In Episode 102 we chat with Drs. Denise Vesper and Michael Zickar about a recent special collaborative piece they published in Occupational Health Science. In this powerful episode we dive deep into the evolving role of labor unions in promoting worker health and safety across the globe.

Topics include:

* The psychological impact of strikes and union activity

* How unions address health and safety risks in high-hazard industries

* The resurgence of organized labor in the U.S. (Starbucks, UAW, Volkswagen)

* The intersection of IO psychology and labor movements

* Policy gaps and the role of unions in climate change and mental health advocacy

Whether you're an IO psychologist, HR professional, union member, or just curious about the future of work, this episode offers rich insights into how organized labor is adapting to global challenges—and why researchers should pay attention.

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You can find the paper here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=Z38glpIAAAAJ&sortby=pubdate&citation_for_view=Z38glpIAAAAJ:iH-uZ7U-co4C

You can find Dr. Vesper here: https://www.uni-saarland.de/lehrstuhl/koenig/personen/denise-vesper-msc.html

You can find Dr. Zickar here: https://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/psychology/people/mzickar.html

Keywords: labor unions, occupational health, worker safety, IO psychology, strikes, union research, workplace well-being, global labor movements, climate change, mental health, industrial-organizational psychology, union advocacy

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