Solidarity Works

In 2023, workers at Frontier Ambulance made history by organizing the first union in Wyoming in decades. But the fight wasn't over. This August, the USW members stepped up again when the county announced it was switching to an out-of-town ambulance service, threatening their union jobs and the community's care. 

Listen to our latest episode to hear how the newly organized union banded together to defeat this plan and save their own ambulance service.

Music in today's episode is by Ketsa.

More than a hundred years ago, an immigrant worker named Joe Hill was traveling across the United States, working wherever he could find a job and writing songs along the way. He had a particular talent for taking what workers already knew—low wages, bad bosses, broken promises, company towns—and turning it into songs people could sing together.

Then, in 1915, the state of Utah executed Joe Hill for murder.

In today's episode, we break down the life, death, and legacy of the early 20th-century Swedish immigrant and songwriter who still has something to say to w...

More than 2,000 feet beneath the surface in southeastern New Mexico is the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, or WIPP — a facility designed to safely dispose of certain radioactive waste deep underground. For two USW members, it's been home for decades.

Dora Ledbetter has worked at WIPP since 2008, while Dora Lopez has been there since 1998. Together, they've spent nearly three decades at the site, learning the job, looking out for their coworkers, and building a life in a workplace where safety is an entire culture.

Today, we're talking about what it's really like to work 2,150 feet underground, wh...

Heat is the leading cause of weather-related workplace deaths—and it's preventable. Yet workers still don't have a federal heat safety standard.

In this episode of Solidarity Works, USW Health, Safety and Environment Director Steve Sallman explains what's at stake, why the fight for heat protections matters, and what workers can do to protect themselves on the job.

Music in this episode is by BlueDot Sessions.

For years, workers were told they had to choose between good union jobs and a healthy planet.

Twenty years ago, the BlueGreen Alliance helped prove that wasn't true.

In the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we sit down with Executive Director Jason Walsh to discuss the Alliance's origins, its evolution over two decades, and why labor and environmental advocates must continue working together to build a clean economy that creates and sustains good union jobs.

Listen now and learn why the fight for workers and the fight for a sustainable future are the...

In 1941, a young priest in Spain helped spark a movement that would transform worker ownership forever. Today, that spirit is crossing the Atlantic.

In our latest episode, we explore the emerging "Union Co-op" model—a powerful hybrid that combines the democratic ownership of a cooperative with the protective strength of a union.

We speak with Ellen Vera, Director of Co-Op Cincy, about the "how-to" of worker ownership: how to transition an existing business, how to start a new venture from scratch, and the common mistakes to avoid. We also talk with Rob Witherall of the Un...

Every day, millions of workers around the world go to work knowing their job is hard. But no one should go to work knowing it might slowly take their breath away.

Across the United States and Canada, USW members are on the front lines of the fight against silica dust exposure, pushing for stronger protections, enforcement of safety rules, and justice for workers who've already been harmed.

We're talking with several activists who know this fight firsthand: Marshal Cummings, a USW safety leader working in the mining industry in Wyoming, and Sean Staddon, a compensation...

From the Twin Cities to Georgia, ICE enforcement has hit working-class communities hard. In the latest episode of Solidarity Works, two labor leaders—Minnesota USW staff representative Justin Recla and USW Civil and Human Rights Director Alex Perkins—share how they've responded, what tools are available to every local, and why this fight belongs to all of us.

Music in today's episode by Ketsa and Lobo Loco.

Pete Seeger treated music as a communal act—a circle, not a spotlight.

In our newest episode, we explore how Pete braided together labor organizing, civil rights, environmental justice, and peace through song. From congressional blacklisting to union halls and river clean-ups, his legacy isn't frozen in time—it's instructional.

Thank you to the Seeger family for sharing Pete's music with us for this episode.

Other music by: Tolset Music and Black Trend Music.

Artificial intelligence is changing how we work, how we communicate, and how we live — but who's making sure workers aren't left behind?

In the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we sit down with Ed Wytkind, Interim Executive Director of the AFL-CIO Technology Institute, to talk about the federation's new Workers First Initiative on AI.

The initiative lays out a bold plan to make sure technology serves people — not the other way around — by putting worker voices at the center of innovation, bargaining, and public policy.

From protecting jobs and privacy to creating new opport...

In 1909, a 23-year-old immigrant named Clara Lemlich stood up in New York's Cooper Union and said, "I have no more patience for talk—I move that we go on a general strike."

The next morning, 20,000 garment workers—mostly young immigrant women—walked off the job.

Their courage changed labor history forever.

Tune into our latest episode to hear how their fight reshaped workers' rights for generations.

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Music from today's episode is by: Tar Sahno and Semion Krivenko-Adamo

Sources:

Jewish Women's Archive, "Uprising of 20,000 (1909)."

Glob...

In the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we expose the Trump administration's sweeping cuts to public education and research funding—from K-12 schools to university labs. Educators, union leaders, and graduate researchers reveal how these attacks threaten working families, marginalized students, and the future of innovation itself.

Tune in to learn firsthand how communities are being forced to fight back to defend learning, dignity, and the public good.

Music in this episode is by Ketsa.

Long before World War II officially kicked off in 1939, trade unionists were already sounding the alarm. They saw fascism for what it was—racism, anti-Semitism, militarism, authoritarianism.

Union workers and leaders resisted—they distributed leaflets, hid their Jewish neighbors and co-workers, sabotaged Nazi logistics, and even joined armed struggle.

In the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we dive into this powerful—and often overlooked—period of resistance in modern history led by everyday workers who stood up against fascism and showed that solidarity is not merely a word; it's an action.

Music from today's...

As ICE raids ramp up and communities across the nation are gripped by fear, we're looking back to a powerful legacy of worker resistance in the latest episode of Solidarity Works.

The Legacy of Delano tells the story of how Filipino and Latino farmworkers united in 1965 to ignite a labor movement that changed history.

Today, organizers like Local 675's Xochityl Cobarruvias carry that spirit forward, mobilizing against injustice and defending immigrant workers under attack.

Tune in to hear how courage, unity, and nonviolence still light the path to justice. 

John Stevens has been a member of USW Local 341 in Newark, Ohio, for six years and works at an aluminum factory. On Thurs., June 5, he and fellow union members walked the halls of Congress to remind lawmakers about the promise the government made to veterans like him. 

This fight to preserve benefits and services for America's defenders is personal to John in many ways. He lost his older brother, also a military veteran, to suicide in 2017.

Hear John's story and learn about some of the legislation that could help prevent similar losses and other hardships f...

Kim Kelly began her writing career in the heavy metal world – she even adopted a moniker known as Grim Kim – but it wasn't long before her family's labor roots caught hold. She joined a union when writing for Vice, a digital publishing platform, and soon her stories took a turn toward more fervent working-class issues.

Now, Kim is an author and public speaker with two books on the shelves focused on American labor history and a passion for speaking truth to power. In this episode of Solidarity Works, we'll learn about the journalist's unique career path, what insp...

On Friday, April 25, thousands of labor activists, including USW members, marched and chanted through the streets of Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico, as part of an annual event commemorating the murders of two Los Mineros union members who were killed while on strike in 2006.

In today's episode, we recount the mine explosion and consequential strike that led Los Mineros President Napoleon Gomez to live in exile for nearly a decade in Canada. We're also chatting with members who attended this year's trip to Mexico, as well as a USW activist who participated in a recent global youth ex...

From the 1800s to yesterday afternoon, women and girls across the United States have led historic organizing campaigns, and today we're honoring one of these powerful yet lesser known activists whose story deserves to be told.

Emma Tenayuca was only 18 when she began organizing workers for the first time in San Antonio, Texas, in the 1930s, but even then she understood what a good wage could mean to the thousands of Mexican women keeping the city's pecan shelling thriving while they themselves lived in slums.

Her story shows that anyone, no matter your age or...

This episode kicks off the first in a series we hope to continue featuring SOAR (Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees) activists offering us their words of wisdom as the labor movement enters a time of great change and upheaval.

Today we speak with Nellie Caraballo, a former USW staff rep and public sector worker who is now a proud SOAR member, about the early challenges she endured on the job that ended with her stepping up in her local union and in her community. 

She also reflects on what she learned about people during her or...

California musician and activist Jonny Miller Jr. is continuing his ancestors' legacy by making his mark on the labor movement. He sings on picket lines, writes songs about the working class, and teaches the next generation about the importance of labor history.

In the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk with Jonny about his career, his love of labor, and the traditional connection between art and activism.

Learn more and buy Jonny's labor album, IE Songs, at https://jonnymillerjr.com/. 

From salt and copper to soda ash and iron ore, members of the USW mine the many crucial resources needed to keep the U.S, Canada, and the world moving. It's an industry that goes back 150 years, and it's an industry that has seen exponential change over the past several decades.

In the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we're speaking with USW Vice President of Administration Emil Ramirez about all things mining. He talks about what the historic sector looks like in District 11, which he calls home, as well as what the future of the industry as...

Most people who are familiar with Karen Silkwood likely learned of the chemical technician through the 1983 film Silkwood starring Meryl Streep and Cher. But the movie is no mere Hollywood drama; it is based on the true story of a young woman and union member who fought to expose her employer for deliberately misleading workers and exposing them to harmful chemicals. 

This battle ended in Karen Silkwood's death on November 13, 1974, a death that few people see as accidental.

Today we're recounting the legacy of Karen Silkwood as we approach the 50th anniversary of the fatal c...

Last month, members of the United Steelworkers union from across the U.S. traveled to the nation's capital in Washington, D.C., to talk to their elected officials about the importance of reauthorizing Trade Adjustment Assistance. This program, which expired in 2022, provides training and educational opportunities for workers who lost their jobs due to foreign countries like China circumventing trade rules.

In today's episode, we're talking with David Van Pevenage, who was part of the D.C. coalition and who worked at a WestRock paper mill in Washington state until it was shuttered due to unfair trade...

The USW partners with labor organizations around the world to connect workers with common employers and help them build power. In the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk with Local 12075 President Kent Holsing and USW retiree Mike Zielinski about some of these partnerships, including a years-long alliance with rubber workers in Liberia, and why this solidarity is vital for union members everywhere.

Music in this episode was brought to you by IntraHealth International and Kevin MacLeod.

the podium at the state house in Lansing, Michigan, to give powerful testimony about his experience as a veteran. 

He and other activists were there to voice their support for Bill 5736, which would require employers to display a poster that outlines resources available for veterans and their families. 

This is just one of many pieces of legislation USW members are fighting to pass for workers and their families across the United States, and they're doing it through the union's Rapid Response program.

Check out the latest episode of Solidarity Works to hear from Er...

In 1975, the United States was a leader in global shipbuilding. The industry employed 180,000 workers who built more than 70 commercial ships in American shipyards.

In the early 1980s, that changed as federal spending on domestic manufacturing was slashed and foreign competitors like China employed predatory practices to dominate the industry.

Of course, the USW isn't letting this go without a fight. In this episode, we talk to USW Sub-District 1 Director Jamie Walker about the union's campaign to restore domestic shipbuiding.

Learn more at www.full-steam-ahead.org. 

More than 80 years ago, U.S. Labor Secretary Frances Perkins identified silica dust as a deadly hazard. Finally, this past April 16, MSHA, through the Department of Labor, issued a final rule reducing silica dust exposure to better protect America's miners.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, known as OSHA, also clarified a rule in another major victory for workers this month to ensure workers are able to choose their own representative to join OSHA agents during workplace inspections.

Today, we're talking with two USW health and safety experts about both of these new rules' impacts...

The USW's Next Gen program saw its humble yet historic beginnings in a resolution at the International union's Constitutional Convention in 2011. It endorsed the training and development of younger Steelworker activists to take on increasingly greater roles in their local unions, their governments and their communities.

Since then, young and newer members of the USW across the United States and Canada have answered the call to become activists, and we're talking with three of them for our latest episode. 

They'll share how they became involved in their local unions, what they believe is currently driving y...

When late International President Tom Conway took the helm of the USW in July 2019, he made a promise that his administration would work to reduce or eliminate tiered wage and benefit systems in union contracts.

Many USW locals have heeded late President Conway's call and made great strides in eliminating these tiered systems in recent years. Today we're talking with USW Vice president Luis Mendoza about how members in the paper sector have done just that, including workers at WestRock, America's second-largest packaging company.

We're also talking with Chris Frydenger, who works at a brass...

When Croatian painter and immigrant Maxo Vanka first visited Pittsburgh in 1935, he fell in love with the steel town and developed a friendship with Father Albert Zagar of the St. Nicholas Croatian Church in Millvale. 

Zagar longed for color on his church's plain walls, but he didn't want the usual imagery found in most religious houses. He knew Vanka was the perfect artist for the job.

Vanka then painted 25 individual murals that cover every inch of the church, and today, artists and activists, including members of the USW, are working to preserve the historic art t...

Members of the USW across the U.S. and Canada make the highest quality products in their industries, from Bulleit Bourbon distilled in Kentucky and All-Clad cookware handcrafted in Pennsylvania to clothing spun in Portland, Maine, at American Roots and Custom Foam pillows fabricated and molded in Ontario, Canada.

Today we're speaking with several USW members about the products they and their union siblings make and why these products are the ideal gifts for the labor supporter in your life.

Check out the latest episode of Solidarity Works to hear from two USW members who have stepped up to run for office in their communities. You'll hear about what inspired them to make these moves and why union members are uniquely equipped to serve in local government to be a voice for workers and families.

Members of the United Steelworkers union are known for being masters of production. On top of creation, we also help repair damage done in the past to ensure our communities can thrive in the future. We do this by cleaning up toxic nuclear sites to protect local residents and wildlife, and we conduct vital tests for various nuclear sector needs.

In the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk with Jim Key, who heads the USW Atomic Workers Council, about what the sector looks like today and what's to come. We'll also hear about the different sites...

This May, members at electric bus manufacturer Blue Bird in Georgia voted to join the USW. Then, in August, members at Kumho Tire, also in middle Georgia, ratified their first contract after a years-long battle to have their voices heard. Check out the latest USW podcast episode to learn how these historic campaigns happened and why they matter not just for the South but for the entire country.

This week, nearly 200 USW members who work in the vast and diverse health care sector are gathering in Pittsburgh for their first Health Care Workers Council Conference since 2018. A lot has changed in the industry over these past five years, not only due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also because of automation, short staffing, and skyrocketing rates of workplace violence.

Health and safety has quickly become one of the top priorities for the sector's workers, and USW members especially aren't waiting for employers to protect them. They're taking matters into their own hands.

In our...

For this episode of Solidarity Works, we're talking with two USW members who are currently serving as Indigenous Engagement Coordinators for the union's District 3 and 6 in Canada. Listen to learn about how they've been reconnecting to their Indigenous roots and how local unions can make a difference in making sure their Indigenous members not only survive but thrive within their communities and workplaces.

When Sean Gardener, a Buddhist chaplain in Canada, first walked into the prison where he would be providing spiritual care to people behind bars, he expected to feel nervous or fearful. Instead, he felt at home. 

Listen to our latest episode of Solidarity Works to hear from Sean, along with a public defender in Pennsylvania, talk about working in the criminal justice field and share their experiences as USW members.

At the start of this year, the USW announced a new initiative with our Rapid Response and Veterans of Steel activist groups to push for legislation that helps our military veterans, especially in the workplace.

For the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk with several USW members about their experience serving in the military and why legislation is needed to uplift veterans as they navigate re-entering civilian life.

Learn more at usw.org/vetsofsteel

From the XFL and USFL to Rugby Canada, professional athletes are organizing with the USW to gain a stronger voice on the job and protect their health and safety. Listen to the latest episode of Solidarity Works to learn about how sports unions change the game and bring teamwork to a whole new level.

In the latest episode of Solidarity Works, we talk with USW Vice President of Human Affairs Kevin Mapp and Pride at Work Co-President Brittani Murray about uniting workers across race, class, and gender to build a labor coalition that lasts.

Music in this episode is by Ketsa.