Solidarity Summer: Strikes, Struggles, and Standing Tall

Graduation weekend may be over, but the education continues—on the picket lines, in courtrooms, and on the factory floor. In this episode, we hear from high school seniors with big dreams and sharp insights, then take a hard look at the growing wave of labor action rippling across the country. From nurses in Wisconsin to trash collectors in Boston, grocery clerks in Colorado to beer vendors at Fenway Park, workers are fed up—and fighting back. We also dive into the rise of automation, AI companions, and the looming impact on working-class jobs—and ask: what’s the human cost of convenience? Plus, we spotlight grassroots efforts to fight ICE raids and build an independent political movement for working people, beyond the two-party trap. Topics: Opening Segment: Reflections from two high school seniors on work, hope, and the future. Wisconsin Nurses: the fight to restore collective bargaining in a post–Act 10 landscape. Colorado Grocery Strike: UFCW Local 7 escalates action against Safeway and over understaffing and benefits. Garbage & Grit: Strikes in Boston and Philadelphia put essential services on hold—and low wages in sharp focus. Victory in Texas: Teamsters at Tyson Foods win massive gains after threatening to strike. Automation Anxiety: From robotaxis to self-checkout lanes—where does that leave working people? Fenway on the Brink: Vendors and staff resist job-erasing technology at “America’s most beloved ballpark.” Union Members Against ICE: The growing movement to link immigrant rights with labor power. Sign the petition. A New Political Home?: Exploring the case for an independent workers’ party.