Building Bridges Radio: Your Community & Labor Report

Produced and Hosted by Mimi Rosenberg & Ken Nash over WBAI,99.5FM in the NYC Metro Area

WHO WE ARE

WORKERS OF THE WORLD TUNE IN! Introducing "Building Bridges: Your Community & Labor Report"

Our beat is the labor front, broadly defined, both geographically and conceptually. We examine the world of work and workers on the job as well as where they live. We examine the issues that affect their everyday lives, with a particular sensitivity towards human rights abuses, environmental concerns and the U.S. drive for global domination. We record their global struggles and provide analysis of their efforts to empower themselves and transform society to provide greater democratic, human, social, political and economic rights. Each program consists of feature stories, generally interviews, within a historical context, often accompanied by sound from demonstrations, rallies or conferences, and complemented and enhanced by poetry and instrumental or vocal -- people's culture.

Over the years Building Bridges has produced a weekly one hour program, Mondays from 7-8 PM EST, covering local, national and international labor and community issues over radio WBAI-Pacifica 99.5 FM in New York. We also produce half hour version, Building Bridges National, which is distribtued to over 40 broadcast and internet radio stations.


For more information you can contact us at knash@igc.org
In Struggle Mimi Rosenberg & Ken Nash

Yosvany Terry’s Latest Musical Journey - Today's Opinion - 28'  

Today’s Opinion, Yosvany Terry’s Latest Musical Journey


Composer, musician Yosvany Terry has helped redefine the Afro-Cuban and contemporary jazz idiom in the New York music scene. His new release Today’s Opinion reflects his deep cultural roots as well as the versatility of his musical styles. This exceptional, multilayered recording Today’s Opinion is accessible and profound and Yosvany Terry previews it on Building Bridges.  

http://archive.org/download/BuildingBridgesRadioYosvanyTerrysLatestMusicalJourney-Todays/terrystntl.mp3 download

Read More...
AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Coke Workers Fight Racial Discrimination; Con Ed Lockout Update - 27:53  

http://archive.org/stream/BuildingBridgesCokeWorkersFightRacialDiscriminationConEdLockout play  stream

http://archive.org/download/BuildingBridgesCokeWorkersFightRacialDiscriminationConEdLockout/cokediscriminationntl.mp3
download

Coke Workers Sue Calling Plants A “Cesspool Of Racial Discrimination”

With
. Yvette Butler, a mechanic, fired from the Maspeth, Queens, plant
. Ramon Hernandez, a haulage driver, fired from the Elmsford, Westchester, plant
. Ray Rodgers, Director, Campaign to Stop Killer Coke


Sixteen African-American and Latino production workers are suing Coca-Cola, accusing the company of relegating them to less favorable assignments, unfair disciplinary action and retaliation for complaining. The workers say they were
subjected to racial epithets, and the people who used them went unpunished, according to the complaint. The suits are centered on two production plants — one in Maspeth, Queens, and another in Elmsford in Westchester.

Sondra Walker, a merchandiser at the Maspeth plant, said she had “never been called so many names as I have been at Coca-Cola,” citing “Nappy Head” and “Aunt JaMamma” as examples. Walker describes in the complaint an incident
in which a white employee complaining about cleaning a sewer allegedly said: “What am I, a n----- or something?”
**********************************
Turn The Lights Back On For Locked Out Con Ed Workers
with
John Melia, Spokesperson, Local 1-2 Utility Workers Union


Building Bridges brings you an exclusive update on contract negotiations with the locked out NYC workers of Local 1-2 of the UWUA and Con Ed.

Read More...
AddThis Social Bookmark Button

NY's Con Ed Lockout vs. Workers' Power - 27:19  

Con Ed Wants To Turn The Lights Out On Worker Power

With
Harry Farrell, President
and Members of Local 1-2 Utility Workers Union


We’ll bring you exclusive, from the picket-line interviews with workers and the latest on negotiations with Local 1-2 leadership in the New York City’s Con Edison lockout. Con Edison illegally, more than a week ago, without notice, in the midst of bargaining over pensions, health care and wages locked out its 8,500 workers, after the union refused to surrender its ability to strike. While the sides have returned to the bargaining table tensions run high with injuries to the scab management, thinking it can do the workers jobs and service cuts to our neighborhoods.

http://archive.org/stream/BuildingBridgesNysConEdLockoutVs.WorkersPower play stream
http://archive.org/download/BuildingBridgesNysConEdLockoutVs.WorkersPower/conedntl.mp3
download

Read More...
AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Workers Arrested and Suspended in Tropicana Pension Fight; The Heist - 26:58  

http://archive.org/stream/BuildingBridgesWorkersArrestedAndSuspendedInTropicanaPensionFight play stream

http://archive.org/download/BuildingBridgesWorkersArrestedAndSuspendedInTropicanaPensionFight/tropicanantl.mp3  download

Workers At Atlantic City’s Tropicana Tells Casino

You Can’t Gamble With Our Pensions!
With
Shari Shugar, Cocktail Waitress at the Tropicana,
Member UNITE HERE Local 54
and
Ben Begleiter, Research Analyst, UNITE HERE Local 54


The Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City indefinitely suspended 21 workers who protested by blocking traffic near the casino's entrance resulting in the arrest of 49 protesters. Local 54 of UNITE HERE was protesting the failure to negotiate a new contract and the casino's termination of its employee pension plan. The union says its members were exercising their free speech rights on their off hours, and should not have been suspended. Francine Stevenson marked her 17th anniversary with the Tropicana by getting a suspension notice. "I feel very angry and upset about what has happened. My father is 81 years old, and he had to go back to work driving a truck because he has no pension. It is just not right what companies are doing to their workers.” Stevenson vowed to continue the fight for the
workers pension. Bob McDevitt, President of Local 54, said the Tropicana broke the law first by refusing to bargain in good faith, and terminating its pension plan.
***************
The Heist: Who Stole the American Dream?

Excerpts from this new feature documentary talking about the implementation of the now generations old plan which was started in the 1970’s by the US ruling class transferring wealth from the working class and the poor to the rich. The excerpts deal with attacks on workers’ pension plans, social security and unions.

Read More...
AddThis Social Bookmark Button