Adam Keller, Co-host of The Valley Labor Report (TVLR), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss what he’s learned while supporting the Communications Workers of America District 3 strike at AT&T across the Southeast. He also talked about his work with the North Alabama Area Labor Council and then gave an overview of their segment, Boss Watch.
As he normally does, Keller shared details about one of the biggest stories from Labor in the South, this time it’s the 17,000 CWA District 3 members on strike at AT&T across the Southeast. Keller talked about what he’s learned from spending time with striking members on the picket line. While he is a member of CWA Local 3908, he strictly speaks from the position of a supporter and their coverage of the strike with The Valley Labor Report and the North Alabama Area Labor Council.
The North Alabama Area Labor Council recently held its first-ever "union summer school,” which featured a diverse group of workers representing unions and unaffiliated workers. He discussed the education and training that was provided to attendees, including labor history, political advocacy, bargaining and negotiations, workplace rights and organizing. The event is part of the Labor Council’s outreach efforts. Despite being in a hostile environment with So-called “Right to Work” in Alabama, Keller said they received a relatively positive reaction following the education event.
Finally, Keller talked about one of their regular segments on TVLR, Boss Watch. To find content for the segment, TVLR tracks what bosses are up to throughout the South, and they comb through releases of agencies like the Department of Labor and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to find stories. Keller said they often find cases of workers being robbed of their wages and cases of companies repeatedly violating the law resulting in injuries and deaths. He discussed how listeners can submit their own stories and help shed more light on bad bosses in the South.
Listen to the show above to hear more from Keller.