safety protections. We catch up with a flurry of recent incidents of crackdowns on anti-genocide speech by bosses and universities across the US. We also follow up with striking teachers in Massachusetts, where one strike has been settled and two continue. Canada Post workers also continued their strike this week, we discuss the conditions that led us here. Finally, the UAW made another major announcement this week that a majority of workers at Ford's new EV battery plant in Kentucky have signed cards to unionize. Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter, John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee More info on the show at http://workstoppagepod.com/

If you're not a patron you can get the full episode by visiting patreon.com/workstoppage and support us with $5 a month. We are joined by C Moline a coordinating committee member of Build a Fighting NALC to talk about the many issues with the current TA that was presented to city postal workers by NALC national. We also go over working conditions for postal workers, international solidarity, and what the near future for NALC members looks like. From the 'Vote No' campaign to rallies in the streets, workers are organizing in the face of it being illegal for them to strike.  C Moline and others speaking in solidarity with Palestinian workers: https://www.youtube.com/live/wKrMIy97Nw0?t=99s Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX  Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter,  John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee More info on the show at http://workstoppagepod.com/