The Leslie Marshall Show

Leslie is joined by Maria Somma, Organizing Director for the United Steelworkers (USW). The two discuss how workers across the economy – from automakers to health care workers – are using their collective power to ensure they have fair contracts and safe working conditions. The first step in this process is organizing, and as workers seek greater protections on the job, they’re capitalizing on this unique moment. It’s not just the hot labor market, though the recent low unemployment has certainly helped. The pandemic helped workers in a number of industries understand that they’re essential. It has also highlighted what they needed from their employers – in terms of job security, living wages, and more – as well as the power of working together to achieve these goals. Also, Joe Biden, the most pro-labor president in recent memory, has tasked his administration with helping workers to exercise their right to form unions. This unprecedented support, and whole of government approach, has helped tip the balance back toward workers, and away from greedy corporations. Workers are also experiencing a time of great potential as we look to the clean energy transition. Clean technology – like electric vehicles – require a wide variety of raw materials and other components. It’s essential that jobs from mining to manufacturing are good, community supporting jobs. That means ensuring workers can exercise their right to organize. The final step in organizing is not, as some might think, a successful vote, but a first contract. This is where corporations like Starbucks double down on their efforts to break workers’ collective will. We’ve seen this protracted bargaining at places like Kumho and OHL/Geodis, though the USW was ultimately successful in both cases. What workers need to help them successfully weather the immense challenges they face, including getting this vital first contract, is the PRO Act. The website for the United Steelworkers is USW.org and their handle on X and Instagram is @steelworkers. You can find them on Facebook by visiting Facebook.com/Steelworkers.

Leslie is joined by Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a partnership established by some of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union. The two examine what is now the most equitable economic recovery in American history. First, they break down data from a new Treasury Department report, which provides "new evidence that the recovery from the economic harm of the COVID-19 pandemic was the most equitable recovery in recent history. The report – which includes new Department research alongside new data released by the Federal Reserve Board – finds that the speed and strength of the response by the Biden-Harris Administration helped to thwart the worst economic outcomes anticipated from the COVID shock for Black and Hispanic families, and that, across a broad array of economic indicators, the financial well-being of Black and Hispanic families have remained strong relative to recoveries in recent history." (Link here: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1834) Second, they discuss a Twitter thread on what 'Bidenomics' is, and how it's going two years into the Biden administration. The data rich thread was posted by Heather Boushey, a Member of the Council of Economic Advisers & Chief Economist for the President's Invest in America Cabinet. (Link here: https://twitter.com/hboushey46/status/1715711474994422140) Finally, Leslie and Scott talk about why President Biden isn't getting more credit in the polls for the strong economic recovery that has happened under his leadership. This includes a Bloomberg article from Matthew Yglesias examining that exact topic. (Link here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/10/22/biden-s-economy-is-great-everywhere-except-in-the-polls/d6bae722-70d6-11ee-936d-7a16ee667359_story.html) For over 16 years, Scott Paul and AAM have worked to make American manufacturing a top-of-mind issue for voters and our national leaders through effective advocacy, innovative research, and a savvy public relations strategy. Their website is www.AmericanManufacturing.org and their Twitter handle is @KeepItMadeInUSA. Scott's handle is @ScottPaulAAM.

Leslie is joined by Lou Villalvazo, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 630, which has been fighting for working class families for more than 80 years. They discuss a leaflet action being held on October 17th where more than 50 local unions will be taking part in at Chedraui-owned grocery stores. Here is some more background on the issue: · Grupo Comercial Chedraui is a Mexican company that is publicly traded on the Mexican stock exchange. The company has grown significantly and now operates three supermarket chains, and makes the majority of its revenue from the United States. · Chedraui owns three store banners in the United States with around 375 total locations. The three banners are: o Smart & Final, which is concentrated in Southern California but also has locations in Nevada and as far east as Phoenix. o El Super, which is also concentrated in Southern California and has locations in Nevada, Arizona, and as far east as New Mexico and Juarez in Texas. o Fiesta Mart, which is entirely in Texas. Most of its locations are in either Houston or the Dallas/Fort Worth area. · Teamsters Local Union 630 won two elections at Smart & Final warehouses in the Los Angeles area just this year. The two groups at the Commerce and Riverside facilities comprise around 700 total workers. After years of suffering from low wages and poor benefits, these workers decided to join the Teamsters union to improve their workplace. · Yet, on the heels of the election at the Commerce facility, Chedraui announced that it would be consolidating its distribution operations into a single facility in Rancho Cucamonga, right before the union election at the Riverside facility. An internal company announcement distributed to workers stated that when this move takes place, the workers will have to reapply for their jobs and will not be guaranteed jobs at the new facility, regardless of their experience or how long they have worked for the company. The company has not responded to workers’ inquiries regarding the status of their jobs at the new facility and what pay and benefits will be available. · Local 630 members rallied in August and September to demand fair treatment by Chedraui, with a focus on protecting American jobs and living standards, and bargaining a fair contract. · To date, the Teamsters have filed seven unfair labor practice charges against Smart & Final and Chedraui, alleging egregious violations of federal labor law, including that the planned facility relocations and termination of all employees are motivated by anti-union discrimination; that the company has interfered with workers’ right to organize by withholding a regularly scheduled cost of living adjustment and blaming it on the Union; and by holding mandatory captive audience meetings where the company CEO promised workers benefits and job security at the new facility in exchange for rejecting the Union. · The company has been engaging in bad-faith surface bargaining, likely with the intention of running out the bargaining clock and then either attempting to decertify the Teamster bargaining units or withdrawing recognition when it transfers its operations and forces employees to reapply. · This consumer leaflet action on 10/17 comes ahead of bargaining resuming on 10/18. The Teamsters are calling on consumers to demand that Chedraui respect its US workers, cease its violations of US labor law, honor its employees’ choice to become Teamsters, and bargain a fair contract. Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.2 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org to learn more and follow them on Twitter @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Leslie gives her take on Israel ordering the entire population of northern Gaza to evacuate south, a warning that leaves more than 1 million people to decide whether to abandon their homes. Hamas urged Gazans to ignore it. Israel's military said the order, which has raised fears of an imminent ground offensive on the densely populated enclave, was intended to minimize civilian casualties in the war against Hamas. But the United Nations said it was "impossible" and risked a humanitarian disaster. "We call on all civilians in Gaza City to move south," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Friday in a press conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Tel Aviv. "We don't want to harm them. Whoever wants to save his life should go south. Hamas is camouflaging itself inside the civilian population and we are going to go in and dismantle its infrastructure," Gallant said. More than 1,530 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis have been killed, thousands have been injured, and hundreds of thousands of others have been displaced since the latest fighting between Israel and Hamas began. Hamas is believed to be holding about 150 hostages in Gaza.

Leslie is joined by the incoming President of the United Steelworkers (USW), David McCall. During this interview, they remember the late Tom Conway, former President of the USW, who sadly passed away on September 25th of this year. While the labor movement and the union both lost a great leader, thanks to Tom’s vision and hard work, both are on firm footing and primed to continue the fight for economic justice and fairness for working families. Tom’s legacy involves innovations and breakthroughs on a number of fronts: He bargained cutting-edge contracts across USW sectors. - He understood that companies needed to be successful so they could pay workers good wages and benefits, so where he could, he worked with them. - When he couldn’t, he was relentless in his work to find ways to make sure workers’ needs remained at the forefront. - This included the 2015 oil strike, which helped secure a number of important health and safety provisions for workers. - And a number of rounds of steel bargaining that helped stave off calls for concessions and ensure fair pay and high-quality benefits. But Tom understood that fighting for working families wasn’t just about pay; it was about securing the future. - Early in his time as an international leader, Tom was instrumental in developing the Institute for Career Development (ICD), a joint labor-management training program, enshrined in a number of USW collective bargaining agreements, that offers members opportunities to learn new skills. - Under his leadership union workers and activists were able to achieve a major victory with the passage of the Butch Lewis Act, which saved the pensions of more than one million workers and retirees, including more than 100,000 USW members. Tom was also committed to building a diverse movement and many of his efforts contributed to building a strong future for workers. - He spearheaded an innovative organizing initiative connecting rank-and-file members with their fellow workers to talk about joining the labor movement. This quickly paid dividends, resulting in organizing victories in the United States and Canada, including some of the union’s biggest wins in years. - These include 3,500 faculty members at the University of Pittsburgh who joined the USW, as well as baristas at Starbucks coffee shops across Canada, and 1,500 workers at Georgia’s Blue Bird Corp. bus factory. - They join others, including waste disposal workers, professional football players, museum and library workers, high-tech workers, airport workers, prison chaplains and others, who all joined the Steelworkers’ ranks as a result of Conway’s initiative. Tom also invested heavily in building out the bench, and under his leadership, the union held its first international Next Gen conference in November 2019. - Under Tom’s direction, the USW built out our Veterans of Steel committees to make sure – to the fullest extent possible – that the union was helping those in need, and making sure veterans’ voices are heard. Finally, Tom fought relentlessly for both for fair trade and job creation. - This included working with government leaders in Washington to ensure that they enforced trade laws to prevent illegally subsidized and dumped products that damage American industries and destroy good paying jobs. - He did this work in steel, rubber and tire, and many other industries. - It also meant finding creative solutions, as well as working with companies and lawmakers to create jobs. - He formed partnerships and allied groups like the Alliance for American Manufacturing. - And more recently, his was one of the loudest voices calling for infrastructure investment. Tom will be missed a great deal, but his strength as a leader, and vision for the future, have helped countless working people and will continue to help countless more moving forward. The new USW President, David McCall, has a career of fighting for fairness and justice for workers that began as a member of Local 6787 in...

Leslie is joined by Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a partnership established by some of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union. The two examine the importance of supply chains. Their conversation includes how the United States is doing at reshoring its supply chains, how 'Bidenomics' is improving the country's manufacturing sector, and a Washington Post expose on how Tesla and EV supply chains are raising concerns about forced labor in China. The AAM website is AmericanManufacturing.org and their Twitter handle is @KeepItMadeInUSA. Scott's handle is @ScottPaulAAM.

Leslie is joined by Amber Miller, Director of the USW’s Rapid Response Department, a nearly 30-year tradition of member-driven, issue-based, nonpartisan legislative activism. Amber has been a proud second-generation Steelworker since 1997 where she began her career at Chase Brass and Copper in northwest Ohio. The two discuss the power of ordinary people, strengthened by their Union, the United Steelworkers (USW). During their conversation, Leslie and Amber examine the specific ways that the USW empowers their members to make a difference. This includes by educating USW members about critical issues that affect them and their families, working with legislators to put workers' priorities into action, and offering workers a venue to communicate directly with their elected leaders. The website for the United Steelworkers is USW.org. Their handle on both Twitter and Instagram is @steelworkers.

Leslie is joined by Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a partnership established by some of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union. The two discuss how solar manufacturing in the United States is booming, thanks to public policy! They also break down how fast clean energy manufacturing is scaling up in America. The AAM website is AmericanManufacturing.org and their Twitter handle is @KeepItMadeInUSA. Scott's handle is @ScottPaulAAM.

Leslie is first joined by Vincent Perrone, Teamsters International Trustee and a member of the Teamsters National Negotiating Committee for the UPS contract. He's also the President of Teamsters' Local 804 in New York. The two discuss the historic new UPS contract won by the Teamsters. Highlights of the tentative 2023-2028 UPS Teamsters National Master Agreement include: - Historic wage increases. Existing full- and part-time UPS Teamsters will get $2.75 more per hour in 2023. Over the length of the contract, wage increases will total $7.50 per hour. - Existing part-timers will be raised up to no less than $21 dollars per hour immediately, and part-time seniority workers earning more under a market rate adjustment would still receive all new general wage increases. - General wage increases for part-time workers will be double the amount obtained in the previous UPS Teamsters contract — and existing part-time workers will receive a 48 percent average total wage increase over the next five years. - Wage increases for full-timers will keep UPS Teamsters the highest paid delivery drivers in the nation, improving their average top rate to $49 per hour. - Current UPS Teamsters working part-time would receive longevity wage increases of up to $1.50 per hour on top of new hourly raises, compounding their earnings. - New part-time hires at UPS would start at $21 per hour and advance to $23 per hour. - All UPS Teamster drivers classified as 22.4s would be reclassified immediately to Regular Package Car Drivers and placed into seniority, ending the unfair two-tier wage system at UPS. - Safety and health protections, including vehicle air conditioning and cargo ventilation. UPS will equip in-cab A/C in all larger delivery vehicles, sprinter vans, and package cars purchased after Jan. 1, 2024. All cars get two fans and air induction vents in the cargo compartments. - All UPS Teamsters would receive Martin Luther King Day as a full holiday for the first time. - No more forced overtime on Teamster drivers’ days off. Drivers would keep one of two workweek schedules and could not be forced into overtime on scheduled off-days. - UPS Teamster part-timers will have priority to perform all seasonal support work using their own vehicles with a locked-in eight-hour guarantee. For the first time, seasonal work will be contained to five weeks only from November-December. - The creation of 7,500 new full-time Teamster jobs at UPS and the fulfillment of 22,500 open positions, establishing more opportunities through the life of the agreement for part-timers to transition to full-time work. - More than 60 total changes and improvements to the National Master Agreement — more than any other time in Teamsters history — and zero concessions from the rank-and-file. Leslie is then joined second by Greg Unterseher, Manager of Pilot Representation for the Teamsters Airline Division. They detail the Teamsters lawsuit against Cape Air and Republic Airways for unlawfully requiring pilots to sign employment contracts with non-compete clauses that impose penalties ranging from $100,000 to $250,000. The lawsuit asserts the employment contracts are an attempt by the airlines to change pilots’ working conditions unilaterally, in violation of federal labor law under the Railway Labor Act. Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.2 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org to learn more and follow them on Twitter @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Leslie is joined by Steve Sallman, Director of the United Steelworkers Health, Safety and Environment Department, where he's worked for over 19 years. The two discuss the urgent and timely topic of protecting workers from deadly heat. As the planet gets hotter, and wide swaths of the United States are seeing record temperatures, heat is becoming an ever more urgent workplace health and safety issue – in both in-door and out-door occupations. It’s no surprise that unions work to provide solutions. The USW works to negotiate common sense solutions into their contracts like rest breaks, ample supplies of water, electrolytes, and proper ventilation. UPS drivers made this a centerpiece of their recent contract negotiations too, signaling that this was so significant that they were willing to strike as necessary. They ultimately got what they needed, including fans and air conditioning in their trucks. However, all workers need protections, starting with a national standard on heat exposure like workers have for other hazards like falls and asbestos exposure. Without proper controls and protections, working in the heat can cause illness and even death. According to the BLS, there have been 436 work related deaths caused by heat exposure since 2011, and an average of 2,700 cases per year of heat-related illness. The real number could be much higher, given that many workers who are exposed to extreme heat are undocumented and reluctant to come forward. Even when it’s not immediately obvious, heat is harming a worker’s body, which can cause them to suffer long-term consequences, like renal damage. The Biden administration is taking this threat seriously, enabling workers to make some headway. Just last month, President Biden ordered the DOL to issue the first ever hazard alert for heat. In the same announcement, the department also announced that OSHA would intensify enforcement of existing safety provisions when it comes to heat. Biden also announced funding to improve weather forecasting, as well as additional money for clean drinking water in Western states impacted by drought. A handful of states – California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Minnesota – also issued their own heat exposure standards. Only Minnesota and Oregon have protections for indoor workers as well. But corporations and the Republicans who serve them are unfortunately pushing back hard, lobbying against protections and, in some cases, even overturning them. Business groups in Oregon are suing the state over heat related workplace protections. Even worse, Republicans in Texas earlier this summer even took the extreme step of passing a law that eliminates local ordinances requiring water breaks for construction workers. After Austin in 2010, and Dallas in 2015, required water breaks, reported heat illness numbers in Texas dropped from 770 to 170. Now workers are bracing for what comes next. This isn’t just a matter of lost productivity, though heat can impact that as well. It’s truly life and death. In June, a postal worker in Texas collapsed and died in triple digit heat. This summer, a Houston-area construction worker also collapsed and died of hyperthermia. Countless more will soon be at risk once the new Texas law goes into effect. The USW continues to fight for workers, as demonstrated by the union’s comments to OSHA in the federal register. Until then, the USW continues to push for an OSHA standard and works to protect workers through their contracts and other health and safety work. The website for the United Steelworkers is www.USW.org. Their handle on Twitter and Instagram is @steelworkers.

Leslie is joined by Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a partnership established by some of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union. The two discuss how Americans feel about 'Made In America' products, whether 'Bidenomics' is working, and why it’s time to end 'permanent normal trade relations' with China. The AAM website is AmericanManufacturing.org and their Twitter handle is @KeepItMadeInUSA. Scott's handle is @ScottPaulAAM.

Leslie begins today's show with her 'Ripped from the Headlines' news segment, where she details the now unsealed 38-count federal indictment against former President Trump in the classified documents case. During the remainder of the show, Leslie is joined by Liz Shuler, president of the 60 unions and 12.5 million members of the AFL-CIO, and the first woman leader of America’s labor movement. The two discuss the resurgence of the labor movement, key accomplishments from the past year, and building a modern and more inclusive movement. The website for the AFL-CIO is AFLCIO.org and their Twitter handle is @AFLCIO. Liz's handle is @LizShuler.

Leslie begins today's show with her 'Ripped from the Headlines' news segment. Here are the stories that she gave her take on: 1. ASSOCIATED PRESS: "‘No corner of the global economy will be spared’: How America’s first-ever default would tank the entire world" 2. AUDIO: Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, outlines Republican Carelessness and Hypocrisy when it comes to the debt ceiling 3. AXIOS: "Nearly 2 billion at risk from "unprecedented" climate conditions" 4. AXIOS: "U.S. lawmakers OK'd more pro-gun bills than safety measures since Uvalde" 5. AXIOS: "Surgeon general issues advisory about social media risks for kids" For the remainder of the show, Leslie is joined by Jessica Levinson, Professor at Loyola Law School, Legal Contributor for CBS News, Columnist for MSNBC, and host of the 'Passing Judgment podcast.' The two discuss two important legal stories that affect America's children. The first story is about Penguin Random House, advocates and authors suing a Florida school district over book bans. The subject of the second story is legislation that was recently passed by Iowa's Republican legislature that would rollback certain child labor laws in the state. The Department of Labor is pushing back on the legislation though, which will likely setup a court battle between the two. Jessica's Twitter handle is @LevinsonJessica and you can find her podcast, 'Passing Judgment,' by searching for it at the webpage: Podcasts.Apple.com.

Leslie is joined by Roxanne Brown, the USW’s International Vice President at Large, who oversees the union’s public policy and legislative agenda as well as its political work. She has spent more than two decades advancing policies on Capitol Hill and with regulatory agencies on behalf of USW members. She has extensive experience in manufacturing, environmental and energy policy. The two discuss how Union workers right here in the United States are making history. Last week, workers at Blue Bird Corporation's Fort Valley, Georgia facility notched an historic victory by voting to join the USW. The approximately 1,400 Blue Bird workers manufacture school buses, including low-emission and zero-emission models, making this significant on many levels. Leslie and Roxanne discuss those details, and more, during the remainder of the interview. This includes talking about how the 'Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,' the 'Inflation Reduction Act' and the 'CHIPS and Science Act ,' are all driving significant positive developments in domestic manufacturing. You can follow Roxanne on Twitter, where her handle is @BrownRox. Follow the USW, on both Twitter and Instagram, using the handle @steelworkers, and visit their website at USW.org.

Leslie is joined by Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a partnership established by some of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union. The two discuss: 1. "Congressional Pressure on SHEIN and Temu Increases — and on Nike and Adidas, Too" (by AAM's Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch) 2. "White House National Security Advisor: It’s De-risking, not De-coupling" (by AAM's Matthew McMullan) 3. "The Return of Manufacturing to the United States Won’t be Without Challenges" (by AAM's Matthew McMullan) For over 16 years, Mr. Paul and AAM have worked to make American manufacturing a top-of-mind issue for voters and our national leaders through effective advocacy, innovative research, and a savvy public relations strategy. WEBSITE: AmericanManufacturing.org TWITTER: 1. AAM - @KeepItMadeInUSA 2. Scott Paul - @ScottPaulAAM

Leslie is first joined by New York Times best-selling author Julian Zelizer, who has been among the pioneers in the revival of American political history. He is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University, a CNN Political Analyst, and a regular guest on NPR’s "Here and Now." The pair discusses his two most recent pieces for CNN. They're titled, "Why Biden is Lying Low Ahead of 2024," and "Why DeSantis’ War on Disney is a Big Mistake." During the second half of the show, Leslie is joined by Dina Gachman, a Pulitzer Center Grantee and a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Vox, Texas Monthly and more. She’s a New York Times bestselling ghostwriter, and the author of "Brokenomics: 50 Ways to Live the Dream on a Dime," as well her latest book, just out this month. That book is what Leslie and Dina discuss during their interview. It's titled, "So Sorry for Your Loss: How I Learned to Live with Grief, and Other Grave Concerns." Julian Zelizer is the award-winning author and editor of 25 books including his latest, "Myth America: Historians Take on the Biggest Lies and Legends About Our Past," which he co-edited with Kevin Kruse. His website is JulianZelizer.com and his Twitter handle is @JulianZelizer. Dina Gachman lives near Austin, Texas, with her husband and son. Her website is DinaGachmanWrites.com and her Twitter handle is @DinaGachman.

Leslie begins today's show with her 'Ripped from the Headlines' news segment. Here are the stories that she commented on: 1. AXIOS: "Biden's never-Trump campaign for '24" 2. AXIOS: "White House threatens to veto GOP debt ceiling bill" 3. AXIOS: "What to know as the civil trial over E. Jean Carroll's rape allegation against Trump starts" 4. CNN: "Company with ties to GOP megadonor and longtime friend of Justice Thomas had business before Supreme Court" For the remainder of the show, Leslie is joined by Gun Reform Advocate, and Author, Fred Guttenberg. Fred has dedicated his life to saving lives fighting for gun safety in America. He began his public life after the murder of his beautiful 14 year old daughter Jaime in the Parkland school shooting on Feb 14th of 2018. Fred’s mission ultimately led him to write his first book, "Find the Helpers." And now, Fred and International gun policy consultant Thomas Gabor team up in a brand new book, titled, "American Carnage: Shattering the Myths That Fuel Gun Violence." The book will dismantle some of the most common myths about guns and gun violence. Its release date is May 2nd. Here is just a sample of the myths and slogans exposed as false in 'American Carnage': - Gun owners frequently use firearms to fend off attackers - An armed society is a safer society - Guns don’t kill people, people kill people You can purchase both of Fred's books, and find out more information about what events he's participating in, at FredGuttenberg.com. His Twitter handle is @Fred_Guttenberg.

Leslie begins today's show with her 'Ripped from the Headlines' news segment. Here are the stories that she gave her take on: 1. CNN: "The US economy could depend on McCarthy corralling his extremist Republican troops" 2. AXIOS: "Fetterman returns to Senate after depression treatment" 3. AXIOS: "Trump, other potential 2024 rivals slam DeSantis over Disney feud" 4. AXIOS: "Record number of Americans say they're politically independent" 5. AXIOS: "Sprawling heat wave envelops large swath of Asia" 6. AXIOS: "FDA approves 2nd omicron booster for high-risk people" For the second half of the show, Leslie is joined by Mike Pfohl, Executive Director of Empower Project, which works to get us back to the foundational roots of organizing. 'Empower Project' has assisted groups with Relational Organizing in rural districts, urban and suburban districts, communities of color, and in multiple languages. Leslie and Mike discuss what 'relational organizing' is, and explore whether its recent success in the high profile Wisconsin Supreme Court election could be a model for elections in 2024. 'Empower Project' partners with progressive organizations and non-profits, and works with leaders already engaged in targeted communities. Relational Organizing is about building real power and a movement that is sustainable beyond the next election, with organizers who will continue to work to ensure their communities thrive. Empower Project's website is EmpowerProject.us and their Twitter handle is @EmpowerProjUS.

Leslie is joined by Tom Conway, President of the United Steelworkers (USW), North America’s largest industrial union. They’re 1.2 million members and retirees strong in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. They proudly represent men and women who work in nearly every industry there is. The two have a broad conversation about how workers are leading the way in the United States as our society is facing big challenges, from rampant economic inequality to the continuing human and economic toll of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and more. Here are the subtopics that they covered during the interview, with a big focus on how workers and their unions are taking matters into their own hands to improve their lives, and fight for social and economic justice on a wider scale: Organizing unions is one of the surest ways to improve wages, ensure safer working conditions and have a voice on the job, and workers in a wide variety of sectors are organizing to draw on their collective power. - Last fall, 700 workers at Bobcat in Bismarck, N.D., voted to join the USW, and just last week 200 more at a Bobcat facility in Rogers, Minn., did the same. - Football players in the USFL organized with the USW last year. This year, they overwhelmingly ratified a first contract to help provide safety and stability to their jobs. Now, players in the XFL are also looking to join the USW. Workers and their unions are leading the way on trade, working to contain bad actors like Russia and China, and foster growth in domestic industries. Workers are also using their activism to roll back bad laws, like the historic repeal of the so-called right-to-work (RTW) law in Michigan. USW members have been on the vanguard fighting for less-publicized but equally needed legislation, including bills to help veterans. The website for the USW is USW.org and their handle on both Twitter and Instagram is @steelworkers.

Leslie begins today's show with her 'Ripped from the Headlines' news segment. Here are the stories that she gives her take on: 1. ABC NEWS:"Conservative justices question Biden's student loan plan in crucial SCOTUS case " 2. AXIOS: "Why poverty rates are likely to rise this year" 3. AXIOS: "House Dems introduce bill to tighten rail safety measures" 4. ASSOCIATED PRESS: "Biden to nominate Julie Su as next US labor secretary" 5. AXIOS: "Majority of countries guarantee paid paternity leave — but not the U.S." During the second half of the show, Leslie is joined by Natalia Abrams, President and Founder of the Student Debt Crisis Center (SDCC), and a monthly guest host of the Leslie Marshall Show.The SDCC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that centers the needs and voices of borrowers, and partners with allies, to impact public policy and end the student debt crisis. The two discuss today's "People’s Rally for Student Debt Cancellation" that the SDCC co-organized with over 20 different organizations in attendance at the rally, including the Student Debt Crisis Center (SDCC), the NAACP, and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Hundreds of protesters, many college students from across the country, rallied outside the Supreme Court this morning, carrying signs and posters urging the justices to back President Biden’s effort to cancel some $400 billion in student loan debt. Democratic lawmakers like Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Robert Menendez and Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Judy Chu addressed supporters of the plan from the steps of the Supreme Court. The SDCC's website is StudentDebtCrisis.org and their handle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook is @DebtCrisisOrg. Natalia's Twitter handle is @NataliaAbrams.