United Steelworkers POWERcast

Episode 42 - Exposing sweatshops, slave and child labor and other inhumane abuses.

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:16:00 -0700

Episode 42 of POWERcast goes one-on-one with Charles Kernigan, who along with the USW, is exposing sweatshops, slave and child labor and other inhumane abuses around the world. You’ll hear from an author who is telling the story of one of labor’s brightest leaders.

And the Creep of the Week award goes to another Bush appointee with a shamefully blemished record. Listen

Episode 41 - A report on one of the top issues facing America – the struggling economy.

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:14:00 -0700

Episode 41 of POWERcast brings you a report on one of the top issues facing America – the struggling economy. You’ll hear from an award-winning journalist who’s chronicled how the nation’s unfair tax system rewards the rich and hurts everyone else.

And the Creep of the Week award highlights what’s wrong with a system that ignores strong leaders who fight for working families. Listen

Episode 40 - Latest on USW's Toxic Trade Campaign.

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:03:00 -0800

Episode 40 of POWERcast brings you the latest on the USW’s growing Toxic Trade campaign. We’re on the ground as Steelworkers hit 100 congressional offices in one day to pressure lawmakers to fix the import crisis that is hurting our jobs and our families. We’ll take you on the campaign trail with presidential candidate John Edwards, where at every stop USW members are making a difference. And the Creep of the Week shows just how misguided some leaders are when it comes to the economy. Listen

Episode 39 - Unregulated Trade is Endangering American Consumers.

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:00:00 -0800

Episode 39 of POWERcast tells you about a very important report about how unregulated trade is endangering American consumers. You’ll go to a gathering of the world’s labor leaders in Washington,D.C. And the Creep of the Week is another example of how an American community and U.S. workers lose out in the age of globalization. The company known for its sweets will leave a sour taste in your mouth. Listen

Episode 38 - protests against the National Labor Relations Board

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Fri, 7 Dec 2007 06:54:00 -0800

Episode 38 of POWERcast takes you to recent protests against the National Labor Relations Board, an agency now bent on crushing workers rights rather than enforcing them.

You’ll also hear from Congressman Mike Doyle, who recently joined with the Steelworkers and the U.S. PIRG on the USW’s crusade to stop toxic trade. The Creep of the Week is another Bush administration agency that has made a stunning, unexplainable decision devastating to workers and communities. Listen

Episode 37 - The State of a Mexican Mine.

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 06:21:00 -0800

Episode 37 of POWERcast showcases an important report about the state of a Mexican mine. You’ll hear how it’s an example of why strong global solidarity is a necessity. Labor leader Napoleon Gomez makes an appearance along with USW President Leo Gerard. The Creep of the Week title is awarded to another underperforming executive whose exorbitant exit pay is mind boggling – especially as millions of Americans face financial ruin because of the mortgage crisis. Listen

Episode 36 - Anti-Sweatshop Bill

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 06:19:00 -0800

Episode 36 of POWERcast puts the spotlight on the anti-sweatshop bill, a very important piece of federal legislation that would not only protect children at home but children around the world. You’ll also get the latest on the USW’s toxic trade campaign, including an interview with a world-renowned lead expert who’s angry that a lifetime of research is being ignored. No one deserves the Creep of the Week award more than this week’s recipient - a bureaucrat whose unbelievable behavior is not only politically perturbing, but may be costing kids their lives. Listen

Episode 35 - Important U.S. Trade Commission Ruling

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 06:16:00 -0800

Come along with presidential candidate John Edwards as he campaign in Iowa and here why so many USW members are supporting his bid for the White House. POWERcast 35 also updates you on an important U.S. Trade Commission ruling. You’ll find out how the Cleveland Browns and the United Steelworkers are teaming up to help student athletes. And don’t tune out before finding out the Creep of the Week. It’s one of the worst offenders to date. Listen

Episode 34 - Women of Steel

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 06:52:00 -0700

Episode 34 of POWERcast takes you to Toronto, Canada, and Washington, D.C., for the launch of a major North American campaign to stop toxic trade. We bring you a report from the Women of Steel conference, where more than a thousand activists attended the largest gathering of working women ever.

And the Creep of the Week will make you wish Election Day were tomorrow so you could vote out the folks who care more about corporations than kids. Listen

Episode 33 - Stop Toxic Imports

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 06:51:00 -0700

Episode 33 of POWERcast previews the USW’s major North American awareness campaign that aims to stop the toxic imports that are endangering our families.

You’ll also hear the Steelworkers’ National Political Director talk about how trade is shaping up to be a major campaign issue. And the Creep of the Week is a multiple award recipient whose head-shaking stances against children and families are just plain wrong. Listen

Episode 32 - Steelworkers Endorse John Edwards

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 06:50:00 -0700

This edition of POWERcast recaps a very special Labor Day when the United Steelworkers and United Mine Workers of America gave presidential candidate John Edwards a major boost. There’s a report on the first USW president who is being remembered with a bridge named in his honor. And the Creep of the Week honors goes to government and corporate officials who are trying to spin their way out of an obvious crisis involving the health and safety of our children. Listen

Episode 31 - Repairing the Nation’s Infrastructure

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 08:27:00 -0700

The AFL-CIO’s Bob Baugh visits with us in this edition of POWERcast to talk about how repairing the nation’s roads, bridges, utilities and other infrastructure is not only good for the country but can be good for workers. There’s a report from Workers Independent News about how the USW is protecting consumers and workers by drawing attention to a dangerous chemical used to make everything from non-stick pots and pans to pizza boxes.

And Creep of the Week honors go to a boss whose bad safety record and manic media performances have raised questions about a deadly disaster. Listen

Episode 30 - The heart-breaking case of sick nuclear workers fighting for health care.

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 07:54:00 -0700

This edition of POWERcast brings you the latest news in the heart-breaking case of sick nuclear workers fighting for health care. USW President Leo Gerard appeared on a national news program to talk about unions’ agenda in the presidential campaign and we were there. There’s also a report on a major victory for Continental Tire retirees. Don’t miss the Creep of the Week – it celebrates a right-wing rant from a not-so-compassionate conservative running amok. Listen

Episode 29 - AFL-CIO Democratic Presidential Debate.

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 07:10:00 -0700

The eyes of the nation were watching when the AFL-CIO gathered the Democratic presidential candidates at Soldier Field in Chicago for a nationally-televised debate. And it was a Steelworker who stole the show. Listen to this week’s POWERcast to find out how this member has pushed health care front and center. USW Vice President Tom Conway and President Leo Gerard also were on big stages recently and POWERcast takes you there. The Creep of the Week honors one of the most heartless displays of corporate greed ever. Listen

Episode 28 - Keeping tariffs on cheap, imported steel.

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Tue, 7 Aug 2007 08:42:00 -0700

One day USW President Leo Gerard joins a group of Steelworkers in Washington, D.C., to make the case for keeping tariffs on cheap, imported steel and the next day he’s starring on the big screen in a Leonardo DiCaprio movie. Listen to this week’s POWERcast to get the scoop. The episode also features an interview with a well-known blogger who wrote about the nation’s crumbling infrastructure long before a string of deadly bridge and road collapses. And we’ll give Creep of the Week honors to a group of politicians who continue to put Big Business before needy children. Listen

Episode 27- Travel to Africa in this episode of POWERcast.

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Tue, 7 Aug 2007 08:35:00 -0700

Travel to Africa in this episode of POWERcast. We go along with a USW and AFL-CIO delegation that observed historic union elections in Liberia. You’ll also hear from filmmaker Michael Moore who talks about his latest movie that highlights America’s growing health care crisis. You’ll also hear some presidential candidates talk about why health care is a major campaign issue. The Creep of the Week is a group of CEOs whose latest globalization gimmick is nothing but a big dose of denial. Listen

Episode 26 - Holding China accountable for its unfair trade practices.

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 13:48:00 -0700

Holding China accountable for its unfair trade practices that have led to the loss of thousands of North American paper jobs is at the core of an important trade case in Washington, D.C. Hear members of the USW legislative and legal teams discuss the issue in this episode.

We also catch up with presidential candidate John Edwards during a stop on his poverty tour, and we visit with the son of a Steelworker whose blue-collar roots are the inspiration for his Grammy-award winning music.

The Creep of the Week highlights another questionable decision by the White House – and this one is putting American consumers at risk. Listen

Episode 25 - USW Presidential Forum

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 06:00:00 -0700

If you couldn’t make it to the recent USW Presidential Forum on Renewing Manufacturing in Cleveland, you can get caught up on all the news in this week’s POWERcast. Former Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards, Sens. Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden and U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich share their ideas for bringing good jobs back to America and discuss their agendas for working families.

There’s also a report on the first Battle of Homestead Bernie Kleiman lecture at Pittsburgh’s Pump House where former USW president Lynn Williams delivered the inaugural speech. And the Creep of the Week is another example of how Wall Street has a monopoly on media coverage. Listen

Episode 24 - Free Trade

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 06:14:00 -0700

In this week’s POWERcast , we go inside a big decision by congressional leaders on the trade front. It’s a big win for workers. We touch base with former Steelworkers’ President Lynn Williams, who shares his insightful thoughts about labor’s role in the future in a renewed progressive movement.

At the end of the broadcast we reveal the Creep of the Week – a mouthpiece for many of the world’s biggest businesses that think the bottom line is more important than human rights. Listen

Episode 23 - Latest on the Employee Free Choice Act

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 06:12:00 -0700

This week’s POWERcast brings you the latest on the Employee Free Choice Act and takes you to the Pennsylvania Statehouse, where Governor Ed Rendell is taking smart steps toward building a clean energy industry that works for workers and the environment.

You’ll hear why some of the presidential candidates are making the union vote a priority. And the Creep of the Week is an absolutely outrageous oversight that may have cost people their lives. Listen

Episode 22 - Employee Free Choice Act

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 10:21:00 -0700

This week’s POWERcast is on the scene. We bring you reports from our nation’s Capitol that gives you the latest Employee Free Choice Act news as well as a story from the Take Back America conference. We’re there in Philadelphia for an important discussion on diversity in the labor movement, and we travel to England with USW President Leo W. Gerard who spoke to a Unite the Union conference about the exciting possibilities of forming a powerful global partnership with Great Britain and Ireland ’s biggest trade union. The Creep of the Week is proof that an Ivy League resume doesn’t always guarantee the smartest ideas. Listen

Episode 21 - Global Agenda

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 10:24:00 -0700

This week’s POWERcast is jammed packed with information. USW’s National Director for Canada Ken Neumann answers some of the many questions surrounding the union’s global agenda. There’s a heart-breaking story about thousands of former Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant workers who have been denied compensation and medical care for their cancers. W e hear from two Women of Steel who are part of the USW delegation attending important union diversity discussions being held around the nation. And no one has deserved the Creep of the Week more than this week’s recipient, whose recent decision is not only wrong but potentially deadly. Listen

Episode 20 - Preparing for the 2008 Elections.

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:58:00 -0700

This week’s POWERcast provides a glimpse into the important work already underway to prepare for the 2008 election. We hear from labor leaders about what you can do now to become a part of it. You’ll also get a preview of the upcoming Take Back America conference in Washington, D.C., where several USW members will be among the activists gathering to talk about a new direction for America. The Creep of the Week – more evidence of a broken executive compensation system - will get your blood pressure sky-high. Listen

Episode 19 - A report from the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists convention.

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Mon, 4 Jun 2007 10:16:00 -0700

This week’s POWERcast takes you to Chicago for a report on the 36th annual Coalition of Black Trade Unionists convention, where presidential candidate Barack Obama was among the speakers. There’s also an update on the continuing saga of exorbitant executive pay – this chapter features a major victory for workers. And don’t miss the Creep of the Week, a reflection of lazy journalism that’s woefully wrong and incredibly insulting. USW President Leo Gerard helps set the record straight. Listen

Episode 18 - Private Equity

sweaver@usw.org (United Steelworkers) — Thu, 31 May 2007 10:00:00 -0700

This week’s POWERcast features a look at the growing problem of unregulated private equity. The USW’s Ron Bloom helps explain what it means for employees and their pensions. A group of Steelworkers retirees talk about living life after work when your pension is under constant attack. At the end of the broadcast we reveal the Creep of the Week, a true example of private equity gone bad. Listen