Labor Justice Radio

The Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP) is winning an ongoing battle against Temple University Hospital. PASNAP wants reimbursement for tuition benefits that Temple abruptly stopped providing last March despite the fact that the benefits are part of their current contract. Jerry Silberman, staff representative, spoke with me about this legal fight and also discussed PASNAP's negotiations for a new contract. Produced by Kistine Carolan.

Concerned citizens gathered for a town hall meeting in North Philadelphia to talk about the housing issues facing local neighborhoods. Charles Clarke spoke to Patrice Greene of Bread & Roses, who organized the event. He also interviewed forum participants about affordable housing, disinvestment in their neighborhoods, and gentrification. (Photo by Lauren Hansen-Flaschen)

On this month's show:

• Delaware workers win a fair, first-time contract after long SEIU campaign
• Temple University students stand in solidarity with Temple nurses' union
• Leaders share history of homeless organizing in the Philly during the 1990's
• Hundreds gather at the Museum of Art to declare 'Healthcare is a right!"
• North Philly residents talk about disinvestment & gentrification
• Plus music and other local and national news

On this show: +Interviews with leaders of the Save the Libraries Coalition +A cab driver speaks about how the Philadelphia Parking Authority is mismanaging the taxi industry +The Coalition of Immokolee Workers comes to Philadelphia to take on Aramark +Immigrant worker's face the loss of driver licenses Plus music and other news.

In this audio piece, Kate Harkins, of Temple University's Student Labor Action Project (SLAP) discusses what she learned from listening to the stories of Temple Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP) and calls on other students to stand in solidarity with the union during their contract negotiations. Produced by Kistine Carolan

With 25 years of experience, Terrence exposes some of the flaws in the taxi system run by the Philadelphia Parking Authority; from training to dispatching to managing. He also exposes what some might call 'extortion by color of authority.' This story was produced by Charles Clarke.

Amendu Evans reports on the effort of SEIU to gather support for Health Care. Recently they rallied at the District Office of Sen. Robert Casey. This is the latest action in their yearlong campaign.

Thousands of immigrants in Pennsylvania can't get driver's licenses, and in December the state made some people who already had licenses give them up. Community members speak about how this policy affects their ability to earn a living and support their families. A report by Milena Velis.

Florida Farmworkers visited Aramark's headquarters in Philadelphia earlier this month to call for justice and dignity for the people who pick the tomatoes Aramark buys. The event was part of the Fair Food Solidarity Tour, a national campaign with the United Workers of Baltimore, Maryland, who work in the service sector. Amendu Evans brings us an interview with Gerardo Reyes of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

On this show:

• Healthcare workers unite for a fair contract in Pottstown
• Rural poverty rates spike across U.S.
• Radical labor history of the IWW
• SEIU workers put pressure on senators to support healthcare
• 7 Philadelphia employers sued for denying workers lunchtime pay
• Nurses at Temple Health System resist gag order

Plus music and other news.

Nurses and technicians at Temple University Hospital are facing a "Gag Order" in their proposed contract with Temple University Health Systems. This order could mean fines for any member of PASNAP, the nurse's union, who says anything negative about Temple in public. A report by Milena Velis.

Healthcare workers at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center (PMMC) have been trying to bargain a new contract for months. But Community Health Systems, the national for-profit company that owns their community hospital, has not been bargaining in good faith. Now, the workers at PMMC are preparing for a three day strike over unfair labor practices. They have also filed charges with the labor board to get Community Health Systems to stop violating federal labor law.

The Pottstown community is standing with workers. There was a community vigil in a Pottstown church recently, in support of the healthcare workers. In this piece, we hear the voices of PMMC workers and participants at the vigil. All of the workers in this piece are members of SEIU.

This story was first produced as a short video, by Miguel Andrade, Hannah Jane Sassaman & Rebeckah Scotland. Megan Williamson turned it into a radio piece for Labor Justice Radio.

On this show:

•  Immigration reform advocates rally at City Hall
•  SEIU fights for better wages and benefits for Delaware janitors
•  Cleaners share a day in their working life
•  Coalition of Immokalee Workers celebrates a victory
•  Philadelphians organize to prevent Easy Credit for Slots legislation
  

Plus, music and other news.