MENU Our Union News/Publications Get Involved Video Blog Join USW Districts For Members NEWS / PUBLICATIONS MEDIA CENTER Solidarity Works Podcast EPISODE 29 Organizing Academia: A Conversation with Pitt Faculty Union Activists Last week, more than 3,000 faculty members at the university of Pittsburgh voted to become members of the United Steelworkers union after a robust organizing campaign that began in 2014. Today, we're talking with two faculty members and activists who have been with the campaign from the start about what it took to secure this historic election and what comes next in the fight for a first fair contract. Learn more at www.pittfaculty.org. Direct Download | Episode 29 Link EPISODE 28 We Supply America: The Bus Tour and the Battle Cry of a Nation The wheels may have ground to a halt, but the fight never ends! Listen to the latest episode of Solidarity Works to learn about the USW’s We Supply America infrastructure campaign and the six-state bus tour that allowed us to highlight all the amazing work our members do that can help rebuild our country. Direct Download | Episode 28 Link EPISODE 27 Everything but the Shade: Safety and Sustainability in the Paper Sector This week, hundreds of USW members in the paper and forestry industry are convening for the biennial paper bargaining conference to have their voices heard and to set their local unions’ priorities for the future. With more than 90,000 members and more than 500 contracts, the union’s paper sector is massive and has lived multiple lives throughout the decades as it merged and evolved to overcome a slew of challenges. For the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk to USW Vice President Leeann Foster about safety and sustainability in the industry that has learned to make the most of whatever cards it’s been dealt. Direct Download | Episode 27 Link EPISODE 26 Risk & Reward: An Interview with Labor Author and Organizer Anne Balay Anne Balay published her first book, Steel Closets, featuring the stories of forty gay, lesbian, and trans steelworkers, in 2014. Four years later, after a personal career setback, she persevered and published her second book, Semi Queer, focusing on the world of gay, trans, and black truck drivers. For the latest episode of Solidarity Works, and in honor of Pride Month, we talk to Balay about the adrenaline of survival, overcoming other people’s prejudices as well as our own, and the richly textured lives of some of America’s most marginalized yet resilient workers. Visit usw.org/steelpride to learn more. Direct Download | Episode 26 Link EPISODE 25 Untapped Power: A Conversation on Asian American and Pacific Islander Workers To close out Asian American and Pacific Islander Month, USW Solidarity Works speaks with several activists with the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) who are on the ground fighting for their diverse communities every day. Learn about combatting anti-Asian racism, immigration and documentation hurdles, and how to get your local union involved with APALA. Direct Download | Episode 25 Link EPISODE 24 Rebuilding for Resilience: Infrastructure and the American Jobs Plan The United States is the wealthiest country in the world, yet we rank 13th when it comes to the overall quality of our infrastructure. The American Jobs Plan aims to change that. For the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk with USW President Tom Conway as well as with a local union member at Dow Chemical in Michigan about the importance of investing in infrastructure and in our communities. Direct Download | Episode 24 Link EPISODE 23 May Day: The Movement That Shook the World International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day or Labour Day in most countries, is a celebration of the working class. Its roots are found in the fight for the eight-hour day, which began in Chicago and culminated in the infamous Haymarket Affair on May 4, 1886. Direct Download | Episode 23 Link EPISODE 22 American Rescue: What Economic Recovery Means to Workers President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan into law on Thursday, March 11, a historic piece of legislation that aims to jolt the economy back to life. For the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk to two members of the union as well as USW Legislative Director Roy Houseman about what this bill means for workers, their families, and their communities. Direct Download | Episode 22 Link EPISODE 21 Women & Work: A Year of Reckoning and Reflection One year ago, much of the United States entered various stages of lockdown due to the coronavirus. Since then, a lot has changed for most workers, but today, women remain the most economically impacted by the upheaval. Healthcare concerns, both physical and mental, are on the rise as well for many women and their families, as the pandemic moves into its second year and as vaccines are just now becoming more widely available. For the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk to two Women of Steel -- a health care worker in Georgia and a refinery control room operator in Ohio -- about how life at home and on the job has changed over the past year, and what legislative leaders can do to ease the burden so many are bearing across the nation. Direct Download | Episode 21 Link EPISODE 20 The Lowell Mill Girls: Celebrating America’s First Union of Working Women In the early 19th century, long before the mass movements for labor and civil rights would grip the nation, a group of determined women and girls working in the textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts, mobilized to create the first union of working women in American history. Take a trip back in time for the latest episode of Solidarity Works, where you will revisit this legendary moment that proved to the country and the world that ordinary people can do extraordinary things, and that even just a little organizing can go a long way. Direct Download | Episode 20 Link EPISODE 19 Fighting for Freedom: The Life and Legacy of A. Philip Randolph On August 28, 1963, nearly a quarter of a million people gathered in the nation’s capital for the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Martin Luther King Jr.’s rousing “I Have a Dream” speech is the most cited moment from that monumental event, but another man, the very mastermind behind the march itself, opened the record-breaking day with a beautiful, succinct speech in his resounding baritone voice. His name was A. Philip Randolph, and for the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we dive into his life and legacy by talking with the president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, Clayola Brown, who is also the new head of the AFL-CIO Civil, Human, and Women’s Rights Department. Direct Download | Episode 19 Link EPISODE 18 A Solid Foundation: Inside the President’s Cabinet There’s a lot that looks familiar in President Joe Biden’s Cabinet, but there is also a newness potent throughout, from installing the nation’s first openly gay Secretary to establishing the brand-new Office for Energy Jobs within the Department of Energy. Listen to the first Solidarity Works podcast episode of 2021 to learn more about the history of the U.S. Cabinet, what roles some of the Secretaries play, and what the USW is hoping to see come out of the new administration’s core group of presidential advisors. Direct Download | Episode 18 Link EPISODE 17 The Lochner Legacy: How the Supreme Court Impacts Workers Check out the latest episode of Solidarity Works for a conversation about labor law and the Supreme Court, the history and impact of the Lochner Era, and what labor needs to do to fight back against legislative attacks on workers’ rights. Direct Download | Episode 17 Link EPISODE 16 More Than a Game: A Conversation on Labor and Collegiate Sports with Ramogi Huma Tune into the latest USW podcast episode to hear from National College Players Association Founder and Director Ramogi Huma on the intersection of labor and sports activism, the power of collective action, and the challenges facing college athletes during this unprecedented moment of the coronavirus pandemic. Direct Download | Episode 16 Link EPISODE 15 First Class: How the USPS Made America From providing hundreds of thousands of family-supporting union jobs, to connecting people to lifelines including medication and paychecks, the United States Postal Service continues serving the American public 245 years after its founding. Learn about the agency’s history, its current challenges, and how to help keep it funded and strong for the future in the latest Solidarity Works podcast episode. Direct Download | Episode 15 Link EPISODE 14 Let It Shine: Women, Work, and Wielding Power in 2020 For the latest episode of Solidarity Works, hear from Coalition of Labor Union Women President Elise Bryant, USW Women of Steel Director Ann Flener-Gittlen, and Local 9460 President Deanna Hughes about what it means to step up as a woman in leadership, how to overcome the fears that can hold women back, and what women need to do in this crucial election year to move forward together. Direct Download | Episode 14 Link EPISODE 13 Defending Democracy: Protecting and Honoring the Vote in 2020 In January 1965, after two full years of fighting for Black Americans’ right to vote throughout the South, the Dallas County Voters League and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee had felt they had hit a wall with white indifference and inaction. And so, they called upon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to join their campaign in Selma, Alabama. Today, in 2020, the fight for the vote continues. Listen to the latest Solidarity Works episode to hear from USW Vice President Roxanne Brown, as well as from a steelworker in Gary, Indiana, about the current-day battle for the ballot and how you can get involved. Direct Download | Episode 13 Link EPISODE 12 A More Perfect Union: A Conversation with Union Veterans Council Executive Director Will Attig Listen to the latest USW Solidarity Works podcast episode to hear from Union Veterans Council Executive Director Will Attig on the top issues veterans are currently facing, how labor and veterans can work together to create change, and why more and more service members are stepping out into the streets. You’ll also hear from USW International President Tom Conway about the union’s Veterans of Steel program. Direct Download | Episode 12 Link EPISODE 11 Back to Our Roots: A Conversation with Pride at Work Director Jerame Davis Listen to the latest USW podcast episode to hear from Pride at Work Executive Director Jerame Davis on the recent SCOTUS victory for LGBTQ+ workers, how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the community, and how the current swell of protests around racial injustice have helped remind a movement of its roots. Direct Download | Episode 11 Link EPISODE 10 Poor People’s Campaign: Tackling the Interlocking Injustices of America On June 20, 2020, the Poor People’s Campaign, led by friend of the USW Rev. Dr. William Barber, will host the largest digital and social media gathering with the Mass Poor People’s Assembly & Moral March on Washington. A reboot of MLK’s monumental event in 1968, this campaign calls for all hands on deck to address systemic racism, poverty, and all other interlocking injustices of America. Listen to the latest USW podcast episode to hear Barber speak on seizing this moment in history to make real change for the 140 million poor and low-income people in the United States. Direct Download | Episode 10 Link EPISODE 9 Better Together: Fear and Mental Health in the Age of COVID-19 Fear, grief, anger -- workers everywhere are experiencing a storm of emotions amidst the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic. It’s up to every one of us to ensure mental health is a priority, and to remember that there are real humans with real trauma behind the headlines. As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, the latest Solidarity Works podcast episode focuses on creating a dialogue around these issues. Listen to it on your favorite streaming service or at usw.to/podcast. Direct Download | Episode 9 Link EPISODE 8 Stories of Survival: Reporting and Resilience in Puerto Rico Workers in Puerto Rico, including USW members in health care, public service, and technology, have endured wave after wave of destruction and chaos in recent years. It’s the job of Local 6135 members at GFR Media to document it all as it unfolds. Listen to the latest USW podcast episode to hear about reporting and resilience on the Caribbean island. Direct Download | Episode 8 Link EPISODE 7 Mobilizing America: Manufacturing During a Crisis The coronavirus outbreak has squeezed the U.S. manufacturing sector as many companies have been forced to shut down, but others have ramped up production both to help provide front-line workers with the equipment they need as well as provide everyday essentials and services to keep America running. Check out the latest USW podcast episode, featuring International President Tom Conway, to learn about the mobilization happening amidst COVID, how and when it’s been done before, and what’s needed to move manufacturing forward post-pandemic. Direct Download | Episode 7 Link EPISODE 6 On the Frontlines: Health Care Workers and the Battle Against COVID-19 Direct Download | Episode 6 Link EPISODE 5 Madam Secretary Frances Perkins and the Fight for Worker Safety When the darkness of the Great Depression swept across the globe in the 1930s, one woman in America lit the flame that would finally help bring light to millions of U.S. workers and their families. As we close out Women’s History Month, the USW podcast Solidarity Works spotlights Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve as a president’s cabinet secretary, as a reminder of what can be accomplished by ordinary people during extraordinary times. Direct Download | Episode 5 Link EPISODE 4 We, Too, Are America: Black Labor Week in Gary, Indiana Nine years ago, USW member E.J. Jenkins had a vision -- he wanted to start conversations and ignite change in his community of Gary, Ind., a lakeside city just outside of Chicago struggling with mass joblessness and a housing crisis caused by a history of segregation and steel industry downturns. That vision led to what is now Black Labor Week, an annual five days dedicated to labor, to blackness and to the community members of Gary. Listen to this Solidarity Works episode to learn about the Steelworker event that is growing into a movement, the activists who make it all happen and the city they serve Direct Download | Episode 4 Link EPISODE 3 Immigrant Power and the Bread and Roses Strike of 1912 On January 11, 1912, a group of Polish women weavers at a textile mill in Lawrence, Mass., found out their already abysmal pay had been cut as the result of a new bill that shortened the workweek from 56 to 54 hours. They shut down their machines, refusing to labor any more without the proper pay, as they were producing more than ever, and faster. What resulted was one of the most monumental strikes in U.S. labor history, and it was led by thousands of immigrant workers who realized their worth and refused to settle for anything less. Direct Download | Episode 3 Link EPISODE 2 Punching Above Our Weight: A Conversation with Rapid Response Director Amber Miller For our first full episode, we are excited to bring you a conversation with USW’s Rapid Response Director Amber Miller about the busy legislative year that was 2019 and what lies ahead in 2020 for workers and the bills that will undoubtedly impact their lives. Make sure to visit uswrr.org to sign up to receive updates about legislation that impacts labor and workers, and to learn more about the bills discussed in this episode. Direct Download | Episode 2 Link EPISODE 1 Welcome to Solidarity Works! Welcome to Solidarity Works, a podcast from the United Steelworkers (USW) union. We’re here to have conversations and start conversations about the past, present, and future of the labor movement, as well as talk about some of the work the union is doing, with USW activists leading the way. Direct Download | Episode 1 Link LISTEN ON: Press Inquiries SUBMIT Media Contacts Communications Director: Jess Kamm at 412-562-2446 USW@WORK (USW magazine) Editor R.J. Hufnagel For industry specific inquiries, Call USW Communications at 412-562-2442 Mailing Address United Steelworkers Communications Department 60 Blvd. of the Allies Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Civil & Human Rights Fight Back America PAC Rapid Response SOAR USPA Activist Corps Women of Steel Health, Safety and Environment Workers Uniting Emergency Response Team CONTACT US · PRIVACY POLICY Portions of this website are paid for by the United Steelworkers Political Action Fund, with voluntary contributions from union members and their families, and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. USW Political Action Fund - 60 Boulevard of the Allies - Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Site by Trilogy