Work Stoppage

Conversations ignite around international labor movements and solidarity with Palestinian workers. A historic contract victory at Disneyland showcases better wages and benefits. Workers at an Apple Store celebrate their first union contract in the U.S. Meanwhile, small farmers in Mexico confront brutal corporate tactics, emphasizing the need for support in their struggles. The discussion highlights the alarming rise of 'hidden homelessness' among workers, critiquing the system that leaves many unable to secure stable housing despite full-time employment.

If you're not a patron you can get the full episode by visiting patreon.com/workstoppage and support us with $5 a month. In this installment of “The Weed Series,” the gang discusses New York. We cover workers in Syracuse who unionized with RWDSU/UFCW 338, the state of employee protections in New York for lawful cannabis users, the multifaceted disaster of Hochul’s legal cannabis rollout, a cannabis product recall, and once again encounter the scourge of fake unions. John encourages maximum conjecture against the pod’s better journalistic instincts. 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 features Benjamin Netanyahu, a controversial political figure and long-time Prime Minister of Israel. The discussion kicks off with striking French workers rallying ahead of the Olympics. Protests against Netanyahu’s speech in Washington highlight labor's resistance against imperialism. South Korean workers confront harsh strike penalties, while NUMSA in South Africa celebrates a victory against Ford. The union efforts at REI and the recent success in organizing World of Warcraft workers reflect a significant moment for labor rights in the gaming industry.

AFT 4 Palestine Petition: https://www.aft4palestine.org/take-action We've got an absolutely packed show this week, starting off with checkins on the Samsung strike, the IATSE contract ratification vote, and the struggle to unionize workers at Wonderful Nurseries. Our first big story is discussion of Teamsters President Sean O'Brien's speech at the Republican National Convention, the fallout, and the reaction from the rest of labor. Next we discuss the massive, overwhelming strike vote by over 30,000 machinists at Boeing, setting up for a potentially massive struggle this September. Amazon workers in the UK voted on forming the first union at the company, coming up devastatingly short. We also check in on workers around the country continuing to stand up for Palestine, and fight to push the labor movement to take a more active role in that struggle. Finally, we celebrate the big union win by workers at Bethesda Game Studios, who just formed the first wall-to-wall union at Microsoft. 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. In the second episode of this THC-infused Overtime series, the gang investigates the cannabis industry stronghold: California. We examine the status of employee protections for lawful cannabis users, the pesticide and additive issues prevalent in California cannabis, fake cannabis unions infiltrating the state's labor landscape, and the shape of the illegal weed industry across America's largest and most notable producer of sticky icky. John also learns how to say “bona fide”. 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/

Keith Williams and Christine Manno discuss worker strikes in Chile and the challenges faced by Amazon and Dollar General employees. The podcast sheds light on the harsh conditions faced by workers in Palestine and the importance of collective action in achieving labor rights.

Topics include flight attendants' historic agreement at Alaska Airlines, prison slavery in Louisiana, interference in UAW's position on Palestine, workers in Turkiye fighting exploitative boss, historic settlement with Uber and Lyft in Massachusetts, and Canadian workers' resilience at WestJet.

If you're not a patron you can get the full episode by visiting patreon.com/workstoppage and support us with $5 a month. The Work Stoppage crew starts a new series examining the conditions for workers and consumers in the exploding cannabis industry. First congratulating the workers at Ascend Cannabis in Aberdeen for joining the Teamsters, we launch an investigation into the conditions faced by cannabis workers across Maryland. We cover the conditions that lure young people into the industry, the structural racism of state licensing programs, an ultimately unsuccessful but highly instructive union drive at cannabis mega-corporation Star Buds, the shape of union busting in the cannabis industry, the supposed utility of labor peace agreements in burgeoning industries, and the current state of employment protections for lawful cannabis users in Maryland. John also becomes somewhat fixated on crabs. 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/

Another packed episode this week as the class struggle never stops. After quite a few short stories, our first big discussion this week is the massive Supreme Court ruling which overturned 40 years of precedence and threatens to eliminate the ability of agencies like the NLRB to function. Next we discuss a recent story exposing the systemic nature of racism and wage theft in the Minnesota construction industry. Also this week, Amazon drivers in Illinois joined the Teamsters, fight back against exploitation. Negotiators at IATSE reached a tentative agreement this week, a full month ahead of the deadline for one of the year's most watched contract fights. Workers at Dell showed just how far workers are willing to fight for work-life balance, with over half refusing the company's return-to-office mandate. Finally, we celebrate a major contract win as UAW workers at BMW reached a last minute agreement after organizing around a credible strike threat. 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/

We've got quick stories from Kentucky, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Greece, Australia, and Japan this week, before we get into a short follow up as the limited energy workers of IBEW Local 46 in Seattle have voted to end their strike. Then we check in with Starbucks Workers United, where despite continued union busting by the company, have continued to rack up tons of new union wins. Also this week, ALU workers in New York voted to officially affiliate with the Teamsters, as the union works to bring its resources to the broader fight to organize Amazon nationwide. The NLRB issued its first "Cemex" bargaining order this week, requiring a Las Vegas casino to recognize and bargain with workers after flagrant union busting during the election. Finally, we close out with congratulations for the staff workers of 1199SEIU, who just won the right to a union of their own. 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/