Unions Hiding/A Solution to Gerrymandering

About this episode

Ralph discusses union challenges with Chris Townsend and explores gerrymandering solutions with Lee Drutman.

Ralph welcomes back union organizer, Chris Townsend, to discuss the reasons why the AFL-CIO shrinks from effectively fighting for its members and expanding the power of workers. Then, political scientist Lee Drutman lays out a system of proportional representation that would take away the incentive to gerrymander congressional districts. Plus, Ralph gives some quick takes on Thomas Massie’s primary loss, fish hopped up on cocaine, and the situations in Lebanon and Ukraine. Chris Townsend has been a union member and labor leader for more than 45 years. He was most recently the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) International Union Organizing Director. Previously, he was an International Representative and Political Action Director for the United Electrical Workers Union (UE), and he has held local positions in both the SEIU and UFCW. [The upcoming AFL-CIO] convention is deliberately kept secret. It’s what I describe as sort of a hideout strategy. It enables the leadership to not have to discuss or take positions that for them are difficult, such as: What is the labor movement going to do to confront the rampant lawlessness and criminality of the Trump regime? What is the labor…

People in this episode

Host: Ralph Nader

Guests: Chris Townsend, Lee Drutman

Topics covered

• labor movement
• gerrymandering
• proportional representation
• union organizing
• political action
• inflation
• health care crisis

Keywords

• unions
• gerrymandering
• AFL-CIO
• labor rights
• political representation
• Chris Townsend
• Lee Drutman
• inflation
• health care

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: AFL-CIO, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), United Electrical Workers Union (UE), SEIU, UFCW

Places: Lebanon, Ukraine

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