Workers Rock

Dan DiClemente on WDKX - Covid interview with Tariq Spence

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Ep. 17 - Exposing MULIA ONE - Malaysia Worker Recruitment Ring

Welcome to Workers Rock! This week, we have a powerful and eye-opening interview with 'Pinky,' a dedicated Workers' Rights Defender in Malaysia. Pinky shares the harrowing story of 750 migrant workers from Bangladesh who were recruited by a company called MULIA ONE. Upon arriving in Malaysia, they found that there were no jobs waiting for them, and their passports taken on the spot. Stranded and living in squalid conditions for five months, these workers' plight was eventually brought to light by a network of Defenders, including Andy Hall and our guest, 'Pinky.' Tune in for this compelling and important conversation. Find Andy Hall on web https://andyjhall.org/

Ep. 16 - CWA News Guild President Jon Schleuss - Journalists are Fired Up!

In this episode of Workers Rock, we sit down with Jon Schleuss, International President of the CWA News Guild. Representing 27,000 members across renowned newsrooms such as the Democrat & Chronicle in Rochester, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the LA Times, the Washington Post, the Seattle Times, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, ProPublica, the San Antonio Report, and more, Schleuss provides an in-depth look into the current state of journalism. He delves into what journalists are seeking, the reasons behind their growing energy, and the challenges they face. Since 2005, the industry has shed over 43,000 jobs, offering little job security and traditionally low pay. However, the landscape is changing as journalists and newspaper staffers increasingly advocate for fair compensation and equity by organizing strikes and walkouts. "Problematic companies take advantage of the fact that we love what we do," Schleuss explains. He believes that journalism is the most righteous job one can pursue. Join us as we explore these crucial topics and more in our conversation with Jon Schleuss. Jon discusses some ongoing negotiations in newsrooms, one being the Rochester News Guild (Gannett) Democrat & Chronicle, who went out on strike, and returned without a deal and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette who have been on strike for over 19 months. Find them at their strike publication www.unionprogress.com Find CWA Newsguild:Website: https://newsguild.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/newsguild Democrat & Chronicle Newsroom Unit: https://twitter.com/rocnewsguild Facebook.com/newsguild Find Jon Schleuss:https://twitter.com/gaufre

Ep. 15 - Lennon Ying-Dah Wong (汪英達) New Taipei, Taiwan - Migrant Workers Rights Defender

Lennon Ying-Dah Wong is the Director for the Department of Policies on migrant workers for Serve the People Association, Taiwan (SPA), a labor organization in Taiwan that helps migrant workers and Taiwanese workers unionize. Many migrant workers in Taiwan live in Shelters like SPA. On Workers Rock, Lennon discusses the horrific treatment that they experience. Because of dismal job opportunitiies in their home countries, workers from Indonesia, Phillipenes, Thailand and Vietnam arrive in Taiwan after paying expensive recruitment fees and receiving loans that are difficult to pay off. Lennon and his team discovered a forced labor ring that dupes entertainers from across the world, in this case, Kenya, enslaving them on farms in and around Tainan. Lennon and the SPA are working to help these individuals to become immigrants, helping them find and secure gainful employment. To find Serve the People Association, Taiwan (SPA) Website http://Spa.org.tw [http://Spa.org.tw] Facebook https://www.facebook.com/spa.taoyuan [https://www.facebook.com/spa.taoyuan] Lennon's Twitter [http://Spa.org.tw] If you are enjoying Workers Rock and our content, give us a follow! :D Thank you for listening!

Ep. 14 - Maria Fisher - USA Workers Rights Advocate, Rochester, NY

Maria Fisher is a Workers' Rights Advocate from Rochester, NY who is involved in the labor movement in various ways. She is the Rochester Area Federation, AFL-CIO Vice President, the Rochester Labor Council, AFL-CIO Recording Secretary and the Director of Communications and Political Action for AFSCME Council 66 in Upstate, New York. Maria talks about local union activity, wins that she is celebrating and her goal for workers to understand their power. Find Maria on her socials: On Twitter/X [https://twitter.com/maria_fisher?lang=en] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/maria.l.fisher/] Follow Workers Rock on Socials! On Twitter/X [https://twitter.com/WorkersRock] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554695165377]