How 30,000 People Formed an Impossible Union, with Ethan Bakuli and Rodney Tate

How 30,000 People Formed an Impossible Union, with Ethan Bakuli and Rodney Tate

From Factually! with Adam Conover by Headgum

April 8, 2026 · 59 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the inspiring story of how over 30,000 Michigan home health care workers formed a union against the odds.

It’s easy to feel powerless with everything going on, but there are normal people out there every day banding together to change the world for the better. Even so, their stories are not amplified as much as they should be. Over the past few years, over 30,000 Michigan home health care workers were able to successfully form a union despite not having a shared workplace, or even having coworkers. It was a feat of monumental willpower that will have a long-lasting, positive impact on all of those involved, both now and in the future. This week we invite you to take a break from the doom and gloom of the daily news cycle as Adam talks with Ethan Bakuli, a reporter who covered this story for Capital and Main, and Rodney Tate, a home health worker and a vocal leader of the campaign.  -- SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/adamconover SEE ADAM ON TOUR: https://www.adamconover.net/tourdates/ SUBSCRIBE to and RATE Factually! on: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/factually-with-adam-conover/id1463460577 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fK8WJw4ffMc2NWydBlDyJ About Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium…

People in this episode

Host: Adam Conover

Guests: Ethan Bakuli, Rodney Tate

Topics covered

  • union formation
  • home health care
  • activism
  • worker rights
  • community organizing

Keywords

  • union
  • home health care workers
  • activism
  • Ethan Bakuli
  • Rodney Tate
  • worker rights
  • Michigan

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Capital and Main, Headgum

Places: Michigan

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