The Legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson: Pioneering Labor Solidarity

The Legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson: Pioneering Labor Solidarity

Author: Richard Hill, WPKN February 25, 2026 Duration: 27:09

The Labor Report talks with Gene Bruskin, veteran labor organizer, anti-war activist, and play write, known for leading one of the most significant private sector union victories of the 21st century, namely the successful effort to unionize 5000 workers at the Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in North Carolina -- a victory which is documented in the film Union Time. Gene Bruskin shares the story of his long association and collaboration with Rev. Jackson focusing on Jesse's groundbreaking initiatives to forge alliances with the multi-racial working class and organized labor.
Hosts: Richard Hill and Michael Zweig


Tune in to The Monthly Labor Report for a grounded and historically-informed look at the forces shaping work and wages today. Host Richard Hill of WPKN is joined regularly by economist Michael Zweig, and together they move beyond the headlines to unpack what current employment numbers, policy shifts, and corporate strategies really mean for everyday people. Their conversations are rooted in a deep understanding of the long fight for workers' rights, often connecting today's organizing drives and legislative battles to past struggles for union representation and economic justice. This isn't just analysis for its own sake; it's a deliberate effort to provide context and clarity to a topic that directly impacts millions. Each episode of this podcast feels like a necessary briefing, blending news, commentary, and political insight to examine who holds power in the workplace and how that balance is-or could be-challenged. You'll hear a perspective that treats labor not as a dry economic indicator, but as the ongoing story of people seeking dignity and a fair share.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 13

The Monthly Labor Report
Podcast Episodes
What's in store for the working class in 2025? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:23
The Monthly Labor Report's first broadcast after the Nov. 5 election: Michael Zweig, economist and labor historian, discusses the role labor must play in the resistance to the fascist anti-workeragenda of the incoming Tr…
Labor and the Election [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:25
Economist and labor historian Michael Zweig discusses the impact labor will have on the 2024 US election.Host: Richard Hill