Belabored Podcast #162: A Struggle Over Union Democracy at UPS, with Nelson Lichtenstein

The majority of Teamster members at UPS voted to reject a proposed contract; leadership says they’ll ratify it anyway. How did this happen? Nelson Lichtenstein joins us to discuss the ongoing conflict.

(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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This week, we dive into the question of union democracy at UPS with renowned labor historian Nelson Lichtenstein. The majority of Teamster members at UPS voted to reject a proposed contract; leadership, however, says they’ll ratify the contract anyway. What happened? What does this struggle mean for the future of the Teamsters, and what does the fight at UPS tell us about the revival of the strike and the changing labor movement? We tried to answer those questions and more.

We also hear from UK writer/researcher Callum Cant on the innovations in Britain’s McStrike and the organizing of Deliveroo and UberEats drivers, check in on the fight over Temporary Protected Status with John Doherty of IUPAT, and follow up on the strike at Chicago’s Lyric Opera and a lawsuit in Missouri to keep public workers’ protections. For Argh, we think about the radical work of Ursula Le Guin and Moishe Postone, and women’s role in fighting the student debt crisis.

This week’s show was supported by our monthly sustaining members. If you think our work is worth supporting as we soldier on through Trumplandia, please consider becoming a member today. If you’re interested in advertising on the show, please email ads@dissentmagazine.org. And as always, if you have any questions, comments, or tips, email us at belabored@dissentmagazine.org.

News

Unions challenge Missouri law making it easier to fire nearly 25,000 state workers (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

McNetworks: Two current modes of struggle (Notes from Below)

Michelle: Immigrant Families Living in the US Are Still Fighting for Their Right to Stay Together (The Nation)

Strike Over, Lyric Opera of Chicago Can Resume Business (New York Times)

Conversation

Nelson Lichtenstein at UC Santa Barbara

Nelson Lichtenstein at Dissent

UPS Drivers Voted Down Their Union Contract, But The Teamsters Are Ratifying It Anyway (Huffington Post)

Argh, I Wish I’d Written That!

Michelle: Sabrina Cereceres and Samantha Morgan, Women Have the Power to End the Student-Debt Crisis (The Nation)

Sarah: Jasper Bernes, The Shield of Utopia (Commune)