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This week on Belabored, Sarah and Michelle bring you the news of the week: Justin Timberlake is “bringing unions back,” sushi workers win a settlement for wage theft, France may be cracking down on sex work, and, of course, there were strikes aplenty last week. They discuss the attacks on pensions in Illinois and the bankruptcy proceedings in Detroit, and look at the labor movement’s strategy for beating global brands like Amazon, Walmart, and Starbucks at their own game. Featuring interviews with Walmart worker organizer Colby Harris and Greg Jones of the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers, and some “Argh! I wish I’d written that!” stories that look at the big picture.

Links for those following along at home:

French MPs vote to impose fines on prostitutes’ customers

NSWP Statement: Proposals to Criminalise the Purchase of Sex in France

Justin Timberlake is bringing unions back: unionized dancers on the singer’s new tour

Background on Fat Salmon Sushi: Belabored Episode 6 with Jake Blumgart

Background on Detroit’s bankruptcy: Belabored Episode 16 with Marcy Wheeler

Liveblog: Detroit bankruptcy proceedings

#PensionTheft: Public Workers Under Attack in Illinois

How Chicago Whole Foods Workers Won Back Thanksgiving 

Keeping Postage Public

Dave Dayen on Postal Banking

Sarah on Black Friday action at Walmart

Stories we wish we’d written:

Sarah: Robert Kuttner, “The Task Rabbit Economy”

Michelle: Bruce Bennett and Imogen Tyler: “The War on Welfare: From ‘Social Security’ to ‘Social Insecurity’”

The post Belabored Podcast #33: Pension Theft and Beating Big Brands appeared first on Dissent Magazine.