WBAI Radio's Building Bridges: Your Community & Labor Report
Monday, January 26, 2009, 7 - 8 p.m. EST, over 99.5 FM ****************************************
Black Workers And The UAW In Detroit
with
David Lewis-Colman, author Race Against Liberalism: Black Workers And The UAW In Detroit

The Citizens Budget Commission Lets Big Business Off The Hook And Scapegoats Public Workers
with
James Parrott, Deputy Director and Chief Economist,Fiscal Policy Institute

Chicago Strikers Stood Up for Justice by Sitting In
with
Ricky Maclin, VP Local 1110, United Electrical Workers

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Black Workers And The UAW In Detroit
with
David Lewis-Colman, author Race Against Liberalism: Black Workers And The UAW In Detroit

Too many blame the gain of autoworkers as responsible for the plight of the auto industry. Auto is one of the most critical sectors of our economy and the wages and benefits of unionized auto workers to date & how they achieved them is critical to the advancement of organized labor. We’ll probe with Lewis-Colman his careful history ofthe black labor movement in Detroit and its compelling contributions that shaped the politics of the labor movement.
*****
The Citizens Budget Commission Lets Big Business Off The Hook And Scapegoats Public Workers
with
James Parrott, Deputy Director and Chief Economist,Fiscal Policy Institute

The Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) released a report claiming NY City & State employees receive bloated compensation - unfair pensions and benefits. But, James Parrott corrects the record, explaining that a main cause of the economic crisis is the shift of income and assets to the wealthy, and that the cure must be to redistribute income to the people and not attack the benefits that they have.
*****
Chicago Strikers Stood Up for Justice by Sitting In
with
Ricky Maclin, VP Local 1110, United Electrical Workers

In December, in an electrifying action 260 workers at Republic Windows occupied their plant for 6 days in response to the closing of their plant. Their militancy and the national support they gained helped them win a partial settlement from Bank of America and Republic Owners, but the struggle continues to regain their jobs. Now, in a national tour they tell their story,

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WBAI Radio's Building Bridges: Your Community & Labor Report
Monday, November 24, 2008, 7 – 8 PM EST, over 99.5 FM ****************************************
Washington to Detroit - Drop Dead?
with
Frank Hammer, Former Pres., UAW Local 909, Warren, Michigan
and
Warren Brown, Auto Columnist, "Washington Post "
********
Agriprocessors' Immigrant Worker Exploitation
with
Rev. Paul Ouderkirk – Pastor, St. Bridget's Roman Catholic Church, Postville Iowa

And
Agriprocessors' Union Busting Kosher?
with
David Young, Organizing Director, Local 342, UFCW

listen or download

click below for more information or to post to this blog





Washington to Detroit - Drop Dead?
with
Frank Hammer, Former Pres., UAW Local 909, Warren, Michigan
and
Warren Brown, Auto Columnist, "Washington Post "

When auto executives and unions leaders came to Washington last weekto ask for a $25 billion bailout, they expected a cold shoulder from Bush, but got one from the Congress as well. Is the Federal government really willing to take the risk of adding more than a million auto workers to the unemployment lines that snake throughout the Midwest? And, what would happen to the wages and working conditions of auto workers that might keep their jobs with the big three companies, or other auto workers across the region and nation?
********
Agriprocessors' Immigrant Worker Exploitation
with
Rev. Paul Ouderkirk – Pastor, St. Bridget's Roman Catholic Church, Postville Iowa

On May 12, 2008, US Immigrant and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested approximately 400 workers at the Agriprocessors, Inc. meat-processing plant. Family members of those arrested were terrified to return to their homes. For almost a week after the raid, hundreds of family members sought refuge in St. Bridget's Church. This and other raids are sweeping across the country, wreaking havoc on families, communities and businesses. Father Paul Oudekirk, Pastor of St. Bridget's Roman Catholic Church in Postville, Iowa gained national recognition for his work with the families of the immigrants who were arrested in the largest workplace raid in Iowa history and spoke to us during a recent trip to New York.

And

Agriprocessors' Union Busting Kosher?
with
David Young, Organizing Director, Local 342, UFCW

In 2005, workers at the Agriprocessors warehouse in NYC voted to unionize. The Rubashkin family owners of Agriprocessors refused to recognize the union,ironically alleging some of its workers were undocumented. Despite three rounds of judicial rulings that Agriprocessors must recognize the union, the Rubashkin family continues to flaunt the law and super-exploit its workers.
********************************************************

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Canadian Auto Workers Blockade GM Headquarters
Fighting Plant Closing - with Gregg Moffat, Truck Plant Chair, local 222, CAW

Domestic Workers Go National
Eight years ago, Domestic Workers United was formed in NYC by Asian, Latina, Caribbean and African Women. A “Domestic Workers Bill of Rights is now pending in the NYS Legislature

*Click above to listen to story

Canadian Auto Workers Blockade GM Headquarters
Fighting Plant Closing with Gregg Moffat, Truck Plant Chair, local 222, CAW

GM announced that it would close it’s truck assembly plant in Ontario, causing the loss of 2,900 jobs. The closing is part of a restructuring with four North American plants slated to close as well. However, Canadian workers aren’t sitting back they’ve taken their anger straight to the front door of the GM executives, with a blockade they vow to continue until their demands are met.

Domestic Workers Go National

Domestic Workers are no longer silent. Eight years ago,Domestic Workers United was formed in NYC by Asian, Latina, Caribbean and African Women. A “Domestic Workers Bill of Rights is now pending in the NYS Legislature. At last year's Social Forum in Atlanta, 16 organizations from around the country formed the "Domestic Workers Alliance". They came to NYC recently to attend the First National Domestic Workers Congress. Nearly 400 workers and supporters rallied in front of NYC City Hall to demand justice.

To Download this 28 minute program:

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