labor_disputes

When contract negotiations between Alaska Airlines and their flight attendants' union broke down in 1993, the union had a choice to make.

The union — The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA — knew that if they chose to strike, Alaska Airlines could use a plan. While Alaska Airlines technically couldn't fire someone on strike, they could permanently replace the striking flight attendants with new workers. Essentially, if the union went on strike, they could risk thousands of people's jobs. The flight attendants knew they needed a counter-strategy.

They went with a strategy they called CHAOS: "Create Havoc Around Our System."

The strategy had two phases. Phase one: The union kept Alaska guessing about when, where, and how a strike might happen. They kept everyone, even their own members, in the dark. And in turn, Alaska Airlines had to be prepared for a strike at any place and any time. Phase two was to go on strike in a targeted and strategic way.

The havoc that the flight attendants created set off a sort-of labor-dispute arms race and would go on to inspire strikes today. And, it showed how powerful it can be to introduce a little chaos into negotiations.

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This episode was originally published on November 14, 2022

This week, Ford announced it was pausing work on a new $3.5 billion battery plant in Michigan. President of the United Auto Workers, Shawn Fain, viewed this as a "thinly veiled threat" to cut jobs. But this is a factory that's had controversy surrounding it even before this decision. And it all centers around a company called Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited, or CATL.

Today, a classic Indicator on the history behind one of the most divisive factory plans in America and the man leading the charge behind the world's transition to electric vehicles.

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As Boris Johnson drags us back to 2018 with his NI protocol meddling we discuss the latest Brexit wranglings (yes, again…). Plus, a year on from Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, we reflect on the conflict and how it has reshaped politics. And in the extra bit, in full for Patreons, we talk about the bizarre feeling of someone you disagree with making a smart point…  “If you’re applying a purity test – someone can always be purer.” – Seth Thévoz  “Sunak would be in a tricky position if he’s relying on Labour on a vote of this magnitude.” – Ian Dunt  “Keeping the Conservative base today will be the test for the rest of Sunak’s time as Prime Minister.” – Seth Thévoz  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow  Written and presented by Alex Andreou with Naomi Smith, Ian Dunt and Seth Thevoz. Producer: Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Theme music by Cornershop. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hormel Foods makes SPAM, and for generations, the company also created jobs for families in Austin, Minnesota. Today, the story of a labor strike that threatened to tear one small town apart. (This episode was made in collaboration with The Experiment podcast.) | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.

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Robert is joined by Spencer Crittenden to discuss The Battle of Blair Mountain.

FOOTNOTES:

1. The Battle of Blair Mountain: The Story of America's Largest Labor Uprising
2. ‘Rape Rooms’: How West Virginia Women Paid Off Coal Company Debts
3. New Evidence for the Gutman-Hill Debate
4. What was the Esau scrip?
5. “Store Pay Is Our Ruin”: The Tyranny of the Company Store
6. Mountaineer Mine Wars
7. The Coal Mining Massacre America Forgot
8. The Devil Is Here in These Hills
9. Underground Coal Mine Disasters 1900 - 2010

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