Leslie is joined by Maria Somma, Organizing Director for the United Steelworkers (USW).

The pair explores why workers still need the PRO Act.

This includes white collar workers, which Maria shares multiple examples of with the audience.
Workers in the South are also eager to exercise their rights, though this is drawing backlash from anti-worker politicians in states like Georgia and Alabama.

The Biden administration has done important work to correct course at the NLRB, and there are pro-worker provisions in recent investments, which are helping smooth the way for workers to have a voice on the job.  This includes extensive new requirements for infrastructure projects to be “made in America” as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Known as the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA), this section of the law promises to stimulate American manufacturing and create jobs for American workers by ensuring that a substantial portion of BIL funding is used to purchase U.S.-made products and materials.

However, workers still face an uphill battle when it comes to forming unions.  The solution is to finally pass comprehensive legislation that shores up loopholes in our laws and attaches real, immediate penalties to corporations that violate workers’ rights. 
Leslie and Maria share the legislative solution to these issues, which is the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act).

They detail what the law would do, which is:
- Establish stronger and swifter remedies to stop employers from breaking the law
- Make companies recognize contractors as part of the collective bargaining process so they can no longer continue to whittle down Union membership by subcontracting
- Force an employer to reach a first contract in a timely manner with a newly organized group of workers. (No more dragging out first contracts)
- Reverse so-called 'Right to Work,' regardless of state laws
 - Prohibit employers from forcing employees to attend anti-union meetings
Recent polls show that support for unions is at a fifty-year high, and having Joe Biden, the only sitting President to walk a picket line, in office has helped workers a great deal.  But, it’s time for the law to catch up. 

Maria Somma has been an organizer for her entire career, first as a community organizer, and then as a labor organizer. 
She started with the Steelworkers in 2001 as a healthcare workers organizer, and became Organizing Director in 2015.
The website for the USW is www.USW.org.
Their handle on X and Instagram is @steelworkers. Like them on Facebook by visiting www.Facebook.com/Steelworkers.

The Leslie Marshall Show - 6/21/24 - Workers Need the PRO Act

Leslie is joined by Sean O'Brien, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

The two discuss the Teamsters winning a groundbreaking joint employer decision against Amazon, United Airlines Teamsters rallying nationwide for a strong new contract, and Costco fleet drivers overwhelmingly authorizing a strike.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit www.Teamster.org for more information. Follow them on X and Instagram, where their handle is @Teamsters, and “like” them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Teamsters.
Sean's handle on X is @TeamsterSOB.

Teamsters President Talks Unionizing Workers at Amazon, United Airlines and Costco

We talk to delivery rider Nitesh Kumar about being assaulted in Berlin while working as a delivery rider. Listen now to stay informed about feminist matters, the easy way.

Episode 181: Real Talk with Delivery Rider Nitesh Kumar

This EP is intended as a preview for my upcoming release Just Another Wonderful Day. It features 2 original songs by me, 2 cover songs, and 2 songs from other projects I've been a part of.

The overarching theme of this EP, and the album some of the songs come from, is the theme of Antiwork, Antitoil, Anticapitalism, Workers Rights, Worker Solidarity; especially coming from a neurodivergent, autistic, and ADHD point of view.

The title and first track Who Killed Saint Monday taken from and inspired by The Tyranny of the Clock writeup by Anarchist George Woodcock, as well as an 18th-century folk song from Sheffield, England, "The Jovial Cutler"

files.libcom.org/files/TheTyrannyoftheClock.pdf
credits
released May 1, 2025

See individual tracks for detailed credits

Steven Wayne Smith - all instruments on tracks 1 & 3, various instruments on the rest
David Dick - Vocals on 2, 4, 5, and 6. Organ on track 2, Synth on track 5, Organ on track 2, Stylophone on track 6
Anna Schmidt - Vocals on tracks 2 and 4
Sean Soucy - Acoustic guitar on track 4, electric guitar and vocals on track 5
Andrew Burdic - Bass on track 5
Dana Todd - Vocals on track 2
Dan MacCallum - vocals and flute on track 2, percussion and production on track 6
Adam Peterson - Vocals on track 2

Track 2 written by Ralph Chaplin
Track 4 written by John Lennon

Who Killed Saint Monday?

Tyranny of the Clock

Labor Day

Beg For Scraps

Solidarity Forever

03 Incompatibility

Working Class Hero

Incompatibility

Busking on YouTube, TikTok, SoundCloud & Instagram; showing off my diverse guitar collection! Check out my current and past projects! Drop me a like, subscribe, & if you feel so inclined share with me your own guitar playing or stories in the comments. 

Check out my recorded music here:
The Alliterates - Garage or Punk Rock | Drums, Vocals, Production, Various Instruments
https://thealliterates.bandcamp.com/
Lucid Fugue - Experimental | Various Instruments, Vocals
https://lucidfugue.bandcamp.com
Megaton - Sludge Metal | Vocals/Lead Guitar 
https://megatonomaha.bandcamp.com/album/destroyer-of-worlds
Valley of Shadows - Heavy Rock | Lead guitar, backing vocals
https://valleyofshadows.bandcamp.com/ 

Banner Image: https://www.deviantart.com/xzgigazx/art/Green-Lightning-106384306

#musicproducer #music #artist #guitar #guitarplayer #guitarlesson #guitarlessons #guitaraddict #guitaramp #guitarapp #guitaraesthetic #bassguitar #bassist #drummer #drums #heavymetal #jazzblues #blues #bluesrock #stonerrock #sludgemetal #doommetal

The best progressive talk right here, on demand. Always Progressive, Always On!

Stay informed about feminist news and culture, the easy way.

This podcast is a labour of love -- support our work via Patreon or hit the Paypal button on our Soundcloud: https://www.patreon.com/Msinformed

Theme song by Alejandro Mosso: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4u5Ii39u9AXwZL9mluueZr

Subscribe to our newsletter via the link below:
https://msinformed.substack.com/

Brought to you by Rina Grob and Madhvi Ramani

New tracks tagged #worker rights