* M.L. Elrick (Twitter @elrick/Facebook ML ELRICK/Instagram ml_elrick), Shawn Windsor (Twitter @ShawnWindsor), Marc Fellhauer (Twitter @MarcFell) and Detroit Free Press contributing columnist Darren Nichols (Twitter @dnick12/Facebook Darren Nichols) labor to make sense of union matters. Matt Jennings (Twitter @MattRJennings) joins us later with a latte while Joey Zuver checks with his shop steward on the grievance he filed over his working conditions.* THE STRAIGHT DOPE: ML is laboring to get his energy up as he prepares to celebrate Labor Day, albeit a day or two late.* Darren discusses what it was like to hit the picket line during the last great newspaper strike in American history. Shawn and ML share how they handled efforts to recruit them as replacement workers.* On yet another tangent, ML recounts his trip to corporate HQ with Jim Schaefer and the warning they received to NOT TOUCH THE BIG BLUE BALL — OR ELSE!!!* Darren was 24 years old when the 1995 Detroit News and Free Press lockout interrupted his career. He discusses how he got by.* Marc wonders how union members felt about Mitch Albom’s actions during the lockout. Darren doesn’t pull any punches.* Marc asks ML if he supports ALL unions. The short answer is “Yes.” For the full answer, you’ll have to listen. And, modestly, we think it’s worth your time.* ML’s coverage of Detroit Will Breathe’s lawsuit against the City of Detroit and Detroit Police inspired some nasty emails. He reads some, and invites the rest of the crew to share some of their “favorite” hate mail. Readers did not like the story about protesters suing Detroit or the one about a federal judge temporarily halting some tactics.* For those of you keeping track at home, by this point in the show there have been several Kwame Kilpatrick stories worked into the narrative. Listen and see if you can catch them all!* ML plays a nasty voicemail he received at Fox 2. It was included in his look back at some of 2017’s greatest (s)hits. If you missed it, please watch it here.* THE GREAT DEBATE: What should the public make of stories based on anonymous sources — and do reporters use them too much? Listen before you answer, because while you may hate some stories based on anonymous sources, I guarantee there’s at least one major investigation you love that was supported by unnamed sources. * GEEK OF THE WEEK:  The peasants are revolting! Shawn calls a wildcat strike and refuses to work until ML agrees to name his Geek before Shawn takes his turn. Reluctantly, ML makes the concession.