Why Are Workers Striking Now? With Doug Henwood

Do you have a different sense of work since the pandemic? Are you willing to do the same job? Workers in factory after factory have been going on strike--from John Deere to Kelloggs--to demand better pay, more time off, and benefits promised to them by their employers, many of whom have made record profits during the pandemic.

Economist Doug Henwood joins Francesca to discuss why there is a newfound labor struggle now. One answer is that workers aren’t willing to risk their lives for menial wages, and nearly losing their lives and losing loved ones lives have put what really matters into perspective. And no, your boss doesn’t factor high on the priorities list. Nor does working yourself to death.

Even though the United States is terrible at supporting working people, the stimulus checks and the American Families Plan truly have saved millions from poverty, and emboldened workers with even just a bit of extra cash. That in turn has translated to more power on the job. No wonder the elite in this country are so scared of social programs. Turns out that when people aren’t hanging on by a thread, they have enough time to get angry and organized. Time to make some demands!

Francesca was joined this week by Nato Green, a comedian, writer, dad, and labor organizer. His comedy albums include "The Whiteness Album" and "The Nato Green Party," which can be found on Bandcamp. Follow him on Twitter

Doug Henwood is an economist and journalist. He published Left Business Observer, a newsletter on economics and politics, from 1986–2013. He hosts Behind the News, a weekly radio show that originates on KPFA, Berkeley, that is rebroadcast on several other stations across the U.S., and has a worldwide audience via podcast. His book Wall Street is now available for free download. His other books include The State of the USA Atlas, After the New Economy, and My Turn.

Photograph by Joe Brusky.

Recorded October 24th, 2021

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