Women Who Led the Fight

Women Who Led the Fight

Author: laborhistorytoday March 22, 2026 Duration: 29:29
This week on Labor History Today, we explore moments when workers didn’t just demand change—they forced it.Detroit, 1937: sit-down strikers face a violent police raid—and resist, floor by floor, in a pivotal moment in the fight for union recognition. Seattle, 1919: Conor Casey takes us inside the Labor Temple, as workers coordinate a general strike that briefly turns organized labor into the city’s governing force. See photos on LHF’s Labor Landmarks Map. New York City, 1970: postal workers launch an illegal strike that spreads nationwide, defies federal troops, and wins real gains. From America’s Workforce, historian Jesse Wilkerson takes us to the 1929 Elizabethton Rayon Strike, where young women led thousands in a bold challenge to low wages, toxic conditions, and repression. In Michigan, from Madison Labor Radio, we hear the story of “Big Annie” Clements, who led copper miners in 1913—and the effort today to honor her legacy with a long-overdue monument. And in Labor History in Two: Alice Henry, journalist and organizer, who helped amplify the voices of working women in the early labor movement. Questions, comments, or suggestions are welcome, and to find out how you can be a part of Labor History Today, email us at LaborHistoryToday@gmail.com Labor History Today is produced by the Labor Heritage Foundation and the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor. @AWFUnionPodcast @ILLaborHistory #LaborRadioPod #History #WorkingClass #ClassStruggle @GeorgetownKILWP #LaborHistory @UMDMLA @ILLaborHistory @AFLCIO @StrikeHistory #LaborHistory @wrkclasshistory  

Behind every weekend, every safety regulation, and every paycheck that feels fair, there's a story-often a forgotten one. Labor History Today digs into those stories, moving beyond dry dates and names to recover the voices and confrontations that built the world we work in. Each episode connects a pivotal moment from the past, like the fight for an eight-hour day or the rise of a major union, directly to the conversations happening on picket lines and in break rooms right now. You'll hear about the strategies that succeeded, the personalities that led the charge, and the setbacks that reshaped movements. This isn't just a history podcast; it's a deep look at how understanding the battles for worker rights, from centuries ago to just decades past, provides essential context for today's struggles over wages, conditions, and dignity. Tune in for a grounded, narrative-driven exploration of how yesterday's strikes, protests, and organizing victories continue to fuel the demand for a more just tomorrow.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Labor History Today
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