Season 1 of LUS is complete

Irish workers fight for economic justice and union recognition under the leadership of "Big Jim" Larkin and the ITGWU. Click on the picture for audio.

 This episode drills into the history of the Southern Tenant Farmer  Union, a pioneering, multi-racial formation that grew in the South in  the 30's & 40's.  Click on the picture for audio.

 Militant Black Autoworkers in Detroit formed the Dodge Revolutionary  Union Movement in the late 60's. DRUM fought both The Chrysler  Corporation and the United Auto Workers union for a better deal and a  better world. Click on the picture for audio.

Harry Haywood was both history maker and witness to revolutionary activism through the 20th century. Yet he is absent from many labor history books. Why? Click on the picture for audio.

We celebrate International Women's Day with a tribute to our militant sisters. From  martyred Fannie Sellins to modern day labor hero Dolores Huerta, women have always been at the spear point of labor history. Click on the picture for audio.

Sadly, it appears that I've lost the audio file for this show. The story of the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union is a fascinating chapter in American labor history. Here's a link to Cornell U.'s excellent ILGWU archives. Click on the picture for the link.

Hazel Dickens' music is a sound track for working people's struggles. She knew of what she sang in songs like "Coal Miner's Blues", "Black Lung", and "Coal Mining Women".

Its 1917 and its copper country in Bisbee, AZ. One of the most outrageous crimes against workers ever pits Mary "Mother" Jones, "Big Bill" Haywood, and the IWW against the Phelps-Dodge Mining Co and their hired gun thugs.

A labor war story too big for just one episode! Intra-union conflict, murder, and legalized kidnapping are all there in Bisbee, Pt. 2.

 Episode 19 celebrates International Workers Day, May 1 or May Day. We  celebrate martyrs in the struggle for the 8 hour day and sample some May  Day/Labor/struggle music from local to international. 

 We pay tribute to Irish labor leader and revolutionary James Connolly on  the anniversary of his execution by the British government. 

Uvalde- a society that will not protect its children...Raging and mourning through song.

 Episode 22 explores the complex history of teacher unions in the US. The  road from "professional associations" to militant fighting unions was  long and difficult. Now put your pencils down and give me your undivided  attention while I teach you a lesson.... 

 Episode 23 continues the story of the birth, growth, and transformation of teacher unions in the U.S.  This episode covers important battles from the 70's to the present. 

 In Episode 24 of LUS, we explore how we've experienced Independence Day  over time and from different perspectives. We are joined by Frederick  Douglass, James Earl Jones, and Paul Robeson- and a new version of our  theme song, "Which Side Are You On?". 

 Episode 25 of LUS celebrates "Woodyfest", a music festival celebrating  the life and work of Woody Guthrie. We also revisit the Ludlow Massacre  through music and narrative. 

 Episode 26 pays tribute to Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, the "Miner's  Angel". "Mother Jones", an indominable Irish immigrant, was involved in  labor struggles across the U.S. for over 50 years. She had a special  relationship with miners, hence the sobriquet, "The Miner's Angel". We  celebrate her in words and music. 

 Episode 27 pays homage to one of the great socialist labor leaders in  American history, Eugene Victor Debs, also known as "Convict #9653. He received a million votes for President in 1920, though he was imprisoned at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary at the time. 

 Episode 28 of LUS present s the story of the first union organized and  lead by African-American workers- The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car  Porters- and its leader, A. Phillip Randolph. A critical chapter in  North American labor history and civil rights history. 

 On the anniversary of the beginning of the Delano (CA) grape  strike. We tell the story of the heroic Filipino and Latino agricultural  workers who successfully struck for better wages, working conditions  and union recognition and a contract. It was one of the most successful  boycott movements in labor history. Si, se puede! 

 Episode 30 doffs its cap to labor martyr (and Wobbly) Joe Hill. Famous  for the sign-off, "Don't Mourn, Organize", Joe was an organizer,  troubador, and legend. Gotta be a musical episode! 

 Episode 31 of LUS pays tribute to Guyanese scholar, historian and  activist Walter Rodney who was assassinated in 1980. His best known work  is "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa". 

 We complete Season 1 with a tribute to Wisconsin Labor History icon Ken Germanson.