The Last Words of Joe Hill Are Still Echoing

About this episode

The episode discusses the legacy of Joe Hill and its relevance to modern labor struggles through a short play and interviews.

On this week’s Labor History Today, producer producer Harold Phillips talks with Victoria McCallum and Lantz Simpson, co-writers of The Last Words of Joe Hill, a short play imagining Joe Hill in a modern coffee shop, sparking conversations about unions, work, and power. The interview is interspersed with scenes from the radio version of the play, as Hill’s voice challenges young workers navigating low wages, job insecurity, and organizing drives—echoing struggles that continue today. From the legacy of the Industrial Workers of the World to current campaigns like Starbucks Workers United, the episode explores how labor history still speaks to the present—and why, as Hill urged, the message remains: don’t mourn, organize. Questions, comments, or suggestions are welcome, and to find out how you can be a part of Labor History Today, email us at LaborHistoryToday@gmail.com Labor History Today is produced by the Labor Heritage Foundation and the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor. #LaborRadioPod #History #WorkingClass #ClassStruggle @GeorgetownKILWP #LaborHistory @UMDMLA @ILLaborHistory @AFLCIO @StrikeHistory #LaborHistory @wrkclasshistory

People in this episode

Host: Harold Phillips

Guests: Victoria McCallum, Lantz Simpson

Topics covered

• labor history
• unions
• work
• power
• job insecurity
• organizing drives
• class struggle

Keywords

• Joe Hill
• labor history
• unions
• job insecurity
• organizing
• Industrial Workers of the World
• Starbucks Workers United

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Labor Heritage Foundation, Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor, Starbucks Workers United, AFLCIO

Books & works: The Last Words of Joe Hill

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