The Solidarity Report

Joshua Towne and Tevita ‘Uhatafe sit down with Darryl Campbell and Kristy Vance of ‘The Workers’ Rights & Democracy Hub’ to discuss their revolutionary labor education and trade union exposure program for the next generation of America’s workforce.

Adrienne, Sierra, and Matt from the University of Chicago Press Workers Guild join The Solidarity Report to discuss how and why they chose to unionize.

This discussion breaks down the scope of the UCPWG.

• The newly certified unionized crafts/professions

• How different professions came together

• How and when the process started

• When the momentum started, the “Ah, ha!” moment, "We are actually doing this!"

• Unionizing allows workers to have a voice regarding how AI might impact them

• COVID-19’s impact on solidarity

• Wages vs inflation

• 8/8/8

• Community support

• Forming a bargaining committee

• Final takeaways

• Grassroots unionism

Michael Sainato labor reporter for the Guardian joins Mathew and Joshua on the Solidarity Report to discuss labor topic. This discussion includes-Michaels introduction to labor relations as a reporter-How media is works-How media has changed-How media has manipulated stories-How money has impacted our culture-Discussion on "The New York nurses replaced by AI" article-Discussion on "US labor board more likely to dismiss worker and union charges under Trump, analysis finds" and "US Supreme Court rules Trump can fire leaders of independent agencies" articles-How union busters, Billionaires, and Corporations are destroying working conditions and wages.-How union density is droping -Mentioning of "How AI may drive union-resistant tech workers to the bargaining table" article-How AI may affect news reporters and journalism-Final takeaways

Shannon Veira a registered nurse and committee chair of the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) at Mass General Brigham (MGB) Home Care sits down with Matthew and Joshua to discuss the 7 day strike and the on going dispute between all the disciplines. this discussion includes-Fight First Contract-Voting to become a union -All different disciplines coming together to bargain together-Actions taking by membership-What the 7-day strike looked like-How organizing happened-How working conditions changed -Money and Work Schedule and Commuting from patient to patient -Solidarity and Unions forming-Weaponizing the clinicians compassion-Impacts of Covid-19-Returning to the bargaining table-Social Media to follow-Community Support-Balancing Life, Union, Workload-Final takeaways

President Eric Schultz returns to The Solidarity Report Podcast and gives an update on the situation between British Petroleum and USW 7-1. Eric, Joshua, and Sarah discuss the following topics.

-How the membership is holding up after being locked out for over 120 days.

-How does that impact and shape younger and older members

-Community Support for USW 7-1

-Political allies and influences

-Rally at British Petroleum Headquarters on June 26

-Disturbances at the oil refinery and British Petroleum's lack of transparency

-Progress at the negotiation table

-Jordan Marks influence on hurting working people in Beaumont Tx and now Whiting In

-How members viewed the shareholders meeting in London.

-How British Petroleum has learned how to far to push the enovlope

-Solidarity T-shirts

-How to support the locked out oil workers

-The Poker Run (August 8, 2026)

-Dropkick Murphys endorsement of the USW 7-1

-The Effigies and The Bollweevils Benefit Concert (August 21, 2026)

-What advice would Eric Schultz give Eric Schultz at the start of the lock out

-Final Takeaways

Chris Garlock and Harold Philips of The Labor Radio Podcast Network join The Solidarity Report. This interesting conversations includes:-Turning points on becoming an activist -Blending Media and Labor movement -How The Labor Radio Podcast Network evolved -Harold talks about his journey to becoming a union actor-Union contracts in the acting field-Threats of artificial intelligence to the acting field-Thoughts on pro wrestling joining the unionized workforce-How any job can become a union job-Labor Notes Conference -Labor Heritage Foundation-Overlap of culture and labor-Great Labor Exchange -Labor Site Seeing Map-Preserving history as history is happening-How the Labor Radio-Podcast Weekly Program comes together-Partnership with Teamsters local 1932 streaming radio station 24/7 -Worker Power Hour and Podcasts Replaying on The Worker Power Radio Network -The Valley Labor Report-How to reach audiences through internet and radio-Letter Carriers being the fabricate of AmericaWebsites and Channels to check out-The Labor Radio-Podcast Network Homepagehttps://www.laborradionetwork.org-Work Power Radio Streaminghttps://workerpowerradio.ismyradio.com/#google_vignette -Harold Philips Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@UCWC17pXQG773bY33_3j31lQ -Harold Philips Home Pagehttps://www.haroldphillips.net-Labor Heritage Home Pagehttps://www.laborheritage.org/content.aspx?page_id=0&club_id=533040-Labor Landmarkshttps://labor-landmarks.supersoul.top-Labor Notes Home Pagehttps://www.labornotes.org

AFSCME Dave has a discussion with Joshua and Matthew about a multitude of issues that concern his members in Ann Arbor. This discussion includes -The approach AFSCME local 369 took into contract negotiations -How long contracts typically take between NALC and USPS-How transparency has impacted the AFSCME 369 local and aided in educating the public-Organizing and engaging members to go to city council meetings-Reviewing some of ASFCME Dave's social media clips/posts and in depth explanation why the clip/post is important-Dave's Solidarity with the Ann Arbor Teachers and other unions-The lack of wage increases and low starting wages-Attacks on Public Service with threats of privatization -Membership of ASFCME local 369 being priced out of like at or around Ann Arbor

Joel is a Starbucks worker at the University Heights store which recently unionized and converses with Joshua and Matthew about it. The episode starts off with a clip of Joshua and Mathew attending the Sip-in at that store which promoted solidarity as the workers went on to vote to for their union later that week. Joel, Joshua, and Matthew go on to discuss a variety of topics that include,

- Enjoying their occupations

- Why the union is needed in University Heights store.

- Reaction to More Perfect Union's Clip and coverage of Starbucks Workers United and acknowledgement of the deep dive More Perfect Union has done to bring out why Starbucks Workers United is needed.

-How did organizing the store look-How intense the union busting became between declaration and the six weeks until the vote.

-What the final vote looked like and how it impacted different people.

-Education and conversation amongst co-workers and personal friends

-Points and Reflection on what to tell new employees on why the union is important

-No Contract, No Coffee and supporting the union campaign and strike fund

Clip From More Perfect Union can be found here

https://youtu.be/AcqPXzIzI_E

Clip From Starbucks Workers United can be found here

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX2ZjG8yypR/

Support Starbucks Workers United at

https://unioncoffeegear.com

Joshua and John engage in conversations with Rhode Island AFL-CIO President Patrick Crowley.The conversation topics include-What is the AFL-CIO?-Central Labor Councils and/ Area Labor Federations-2026 AFL-CIO Convention-The progress of the labor movement during the past 30 years. If you like this episode check out some of these linkshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDSMurJv_s8https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CwD11LaL7/https://www.facebook.com/RIAFLCIOhttps://www.labornotes.org/2026/04/how-rhode-islands-labor-movement-made-its-weight-felt-politics

Orlando Weekly's own McKenna Schueler visits the Solidarity Report and speaks with Joshua and John about Florida's state.

There are discussions about

-SB 256 a union busting bill that has started to decimate Florida unions starting when the bill passed in 2023. As well as a new union busting bill in Florida SB 1296.

-IBEW 606 organizing Titusville public workers after working conditions decline after LiUNA local 630 decertified due to SB 256

-How union busting has become an expensive business for owners and lucrative for busters.

-Snapshot on Labor Notes Convention

Follow McKenna Schueler at

https://www.orlandoweekly.com

https://substack.com/@caringclassrevolt?utm_source=global-search

Check out

http://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/labor/blue-collar-city-workers-on-floridas-space-coast-form-new-union

www.orlandoweekly.com/news/labor/the-union-avoidance-industry-is-worth-1-7-billion-florida-union-busters-are-cashing-in

https://inthesetimes.com/article/labor-notes-organizers-strategy-workers-unions