Labor Express Radio

This is the full 4-14-2024 episode of the Labor Express Radio program.  Erek Slater, Chicago public transit bus driver, former elected shop steward and former executive board member of Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 241, wins his court fight for free speech and labor rights for transit workers.  Carl Rosen of UE, Jackson Potter of CTU and others discuss the growing movement for a ceasefire in Ga...

This is the full 3-31-2024 episode of the Labor Express Radio program. Erek Slater, Chicago public transit bus driver, former elected shop steward and former executive board member of Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 241, fights his firing by CTA and his unlawful arrest by the Chicago police. Les Leopold discusses his new book Wall Street's War on Workers: How Mass Layoffs and Greed Are Destro...

This is the full 3-17-2024 episode of the Labor Express Radio program. Oscar Chacon, Executive Director of Alianza Americas, discusses the so-called “migrant crisis”. Labor Express Radio is Chicago's only labor news and current affairs radio program. News for working people, by working people. Labor Express Radio airs every Sunday at 8:00 PM on WLPN in Chicago, 105.5 FM. For more information,...

This is the full 3-3-2024 episode of the Labor Express Radio program. Our 20th / 30th Anniversary special! Labor Express Radio started in Fall 1993, so the program actually had its 30th birthday some months ago. February marked the 20th anniversary of current host producer Jerry Mead-Lucero at the helm. This 2 hour + special features a panel discussion with Scott Houldieson UAWD Steering Cmte Chai...

This is the full 2-11-2024 episode of the Labor Express Radio program.  On this episode of Labor Express Radio, teachers strike at Instituto Schools - Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy (IHSCA) and Instituto Justice and Leadership Academy (IJLA), also known as the Rudy Lozano Leadership Academy!  And why is Teamster’s President Sean O’Brien meeting with Trump, publicly and privately? Reactio...

This is the full 1-21-2024 episode of the Labor Express Radio program. SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Contract Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, and SAG-AFTRA General Counsel Jeffrey Bennett discuss AI protections in the new union contract. Plus, workers centers and immigrant rights groups in Chicago demand DHS renew deferred action for labor enforcement (“DALE”) workplace prote...

This is the full 12-31-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program.  Instituto schools (IJLA and IHSCA) teachers vote to strike as contract negotiations pass the 1.5 year mark.  Economist Dr. Jack Rasmus provides an analysis of the events in the labor U.S. labor movement of the past year. Labor Express Radio is Chicago's only labor news and current affairs radio program. News for working p...

This is the full 12-3-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program.  On this episode of Labor Express Radio, UAW, UE and Postal Workers call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Actor and SAG-AFTRA member Jasmin Cardenas discusses Workers TEATRO a Chicago worker's theater collective. Labor Express Radio is Chicago's only labor news and current affairs radio program. News for working peopl...

This is the full 11-19-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program. On this episode of Labor Express Radio, two victorious strikes! Scott Houldieson of the UAW discusses the new contracts with the big three automakers and SAG-AFTRA members Harold Phillips and Ilyssa Fradin discuss their new contracts with film and TV producers. Labor Express Radio is Chicago's only labor news and current a...

This is the full 11-5-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program. On this episode of Labor Express Radio, auto workers and the U.S. working class win big! Some details on the UAW strike victory at the big three auto makers. The Chicago City Council considers paid time off ordinance. Peter Hudis, professor of philosophy at Oakton Community College and the author of Frantz Fanon: Philosopher of...

This is the full 10-22-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program. On this episode of Labor Express Radio, is the UAW strike nearing an end and a victory for auto workers? Voices from the picket lines. Plus, Steve Zeltzer of Work Week and Larry Goldbetter, President of the National Writers Union discuss the ongoing tragedy in Israel and the Occupied Territories of Palestine. Labor Express Rad...

This is the full 10-8-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program. On this episode of Labor Express Radio, the UAW is Winning! UAW strike expands to Chicago Ford Assembly Plant and new gains made in negotiations including GM adding electric battery production to the national labor agreement. Also, Teamsters take on Amazon at warehouses in Southern California. Labor Express Radio is Chicago&#39...

This is the full 9-24-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program.  On this episode of Labor Express Radio, auto strike expands.  The UAW is now on strike at 41 locations in 20 states.  UAW President Shawn Fain explains the reason for adding plants to the strike and discusses progress at Ford.  Strikers on the picket lines talk about the injustice of tiers.  Scott Houldieson, an electrician at...

Scott Houldieson, a worker at Chicago's Ford assembly plant, member of UAW Local 551 (former VP of the local) and UAWD Steering Committee Chair discusses the current auto strike including the “stand up strike” approach and the inside/outside strategy of the union to have maximum impact on the automakers while minimizing the pain for the members. The Interview starts with Scott laying out the m...

This is the full 9-10-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program. On this episode of Labor Express Radio, Teamsters rank-an-file vote 86% in favor of UPS contract - we look at the pros and cons of the ratified deal. UAW prepares for a possible auto strike on Sept. 15th. And ChiArts teachers suspend their planned strike and announce a tentative agreement. Labor Express Radio is Chicago's o...

This is the full 8-13-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program. On this episode of Labor Express Radio, I talk with Scott Houldieson, an electrician at the Ford Chicago assembly plant, member of UAW Local 551, former VP of UAW Local 551, and current UAWD (Unite all Workers for Democracy) Steering Committee Chair, about the reform movement in the UAW and the current contract negotiations wit...

This is a special Labor Express Radio Interview: UE General President Carl Rosen on the legacy of UE Hall. A few months ago UE General President Carl Rosen informed me that the union has decided to sell historic UE Hall at 37 S. Ashland.  It was certainly not surprising.  As Carl explains in the the interview, the Hall had begun its life in the early 20th century as a club for Chicago’s wealthy we...

This is the full 7-30-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program.  On this episode of Labor Express Radio, workers for El Milagro tortillerias and for Portillo’s, with the assistance of ARISE Chicago workers center, utilize favorable NLRB rulings to advance their organizing efforts.  UE General President Carl Rosen talks about the history and legacy of UE Hall.  And some brief words on the te...

This is the full 7-16-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program.  On this episode of Labor Express Radio, the Hollywood actors (SAG-AFTRA) go on strike.  Workers at the largest Starbucks in the world in downtown Chicago file for a union recognition election.  And from the Labor Express archive, Joe Allen, author of The Package King: A Rank and File History of UPS, discusses the history of UP...

This is the full 7-2-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program. On the latest episode of Labor Express Radio, Teamsters and the TDU prepare for a strike at UPS. Update on the Hollywood writer's strike. Chicago and Cook County minimum wages increase. Labor Express Radio is Chicago's only labor news and current affairs radio program. News for working people, by working people. Labor Ex...

This is the full 6-18-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program. On this episode of Labor Express Radio, a possible Summer-Fall 2023 strike wave looks more likely with developments with Teamsters at UPS, UAW at the Automakers, Hollywood actors joining the writers and the ILWU contract yet to be voted on. Chicago teachers win 12-weeks of parental leave and Chicago becomes a model city for wel...

This is the full 6-4-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program. On this episode of Labor Express Radio, will AI steal your job? Warehouse workers push for stronger truck emissions standards in Illinois. Strippers in Hollywood unionize. West Coast dock workers hold work stoppage. Labor Express Radio is Chicago's only labor news and current affairs radio program. News for working people, b...

This is the full 5-14-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program.  On this episode of Labor Express Radio, AI’s impact on the working class, the Hollywood Writers Strike, and May Day 2023 in Chicago. Labor Express Radio is Chicago's only labor news and current affairs radio program. News for working people, by working people. Labor Express Radio airs every Sunday at 8:00 PM on WLPN in Chi...

This is the full 4-30-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program.  On this episode of Labor Express Radio, 10th anniversary of the Rana Plaza workplace disaster, former union organizer Brandon Johnson elected Chicago’s next Mayor, teachers and parents of Hope Academy Chicago fight to keep their school open and child labor laws under attack in Iowa. Labor Express Radio is Chicago's only la...

This is the full 4-2-2023 episode of the Labor Express Radio program.  On this episode of Labor Express Radio, Hong Kong unions fight for survival under government suppression, Teamsters organize for a possible strike at UPS in August and the French working class in open revolt against Macron. Labor Express Radio is Chicago's only labor news and current affairs radio program. News for working...