--- title: Alabama Labor History could provide lessons in union solidarity description: The America’s Work Force Union Podcast is the nation’s premier daily labor program. Jacob Morrison from The Valley Labor Report joined us on today’s show. image: https://awf.labortools.com/hubfs/TVLR%20Blue.png --- 1 min read Season 5, Episode 226 # Alabama Labor History could provide lessons in union solidarity [ awfblog ](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/author/awfblog) November 13, 2024 [America's Work Force Union Podcast](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/americas-work-force-union-podcast) [AWF](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/awf) [The Valley Labor Report](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/the-valley-labor-report) ![TVLR Gray](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TVLR%20Gray.png?width=400&height=400&name=TVLR%20Gray.png)   Guest Name: --- Jacob Morrison Guest Website: --- [The Valley Labor Report](https://tvlr.fm/)  Guest Social Media: --- [ Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheValleyLaborReport) [ Twitter](https://twitter.com/LaborReporters) [ YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@TheValleyLaborReport) [ LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/) Supportive Documents: --- Jacob Morrison, Co-host of [The Valley Labor Report](https://tvlr.fm/), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his conversations with building trades unions and government workers about the potential impacts the presidential election results could have on future work projects in Alabama. Morrison also discussed the lessons that unions could learn by examining Alabama’s labor history. Following the confirmation of the Presidential election results, many labor movement members have expressed concerns. Morrison discussed some of the conversations he has had as President of the [North Alabama Area Labor Council](https://alaflcio.com/north-alabama-area-labor-council-afl-cio/about-us) about the potential impact on federally funded projects in Alabama. Not just members of the building trades but also government employees have expressed their concerns. Morrison, an [American Federation of Government Employees](https://www.afge.org/) member, shared the problems he and his fellow workers expect in the future. Morrison pointed out that the changes could make unions a more vital part of the workforce. He pointed to Alabama’s labor history as a perfect example of the labor movement's role in society through solidarity. The [United Mine Workers of America](https://umwa.org/) significantly contributed to eliminating segregationist policies in some Alabama mining communities in the late 1800s and early 1900s in the Alabama coal mines. Morrison discussed the integrated Mine Workers' pressure on Alabama’s Labor Movement to end segregationist policies and build a stronger, inclusive labor community. The solidarity shown by the Mine Workers in Alabama extended to solidarity with all labor unions in the state. Together with the United Steelworkers and several other unions, they built pro-union sentiment, which led to a pro-union, anti-segregationist Governor, Jim Folsom. Morrison discussed how the solidarity of the labor movement helped workers make significant gains in the workplace, growing to as much as 24 percent of the workforce being unionized. While those gains did not last, Morrison said unions could learn several lessons to help improve solidarity in the labor movement and grow at a time when workers need protections in the workplace. For more from Morrison, listen to the show above. To contribute to the coverage of Southern Labor provided by The Valley Labor Report, please click [here](https://unionly.io/o/tvlr/fundraising-drive-2024). --- America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues. America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ##### SUBSCRIBE ON: --- [![Group 342](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png?width=171&name=Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/id1511224946) [![Group 341](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Spotify%20Button-Dark.png?width=100&name=Spotify%20Button-Dark.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/0GzkHxFSBxiXvuX0lZpQBn) [![Group 343](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20343.png?width=135&name=Group%20343.png)](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast-62567752/) [![Group 339](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20339.png?width=110&name=Group%20339.png)](https://www.pandora.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/PC:47979) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20397.png?width=125&name=Group%20397.png)](https://americasworkforceradiopodcast.podbean.com/) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YouTube_button.png?width=125&name=YouTube_button.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQo1PAtRAel1_tS7-PQOkA)   #### [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/brotherhood-of-railroad-signalmen-on-the-union-pacific-merger-threat) : July 6, 2026 # Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat Brandon Elvey, Secretary-Treasurer of the [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen](https://www.brs.org/),... 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