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Season 6, Episode 170

Labor 131: AFT Wisconsin President Discusses Labor History

GENERIC LABOR 131 SIDEBAR

 

Guest Name:


John Shelton

Guest Website:


AFTW

Guest Social Media:


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Today’s edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, features John Shelton, President of AFT Wisconsin and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, who joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss Wisconsin's labor history, recent political shifts and ongoing union challenges. Shelton explored the impact of Act 10 on public sector unions, efforts to restore collective bargaining rights and the historic Kohler strike.

Shelton detailed the political landscape shift in Wisconsin since 2010, explaining how then Gov. Scott Walker's administration targeted public sector unions. He highlighted recent progress, including legal challenges to Act 10 and the potential for fair legislative maps due to changes in the state Supreme Court. Shelton emphasized the importance of relational voter work and grassroots organizing in achieving these political victories.

The conversation delved into Wisconsin's rich labor history, focusing on the Kohler strikes of 1934 and 1954-1965. Shelton explained how these strikes shaped labor relations and tested the National Labor Relations Act. He described the challenges workers faced during the decade-long strike and the ultimate victory that came at a significant cost to the UAW.

Shelton stressed the importance of labor education, connecting past struggles to current challenges unions face. He emphasized the need for continued solidarity and activism to protect workers' rights and build on the legacy of those who fought in historic labor battles.

Listen to the full episode of the America's Workforce Union Podcast to learn more about Wisconsin's labor history and current union challenges.


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.

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