Interviews

WorkWeek interviews New Orleans ATU 1560 president Valerie Jefferson who was fired after standing up for her members during the hurricanes and dangerous conditions for the members. The termination by the RTA manager Wiggins came  after she demanded that the company pay for hurricane hazard pay which the company had promised the workers if they left their homes and families to operate the busses.
She and other workers and supporters talk about the conditions that ATU 1560 members face and the conditionsof the working class. The company now says that they refuse to recognize Valerie Jefferson as president of the union which
is a violation of the law and part of what the workers call a union busting attack threatening all trade unionists.They also discuss the systemic racism on the job which they call the plantation mentality.
This interview was done on 9/22/21
Additional media:
Solidarity Petition With ATU 1560 New Orleans Transit Workers and Fired President Valerie Jefferson
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/we-demand-hurricane-pay-for-rta-bus-operators/
New Orleans RTA ATU Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1560 Union president Valerie Jefferson alleges retaliatory firing over hurricane hazard pay
https://thelensnola.org/2021/09/14/rta-union-president-alleges-retaliatory-firing-over-hurricane-hazard-pay/
ATU LOCAL 1560 Members "Drivers" are being forced to work without Proper Training by the RTA
https://atulocal1560.org/local-1560/news
Zurik: Newly hired RTA CEO Wiggins has trail of ‘retaliation’ complaints, including a six-figure settlement to keep complaint quiet
https://www.fox8live.com/2020/11/24/zurik-newly-hired-rta-ceo-has-trail-retaliation-complaints-including-six-figure-settlement-keep-complaint-quiet
In New Orleans Transit COVID-19 Spreads Through RTA Staff As Safety Measures And Federal Guidance Lag
https://www.wwno.org/latest-news/2020-04-23/covid-19-spreads-through-rta-staff-as-safety-measures-and-federal-guidance-lag
WorkWeek
https://soundcloud.com/workweek-radio
workweeknow@gmail.com
#laborradionetwork  #LaborRadioPod  #1u  #UnionStrong

Contact the RTA Board of Commissioners and tell them to reinstate Valerie Jefferson, fire CEO Alex Wiggins, and give RTA workers the respect and pay that they are due!
Email: RTABoard@RTAforward.org mark.raymond@norta.com fred.neal@norta.com fdaniels@rtaforward.org
Call: Flozell Daniels: 225-772-7389, Mark Raymond: 504-982-5268, Fred Neal: 225-803-3836, Laura Bryan: 504-295-6047

WW 9-22-21 New Orleans ATU1560  Pres Valerie Jefferson Fights Firing, For Justice & Human Rights

International labor troubadour David Rovics talks about his life and musical work. He also discusses his experience with efforts to cancel him because of his music on the role of Israel and the US in the Middle East.
This is part 1 of a two part series.
Additional links:
http://davidrovics.com/
WorkWeek
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workweeknow@gmail.com
#laborradionetwork  #LaborRadioPod  #1u  #UnionStrong
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WW 2-17-22 Labor Troubadour David Rovics, Canceling & Zionism Part 1

WorkWeek looks a the  threat to San Francisco City Worker Pension Funds. Wendy Paskin-Jordan has been reappointed to a five year term on the San Francisco City & County Employees' Retirement System board SFERS by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. She has received special favors to  invest in hedge funds. WorkWeek interviews investigative journalist David Sirota who has been writing about these San Francisco pension board conflicts and the move to invest in hedge funds nationally including in New Jersey. WorkWeek  next examines the growing restriction of transparency  and privatization of California State government andthe Department of Industrial Relations DIR which runs Cal-Osha and manages the workers compensation system for injured workers. On December 15,  a reporter at KPFA WorkWeek was prevented from attending a "private event" at the Oakland state building where these issues were being discussed. The meeting was funded by the insurance industry and used state workers and state funds.
For more programs on WorkWeek go to
https://soundcloud.com/workweek-radio
workweek@kpfa.org

WW12-23-14 SF Public Pensions With David Sirota & CA DIR Secret Meeting

WorkWeek looks at the massacre in Ankara Turkey of over 100 trade unionists, Kurdish people and political activists at  rally for peace on Saturday October 10, 2015. Interviewed is Turkey Hurriet journalist Stefens Martens who is also a member of the journalists union  Basın-İş  and was at the rally which at the rally which was bombed and Ali Ergin who is with the labor website Sendika.
They discuss who was behind the bombing and the growing repression and attacks on working people and all political opposition.
Next WorkWeek interviews Al Rojas who was one of the founders of the United Farmworkers Of America. He discusses a recent public letter he wrote on the 50th anniversary of the Delano grape workers strike and boycott. He also discusses the struggle of the Sakuma agricultural workers in the state of Washington and the San Quintin Baja agricultural workers who had a strike of 70,000 farmworkers in Baja.
They have starvation wages at $7 to $8 a day and the companies refuse to recognize their union.
Production of WorkWeek Radio
workweek@kpfa.org
https://soundcloud.com/workweek-radio


WW10 -13-15 Turkey Attack On Labor and UFWA Farmworkers  Driscoll

WorkWeek looks at the growing mass workers strike movement in Mexico with Al Rojas who is a co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union and with LCLAA in Sacramento. He discusses the privatization of the Mexican economy pushed by the United States and the fight of teachers against privatization. He also discusses the "comprehensive immigration reform" proposed by the Democrats which would further militarize the border and establish guest worker broker centers in Mexico run by the UFWA to bring these workers to the United States where they would be union members under an agency shop.
Production of WorkWeek Radio
workweek@kpfa.org
https://soundcloud.com/workweek-radio

WW6 -14-16 Mexican Workers Strike  Teachers and Guest Workers

WorkWeek looks at the result of the elections for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters IBT with VP elect John Palmer from the South and IBT presidential candidate of Teamsters United Fred Zuckerman who is president of Louisville, Kentucky Local 89. They discuss the election results and what unions need to do to defend labor in the era of Trump. Next we look at the fight over hedge funds and control of the San Francisco Employees Retirement System SFERS. The San Francisco Police Officers Association SFPOA and IFPTE Local 21 are seeking to put another policeman on the 3 person elected pension board and push for more purchase of hedge funds. We talk with Brenda Barros who is the president of SEIU 1021 SF General Hospital chapter and also co-chair of SEIU 1021 COPE.
For additional media:
https://soundcloud.com/workweek-radio/ww-10-11-16-ibt-issues-and-fred-zuckerman-agenda-for-teamsters
https://youtu.be/bGSaSG5EiME
http://www.stoplhhdownsize.com/What_Price_for_a_Seat_at_the_Retirement_Board_Table.pdf
http://www.ibtimes.com/san-francisco-hedge-fund-proposal-raises-conflict-interest-questions-1700230
http://www.pionline.com/article/20140609/PRINT/306099987/buffetts-suggestion-to-pension-fund-trustee-dont-invest-in-hedge-funds
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/12/02/18794329.php
http://www.wsj.com/articles/teachers-union-and-hedge-funds-war-over-pension-billions-1467125055
http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2014/12/15/financial-questions-dog-former-sf-first-lady-wendy-paskin-jordan/
http://code.socialdashboard.com/news/investment-by-san-francisco-pension-official-raises-questions-about-favors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjznPAFcCNE&feature=youtu.be
http://youtu.be/dCz5eMvYPBA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exbl3wwBx9Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6VTO4UHrjk
https://soundcloud.com/workweek-radio/ww12-23-14-sf-public-pensions-with-david-sirota-ca-dir-secret-confernce
http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Ties-questioned-for-financial-adviser-and-former-5959036.php
http://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/allthatglittersisnotgold2015.pdf
Production of 
KPFA WorkWeek Radio
workweek@kpfa.org
https://soundcloud.com/workweek-radio

WW 12-20-16 IBT Elections Challenge Trump and  SFERS  Pension Fight With Barros

WorkWeek on July 14, 2018  looks at the recent Federal court decision in favor of Benecia Unified School District groundskeeper Dewayne “Lee” Johnson against chemical biotech company Monsanto for causing his cancer. Johnson  won $39.2 million in compensatory damages and $250 million in punitive damages because the jury said his cancer was a result of the use of Monsanto's Roundup. WorkWeek interviews journalist and author Carey Gillam. Gillam is a member of Society of Environmental Journalists and a public interest researcher for US Right to Know, a not-for-profit food industry research group. She is also the author of the book WHITEWASH: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science.
Also joining the program is San Francisco Chronicle legal reporter Bob Egelko who has covered the case and also the case of Javier Alcala who was a Caltrans worker and member of IUOE Local 3. He  sued  Monsanto in 2010 for his illness which he charged was caused by roundup owned by Monsanto. His case was dismissed.and in  2012 he won an appeal after presenting evidence about  his illnesses from spaying Roundup on  weeds on California highways.
The US EPA has also told workers and the pubic that this chemical is safe and does not cause cancer. 
Additional media:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOb-mb7TzBQ&feature=
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/11/one-mans-suffering-exposed-monsantos-secrets-to-the-world
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Caltrans-worker-can-sue-over-herbicides-4058427.php
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Despite-verdict-courts-will-differ-on-13153607.php
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHF3aNE9FoA
For more information on Carey Gillam
http://careygillam.com/
Production of WorkWeek Radio
workweek@kpfa.org
https://soundcloud.com/workweek-radio

WW8-14-18 The Monsanto Ruling With Journalists Carey Gillam and Bob Egelko

This episode follows a slightly different format, in which Owen Kelly thinks aloud about the work of David Rovics: quoting from his writings and playing some of his music.

He pays particular attention to Rovics’ community-supported arts club, his crowdfunding activities (including the funding of his new album which he will record in Ireland this autumn), and his fledgling A Penny A Play campaign. He argues that we should see all of these as Rovics’ contribution to an ongoing drive towards cultural democracy.

Meanwhile in an Abandoned Warehouse

David Rovics: strategies for production

Frank Uhlig interviewed me for his community radio program in Germany, and I thought I'd share it on my podcast.  He introduces me in German, but after that it's all in English.

Interview with me on German community radio

A fairly extensive interview John Coleman did with me on questions of landlords and tenants, in the current historical context of the new Great Depression that is upon us.

John Coleman Interviews David Rovics about Rent Strikes and Eviction Response

Chris Cook hosts a longstanding and excellent show on CFUV Radio in Victoria, BC, and he had me on for the hour.

Chris Cook interviews David Rovics for Gorilla Radio

Burt read my recent article in Counterpunch, Escalation in Portland, and had some questions.  This is the latest episode of his podcast, Keeping Democracy Alive.

Burt Cohen interviews me about Portland

Singer/songwriter, writer, podcaster (on Spotify, Substack & Patreon), libertarian socialist, dad, lover of life.

WW 2-17-22 Labor Troubadour David Rovics, Canceling & Zionism Part 1

WorkWeek Radio

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