Survival Mode, Organizing Mode

This week on the Labor Force Podcast: The federal government may have reopened, but for thousands of workers, the real impact of the shutdown is far from over. We dig deep into the lives of furloughed workers—from maxed-out credit cards to food bank lines—and the stress that lingers long after paychecks resume. In Pittsburgh, the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh celebrates a landmark victory after three years on strike against the Post-Gazette. We highlight emotional reactions from the picket line and the profound sense of solidarity sustaining the workers through the grind. Starbucks Workers United turns Red Cup Day red-hot with a nationwide unfair labor practice strike. Meanwhile, corporate heads call it premature. We break down what's at stake and why baristas say “no contract, no profits.” Boeing machinists in St. Louis vote—grudgingly—to accept the company’s fifth contract offer. A strike may be over, but the bitterness lingers. Is this a win or just fatigue? And in Durham, NC, Amazon workers are seeding a second union campaign—this time with city support, multilingual outreach, and lessons learned from past defeat. They’re betting big on community, history, and hope. Plus: the resurgence of U.S. labor power with a new book by Dave Kamper, author of Who’s Got the Power, and why even small cracks in the system are giving workers fresh hope.