This week’s edition of COVID, Race, & Democracy looks at the growing workers strike wave not only in the US but internationally.
We hear from workers from the US and around the world. We first hear from Trevor Noah about the long hours of work and why working people should have a shorter workweek.
Next we hear from United Mine Workers Union Of America District 20 Vice President Larry Spencer about the 1000-miner strike at Warrior Met Coal.
We then go to Italy to learn about the October 11, 2021 general strike of SI Cobus logistics workers who struck Fed-ex, Amazon, and other companies. Over 1,000 rallied and shut down an Amazon warehouse as part of their action.
In Korea, the 1 million member Korean Confederation of Trade Unions KCTU is planning a general strike on October 20, 2021 for equality and against temporary work. We talk with the International Director Mikyung Ryu.
In Massachusetts we hear a report from WPFW’s Union City Radio about a 7-month strike of nurses at the Tenet Corporation-owned St. Vincent Hospital and how the covid pandemic and management stretched them to the breaking point.
We also hear from the Kellogg’s Battle Creek Trevor Bidelman, president of Local BCTGM 3-G Union, Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International union. He discusses the real conditions of workers who are on a national strike and this was also on WPFW’s Union City Radio.
Credits:
Producer/host: Steve Zeltzer
Editing: Polina Vasiliev
Executive Producers: Akua Holt, Polina Vasiliev, and Steve Zeltzer
Music Credits:
“Dogs Of Tijuana” by Tom Morrelo
“5 Million Ways To Kill A CEO” by Boots Riley
“Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba
Links on issues covered in this broadcast:
For UMWA 2021 Strike Fund send to UMWA Strike Fund, P.O. Box 513, Dumfries, VA 22026. Messages of support can also be sent umwadistrict20@bellsouth.net
Support Kellogg’s Workers on Strike Local 3G
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-kelloggs-workers-on-strike-local-3g
We Stand With St. Vincent Hospital Nurses
https://action.massnurses.org/we-stand-with-st-vincents-nurses/
UMWA District 20 VP Larry Spencer, Key Leader of Coal Miners On Strike against Warrior Met and Black Rock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bls-SUtEhFg
Korean KCTU Plans General Strike On 10/20/21 For Equality & Against Repression by Moon Government
SI Cobus
