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Working Class History

Working Class History
Working Class History
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148 episodes

  • Working Class History

    E123.1 [TEASER]: IWW Starbucks Workers Union, bonus episode

    15/07/2026 | 10 mins.
    Free preview of the bonus episode to our three-part podcast series about the organising campaign by the Industrial Workers of the World union at Starbucks in the 2000s, in conversation with Daniel Gross, one of the key organisers.
    This episode covers more about Daniel’s work and organising history, the political and economic context of the early 2000s, and retaliation by Starbucks against him, and what happened in the subsequent legal case. 
    Our podcast is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes without ads, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Supporters also get access to two exclusive podcast series: Fireside Chats and Radical Reads. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistory
    More
    Listen to this full bonus episode here on Patreon.
    Listen to all parts now without ads on Patreon.
    More information, sources, show notes and eventually a transcript on the webpage for this episode: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e121-123-iww-starbucks-workers-union/
    Get hold of books by Daniel Gross, including:
    Labor Law for the Rank and Filer: Building Solidarity While Staying Clear of the Law – Staughton Lynd and Daniel Gross
    Solidarity Unionism at Starbucks – Staughton Lynd and Daniel Gross
    Unions of our Own – Daniel Gross

    Learn more about the IWW in our podcast series and in these books.
    Learn more about McDonald’s Workers’ Resistance in this bonus podcast episode, available on Patreon.
    Learn more about the Solidarity Union Network.
    Learn more about workplace organising in these organising guides.
    And, finally, learn about John’s experiences of organising at work in this bonus episode on Patreon.
    Acknowledgements
    Thanks to our Patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands.
    Episode graphic courtesy IWW.
    Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.
    Edited by Jesse French
  • Working Class History

    E123: IWW Starbucks Workers Union, part 3

    08/07/2026 | 39 mins.
    Final part of our three-part podcast series about the organising campaign by the Industrial Workers of the World union at Starbucks in the 2000s, in conversation with Daniel Gross, one of the key organisers.
    This part covers international solidarity, Starbucks union-busting strategies, the decline of the union, and lessons for today.
    Our podcast is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes without ads, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Supporters also get access to two exclusive podcast series: Fireside Chats and Radical Reads. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistory
    More
    Listen to all 3 parts now without ads, plus an exclusive bonus episode on Patreon.
    More information, sources, show notes and eventually a transcript on the webpage for this episode: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e121-123-iww-starbucks-workers-union/
    Get hold of books by Daniel Gross, including:
    Labor Law for the Rank and Filer: Building Solidarity While Staying Clear of the Law – Staughton Lynd and Daniel Gross
    Solidarity Unionism at Starbucks – Staughton Lynd and Daniel Gross
    Unions of our Own – Daniel Gross

    Learn more about the IWW in our podcast series and in these books.
    Learn more about McDonald’s Workers’ Resistance in this bonus podcast episode, available on Patreon.
    Learn more about the Solidarity Union Network.
    Learn more about workplace organising in these organising guides.
    And, finally, learn about John’s experiences of organising at work in this bonus episode on Patreon.
    Acknowledgements
    Thanks to our Patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands.
    Episode graphic: Starbucks Workers Union members, including Daniel, holding the sign, left, march down Union Square, NYC, 2007. Courtesy IWW.
    Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.
    Edited by Jesse French
  • Working Class History

    E122: IWW Starbucks Workers Union, part 2

    01/07/2026 | 31 mins.
    Part 2 of our three-part podcast series about the organising campaign by the Industrial Workers of the World union at Starbucks in the 2000s, in conversation with Daniel Gross, one of the key organisers.
    This part covers solidarity unionism and direct action on the job, tactics, and gains won by the workers. 
    Our podcast is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes without ads, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Supporters also get access to two exclusive podcast series: Fireside Chats and Radical Reads. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistory
    More
    Listen to all 3 parts now without ads, plus an exclusive bonus episode on Patreon.
    More information, sources, show notes and eventually a transcript on the webpage for this episode: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e121-123-iww-starbucks-workers-union/
    Get hold of books by Daniel Gross, including:
    Labor Law for the Rank and Filer: Building Solidarity While Staying Clear of the Law – Staughton Lynd and Daniel Gross
    Solidarity Unionism at Starbucks – Staughton Lynd and Daniel Gross
    Unions of our Own – Daniel Gross

    Learn more about the IWW in our podcast series and in these books.
    Learn more about McDonald’s Workers’ Resistance in this bonus podcast episode, available on Patreon.
    Learn more about the Solidarity Union Network.
    Learn more about workplace organising in these organising guides.
    And, finally, learn about John’s experiences of organising at work in this bonus episode on Patreon.
    Acknowledgements
    Thanks to our Patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands.
    Episode graphic: Starbucks Workers Union members, including Daniel, holding the sign, left, march down Union Square, NYC, 2007. Courtesy IWW.
    Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.
    Edited by Jesse French
  • Working Class History

    E121: IWW Starbucks Workers Union, part 1

    25/06/2026 | 47 mins.
    Before the current wave of organising at Starbucks, another group of workers in the early 2000s got together and formed a union at one of the most anti-union corporations on earth. They won better pay and conditions, and laid the groundwork for the unionisation campaign today. Learn their story in this three-part podcast series in conversation with Daniel Gross, one of the key organisers.
    Our podcast is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes without ads, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Supporters also get access to two exclusive podcast series: Fireside Chats and Radical Reads. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistory
    More
    Part 1: Background about Starbucks, workers’ pay and conditions, the Industrial Workers of the World union, how the organising got started, and the legal avenues the IWW pursued. Available without ads for our supporters on Patreon.
    Listen to all 3 parts now without ads, plus an exclusive bonus episode on Patreon.
    More information, sources, show notes and eventually a transcript on the webpage for this episode: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e121-123-iww-starbucks-workers-union/
    Get hold of books by Daniel Gross, including:
    Labor Law for the Rank and Filer: Building Solidarity While Staying Clear of the Law – Staughton Lynd and Daniel Gross
    Solidarity Unionism at Starbucks – Staughton Lynd and Daniel Gross
    Unions of our Own – Daniel Gross

    Learn more about the IWW in our podcast series and in these books.
    Learn more about McDonald’s Workers’ Resistance in this bonus podcast episode, available on Patreon.
    Learn more about the Solidarity Union Network.
    Learn more about workplace organising in these organising guides.
    And, finally, learn about John’s experiences of organising at work in this bonus episode on Patreon.

    Acknowledgements
    Thanks to our Patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands.
    Episode graphic: Starbucks Workers Union members, including Daniel, holding the sign, left, march down Union Square, NYC, 2007. Courtesy IWW.
    Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.
    Edited by Jesse French
  • Working Class History

    E124: [TEASER] Fireside Chat - World Cup of Chaos

    21/06/2026 | 25 mins.
    Fireside Chat podcast available exclusively for our Patreon supporters we invited back Tomas Rothaus (from our Argentina 2001 episodes) to discuss football, politics, and the chaotic mess of the World Cup in Donald Trump's USA.

    Our podcast is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistory

    Recorded before the competition started,we discussed the many contradictions of being a radical football fan, the excitement of attending previous World Cups, the way various authoritarian regimes have utilised football for their own ends, and the many players and managers (past and present) who have believed in fairer society for all.

    Listen to the full 92-minute episode here:
    E124: Fireside Chat - World Cup of Chaos – Available exclusively for our supporters on Patreon

    More information
    Get a copy of Tomas' book, Argentina, a Tale of Two Utopias: Anarchism, Soccer, NeoliberalismYou can also get Tomas’ other book, Another War Is Possible: Militant Anarchist Experiences in the Antiglobalization Era

    Check out our other books about football and politics in our online store
    More football related merch
    Acknowledgements
    Thanks to our Patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Fellow Worker and Jazz Hands.
    Edited by Jesse French
    Our theme tune is Montaigne’s version of the classic labour movement anthem, ‘Bread and Roses’, performed by Montaigne and Nick Harriott, and mixed by Wave Racer. Download the song here, with all proceeds going to Medical Aid for Palestinians. More from Montaigne: website, Instagram, YouTube.
    You can listen to all of our Patreon-exclusive podcast episodes by joining us on Patreon at patreon.com/workingclasshistory
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About Working Class History
History isn't made by kings and politicians, it's made by all of us. This podcast is about how we, together, have fought for a better world.Become a paid subscriber, support our work and listen ad-free with early access and exclusive bonus episodes at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
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