Originally published on June 29, 2023.

Happy Pride Month! In this bonus episode, we're sharing the efforts that LGBTQ+ Teamsters are engaging in to fight for liberation at UPS, other Teamsters employers, the union itself, and beyond.

We spoke with Andrew Rivas, a UPS package car driver and political coordinator of Teamsters Local 533 in Reno, Nevada. He is also on the board of the relatively new Teamsters LGBTQ+ caucus. Andrew told us about the initiative, what it's like to face and fight against discrimination in the workplace, and specifically what the LGBTQ+ Caucus is demanding in the UPS contract negotiations.

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Hosted by Teddy Ostrow

Edited by Teddy Ostrow & Ruby Walsh

Produced by NYGP & Ruby Walsh, in partnership with In These Times & The Real News

Music by Casey Gallagher

Cover art by Devlin Claro Resetar

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Support the show at Patreon.com/upsurgepod.

Follow us on Twitter @upsurgepod, Facebook, The Upsurge, and YouTube @upsurgepod.

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Show Notes

• Teamsters LGBTQ+ Caucus website.
• Marc Steiner, "The Anti-LGBTQ Backlash Can't Crush 50 Years of Pride," The Real News, June 27, 2023.
• Kim Kelly, "How LGBTQ Activists Transformed the Labor Movment," Teen Vogue, June 7, 2019.
• Ann Balay, Semi Queer: Stories Gay, Trans and Black Truckers (UNC Press: 2020).

Originally published on June 15, 2023.

The 1.2-million-member United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) is one of the largest and most powerful private sector unions in the country. Unfortunately, it has embodied some of the worst elements of business unionism over the decades. But a reform movement is burgeoning to change that.

We've covered the role of Teamsters for a Democratic Union in bringing militancy and democracy to the Teamsters union. Now, the independent organization Essential Workers for Democracy is looking to play that role in the UFCW. We spoke with Enrique Romero Jr., the group's organizing director and a rank-and-file grocery worker at Fred Meyer in Bellingham, Washington.

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Hosted by Teddy Ostrow

Edited by Teddy Ostrow & Ruby Walsh

Produced by NYGP & Ruby Walsh, in partnership with In These Times & The Real News

Music by Casey Gallagher

Cover art by Devlin Claro Resetar

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Support the show at Patreon.com/upsurgepod.

Follow us on Twitter @upsurgepod, Facebook, The Upsurge, and YouTube @upsurgepod.

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Show Notes

• Chris Bohner, "UFCW Convention Starts: Assets Up, Membership Down, Reformers in Motion," Labor Notes, April 24, 2023.
• Jonah Furman, "UFCW Reformers Look to 2023," Labor Notes, November 2, 2022.
• Hamilton Nolan, "At UFCW, a Reform Movement Rises," In These Times, May 2, 2023.
• Paula Pecorella, "Why the Kroger-Albertsons Merger is a Looming Disaster," More Perfect Union, February 1, 2023.
• Essential Workers for Democracy website.
• Reach out to Enrique at enrique@ew4d.org.

Originally published on May 8, 2023.

Hollywood television and movie writers are on strike! In this bonus episode of The Upsurge, Teddy and Ruby will take you to the picket lines in Manhattan. Hear from a number of writers – including Ruby's dad! – why they laid down their pens.

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Hosted by Teddy Ostrow

Edited by Teddy Ostrow & Ruby Walsh

Produced by NYGP & Ruby Walsh, in partnership with In These Times & The Real News

Music by Casey Gallagher

Cover art by Devlin Claro Resetar

**

Support the show at Patreon.com/upsurgepod.

Follow us on Twitter @upsurgepod, Facebook, The Upsurge, and YouTube @upsurgepod.

***

Show Notes

• Jon Queally, "'No Other Choice': TV & Film Writers Strike to Fight Hollywood Greed," The Real News Network, May 2, 2023.
• Jon Queally, "'The Companies Have Broken This Business': Hollywood Writers Begin Strike," In These Times, May 2, 2023.
• Alex Press, "TV Writers Say They're Striking to Stop the Destruction of Their Profession," Jacobin, May 3, 2023.