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 officer and member of USW Local 6500 in Sudbury, Canada.

Their stories highlight why this fight is global and why the labor movement must keep pushing.

Music in today's episode is by Ketsa.