The Smash Up Derby Podcast: Working Class Politics, Labor Unions, and Democratic Socialism

The third and final part of our interview with Prof. Rosemary Feurer about William Sentner, UE District 8, and radical unionism in the Midwest. In this episode, Sentner and the UE build a broad coalition with farmers, environmentalists and small business for worker-driven economic planning during and after the war, but this visionary initiative is defeated by red-baiting, and anti-communist purges by labor, business and government force Sentner out of leadership and eventually destroy UE District 8.

Part 2 of our interview with historian Rosemary Feurer about legendary St. Louis labor organizer William Sentner. In this episode, we talk about Sentner's role in organizing the electrical manufacturing industry in St. Louis into the UE, the gains UE made for African-American and women workers, and their practice of "radical unionism."

The first of several episodes in which we talk with historian Rosemary Feurer about legendary St. Louis labor organizer William Sentner. In this first episode, we learn about Sentner's early life and his role in the 1933 nut pickers strike, a successful strike led by Black women that gained widespread community support. Visit smashuppodcast.com for links to Prof. Feurer's book, Radical Unionism in the Midwest.

A re-edited, re-mixed and re-mastered version of Episodes 2 and 3: our interview with Terry Davis, long-time UE organizer, about a group of workers in Chicago who organized in the 70s to overcome racial division and an ineffective union.

We talk with John McKerley of the Iowa Labor History Oral Project (https://soundcloud.com/ilhop) about the 1970 teacher strike in Keokuk, Iowa, the role that strike played in winning public-sector collective bargaining in that state, and the recent attacks on Iowa public-sector workers. More links and photos at smashuppodcast.com.

We talk to Jane and Sergio, two young people who worked as "salts," or took jobs in the food service industry to help UNITE HERE organize. If you are interested in salting, email us at smashuppodcast@gmail.com and we'll put you in touch with folks who can help you.

In this teaser for episode 12, Sam and Jonathan talk about Joe Ricketts, and why bosses are such terrible human beings

We talk with Mia Giunta, a former union organizer who organized against the Klan and white supremacists in rural communities in Pennsylvania in the 1990s. Giunta talks about the importance of faith-based organizing and building a progressive political base using the cultural norms and values of the community, and the way in which the loss of good working-class jobs fueled the Klan's recruitment.

We talk to retired UPS worker and Teamster activist Dawn Stanger about the 1997 UPS strike, sum up our experiences at the DSA convention in Chicago, and introduce a new feature: People Smarter Than Us.

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) will be holding elections at their national convention next week. We talk to three candidates, discuss the various slates with our panel of union organizers, and Jonathan and Sam talk about lessons about fast organizational growth from history and the business world. Links to platforms and more information at smashuppodcast.com

We talk with two rank and file trade unionists and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) members about DSA labor branches and their resolution promoting a Labor Commission in DSA

As 800+ delegates prepare to attend the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) convention in Chicago next week, we talk to three union organizers who are also leaders in DSA about the importance of labor to DSA and DSA to labor

We interview Kim Lawson (pictured here with her husband & Cesar Chavez), who grew up in the working-class towns of northwest Indiana and spent her life in the labor movement, working with the United Farm Workers and the United Electrical Workers (UE).

Jonathan and Sam talk about the healthcare showdown: how we got here, why the Republicans are having such a hard time repealing the Affordable Care Act, and the history and prospects for single payer in Vermont and California. Links to background information, articles and actions at smashuppodcast.com.

Part 2 of our interview with Terry Davis, about the multi-racial coalition of workers who established a democratic, militant union at the Stewart-Warner auto parts plant in Chicago in the 1970s and 1980s. In Part 2, Sister Davis talks about how workplace organizing makes multiracial unity objectively important, what organizers learned from the Black Power movement, and lessons for today's organizers.

Part 1 of our interview with Terry Davis, about her experiences working at the Stewart-Warner auto parts plant in Chicago in the 1970s, where she and her husband helped build a multi-racial coalition of workers to confront an abusive employer and organize a democratic union.

A mini episode in which Sam and Jonathan discuss the recent British election results. More thoughts from Jonathan on the election at smashuppodcast.com

Jonathan and Sam start big with a discussion about General Strikes in Europe in recent years. What are the lessons for the U.S.? How could we organize one in the U.S.?  Is there anything funny about a general strike?

As we prepare to launch our podcast, Jonathan and Sam try to figure out a brilliant business strategy that will simultaneously make them rich and famous, and bring about the revolution

Preparing for Episode One of the Smash Up Derby podcast, Sam and Jonathan try to figure out what is funny about a general strike.