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The Labor Notes Podcast

Labor Notes
Labor Movement
Trump Administration
Labor Organizing
Labor Notes
Labor Rights
Mexican General Motors Workers
May Day
Solidarity
Immigrant Workers
Collective Bargaining
Climate Change
Cintia
Workers' Rights
Public Education
Union Organizing
Effective Facilitation
Union Meetings
Member Engagement
Nippon Steel
Tariffs

The Labor Notes Podcast, co-hosted by organizers Danielle Smith and Natascha Elena Uhlmann, is a weekly show from the folks who put on the Labor Notes conference every two years. We’ll talk about the strikes, contract campaigns, shop floor actions, reform caucus organizing, and union elections that our staff and rank-and-file workers in the labor movement’s troublemaking wing write about and work ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes57Foundeda year ago
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Latest Episodes

This next one's for soup lovers, haters, and everyone in between. You will learn a little about soup and less about what makes something a soup movie. But if you're here for the organizing take on The Birdcage (1996), American Psycho (2000) and Ratat... more

Update on 4/6: JBS workers have agreed to go back to work and the company is returning to the table, Mother Jones reports.

Listen to / read our previous coverage on this strike, which workers had extended last week: Nearly 4,000 workers at the JBS b... more

The new Labor Notes guide to Organizing a Union Reform Caucus spells out some basic concepts and definitions around reform caucuses and organizing, but will also be useful to anyone who has been on this path for a while.

Labor Notes Organizers Lisa ... more

Have you and your co-workers been shut out of bargaining? Have you felt pressured to vote yes on a contract you really didn't like? Do you feel like there aren't a lot of ways to address issues in your union besides filing complaints or grievances th... more

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Recent Guests

Caitlyn Clark
Organizer with Essential Workers for Democracy
Essential Workers for Democracy
Episode: The First Major Meatpacking Strike in 40 Years Extends into Third Week
Lisa Xu
Reform-minded organizer referenced for UFCW and IATSE coverage
UFCW; IATSE
Episode: Your Union Isn’t Working Like it Should. Now What?
Barbara Madeloni
Former president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association
Massachusetts Teachers Association
Episode: Your Union Isn’t Working Like it Should. Now What?
Sindhu Sundar
Pod producer joining for anniversary episode
Labor Notes
Episode: One Year of the Labor Notes Podcast
Kari Thompson
Leader of Steward's Workshops
Labor Notes
Episode: Steward's Corner: Just About Anyone Can Be a Good Steward
Francisco Paco Arago
Journeyman, wireman, and member of IBEW Local 11
IBEW Local 11
Episode: How to Talk About Immigration with Your Co-Workers
Chris Anders
Steward with Electrical Workers, IBEW Local 666 in Virginia
IBEW Local 666
Episode: How to Talk About Immigration with Your Co-Workers
Chris Sessions
Director of the documentary 'Partners'
Episode: Why Don't We Have More Labor Films? (w/ director Chris Sessions and Working Films)
Andy Meyers
Member from Working Films, helps with screenings of the documentary
Working Films
Episode: Why Don't We Have More Labor Films? (w/ director Chris Sessions and Working Films)

Hosts

Danielle Smith
Co-host and organizer at Labor Notes; central figure in coverage of strikes, contract campaigns, and shop-floor action.
Natascha Elena Uhlmann
Co-host and staff writer at Labor Notes; focuses on frontline organizing, worker rights, and communications within unions.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 54 ratings
  • Great

    Informative, wide ranging guests, smart hosts

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sweiver84
    United States5 months ago
  • Informative!

    IAM 751 steward checking in!

    This podcast is great. I love the topics. It is a great addition to the steward tool kit. They cover topics that are relevant to my roll as a shop steward. Keep up the good work!

    Solidarity forever!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Yandy_and
    United States6 months ago
  • Good stuff

    If you’re a shop steward or new to the union movement, then this is the podcast for you. I also recommend their workshops as well.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Roland Zanzibar
    United States9 months ago
  • Solidarity forever

    This is exactly what you’re looking for!! You’ll learn so much

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    goindierock4ever
    United States9 months ago
  • My favorite labor podcast

    I’ve been searching for a labor podcast that wasn’t long, run by old-school union men, and took modern takes on labor problems that have persisted in the country since it was created. This podcast hits the nail on the head. I love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bitterherbz
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners value concise episodes that fit into busy organizing schedules.
Guests bring diverse union perspectives and real-world campaigns.
Hosts balance analysis with inspiring, on-the-ground reporting.
Audiences appreciate practical, actionable insights for stewards and organizers.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The First Major Meatpacking Strike in 40 Years Extends into Third Week
Q: How has the local and national support evolved as the strike extended into a third week, and what can listeners do to help?
Support has included outreach from other locals, on-site picket line visits, and fundraising through Essential Workers for Democracy and Local 7 hardship funds; listeners can donate, attend the picket line, and amplify information to sustain momentum.
The First Major Meatpacking Strike in 40 Years Extends into Third Week
Q: Earlier, we referenced reform currents within the UFCW and how this strike fits into that reform journey. Could you talk about the strategic significance of Local 7 within this wider movement?
Local 7 has built a fighting reputation within a network of reform-minded locals, coordinating bargaining with other UFCW locals to increase leverage, and they have previously joined efforts to block a Kroger-Albertsons merger, illustrating a broader push for worker empowerment and independent bargaining power.
Your Union Isn’t Working Like it Should. Now What?
Q: What are the first steps or foundational ideas in starting a caucus, and what should people read or use to get started?
Start by talking to coworkers and then to union leadership about improvements, be strategic, stay steady, and use the packet as a guide to understand principles, getting started, and organizing from below, including how to convene members and build a base before formalizing a caucus.
Your Union Isn’t Working Like it Should. Now What?
Q: When is forming a reform caucus the right move, as opposed to trying something else? Who should do it?
Forming a reform caucus is appropriate when there is a need to organize around broadly felt workplace issues and to build a democratic, rank-and-file led approach. It should be undertaken by members who are committed to organizing from below, establishing an organizing committee, clear goals, and a strategy that broadens participation rather than relying on leadership alone.
How Contract Fights Can Help Build Labor Power in 2026
Q: Can you talk about contracts that cover workers across states, national agreements and even pattern bargaining?
Pattern bargaining is an approach in the labor movement where you have targeting not just one employer, but multiple employers in an industry and you try and target usually the weakest link, which ironically is often the one that's doing the best financially.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Labor Notes Podcast

What is The Labor Notes Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on frontline labor organizing, contract campaigns, strikes, and shop-floor action, featuring voices from union staff, rank-and-file organizers, and allied movements. Episodes frequently cover strategies for building power, training and supporting stewards, immigrant worker organizing, solidarity campaigns, and media-driven moments that spotlight worker rights. A notable strength is translating complex labor dynamics into practical tactics for organizers and workers, often weaving in guest perspectives from unions, community groups, and documentary partners to illustrate real-world campaigns and mobilization. This mix makes it a practical, action-oriented resource for listeners working in or around labor movements, unions, a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Labor Notes Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Labor Notes Podcast:

1. The Dig
2. Movement Memos
3. Jacobin Radio
4. Democracy Now! Audio
5. This Wreckage

How many episodes of The Labor Notes Podcast are there?

The Labor Notes Podcast launched a year ago and published 57 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Labor Notes Podcast?

Recent guests on The Labor Notes Podcast include:

1. Caitlyn Clark
2. Lisa Xu
3. Barbara Madeloni
4. Sindhu Sundar
5. Kari Thompson
6. Francisco Paco Arago
7. Chris Anders
8. Chris Sessions

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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