Labor vs. the Lockdown Economy

This week on The Labor Force Podcast, the ground feels like it’s shifting under everyone’s feet. As the government shutdown stretches on, its ripple effects are hitting far beyond Washington—federal workers without pay, contractors closing up shop, and small businesses left hanging by a thread. We look at how this slowdown is grinding down working people across industries and communities. But while government action stalls, worker action surges. Kaiser Permanente staff across California and Hawaii walk out for safe staffing and fair pay. Boeing defense workers in St. Louis weigh a contract offer after an 80-day strike. Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga push toward a strike authorization vote. Starbucks baristas ramp up organizing and declare, “No Contract, No Coffee.” We then turn to coal miners rallying in D.C. for stronger protections against black lung disease—and the long history of promises broken by both industry and politicians. In tech and gaming, Activision Blizzard developers join the growing union wave, proving that creative work and collective power can go hand in hand. Finally, economist Paul Krugman warns that the “strong” economy might not be so strong for workers, and the show closes with a question many are asking: Is a college degree still worth it? From shutdowns to strikes, organizing to education—this episode digs deep into how working people are holding the line in unstable times.