What does it mean to be a union member in these dark times?

What does it mean to be a union member in these dark times?

Author: Working People November 20, 2025 Duration: 58:11

Making ends meet in today's economy is difficult enough, but with so many societal crises affecting working people's lives on and off the shop floor—from mass layoffs to untenable costs of living, from an authoritarian federal government to AI and the climate crisis—it can feel all but impossible. What does it mean to have a union job, to be a union member, and to be part of the labor movement in these overwhelming times? What role do unions and other labor organizations have to play, not just in the fight for economic justice, but in the fight for democracy, civil rights, the rule of law, and a livable planet? We posed these questions to a range of emerging labor leaders from different unions and worker centers enrolled in the 2025-26 Minnesota Union Leadership Program (MULP). Here's what they told us… 

Additional links/info: 

Featured Music: 

  • Jules Taylor, Working People Theme Song

Credits: 

  • Audio Post-Production: Alina Nehlich

There’s a conversation happening about the economy, politics, and culture, but too often the actual voices of the people who keep everything running are absent. Working People changes that. This is a place where the lived experience of the working class in modern America takes center stage. Produced in partnership with In These Times magazine and The Real News Network, each episode is built around a candid interview with someone from the vast and varied landscape of the American workforce. You’ll hear from teachers, factory workers, service industry employees, caregivers, and many others, each sharing the unvarnished details of their daily reality. Conversations naturally unfold to cover not just the specifics of their jobs, but the broader context of their lives-their personal histories, their political views, the dynamics within their families, and the unique blend of satisfaction and struggle that defines their world. The Working People podcast doesn’t offer abstract analysis; it provides a direct, human connection to the stories that collectively shape our society. It’s about understanding the hopes, the frustrations, and the resilience that are woven into the fabric of working-class life today. By listening, you get a genuine portrait of the people whose labor is so often discussed, yet whose own narratives are so rarely heard in such depth.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Working People
Podcast Episodes
East Palestine—1 Year After the Derailment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:43
Feb. 3, 2024, marks the one-year anniversary of the Norfolk Southern train derailment that changed life forever for the residents of East Palestine, Ohio, and the surrounding area. The derailment of 38 rail cars and the…
Chris & Jessica Albright [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:08
It's been nearly 10 months since the derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train and the subsequent "controlled release" and burnoff of toxic vinyl chloride changed life forever for the residents of East Palestine, Oh…
A Three-Minute Message from Gaza (w/ Mohamed el Saife) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:47
More than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's retaliatory assault on Gaza in the past month, including thousands of women, children, and elderly, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The real num…

«1...678910