In 1779, as inflation drove prices of bread and meat sky high, the citizens of Philadelphia took matters into their own hands and rebelled against the wealthy merchant class. Originally aired: September 6, 2023.

As the postwar inflation threatened the wages of trolley operators, they struck, triggering not just a fight over wages, but a fight over mass transit all together.

Pennsylvania Militia open fire on civilians and striking railroad workers. Originally aired: January 27, 2022.

Reading, Pennsylvania's first and only socialist mayor. Originally aired: February 14, 2022.

The 1805 Cordwainers Strike in Philadelphia was one of the earliest labor actions in American history. Originally aired: December 13, 2021.

A brief history of the cooperative movement in 19th century Philadelphia. Originally aired: February 22, 2022.

The first general strike in US history. Originally aired: January 3, 2022.

In this special interview episode, Sam and Gabe are joined by Will Caverly, author of Tinicum & Eastwick: Environmental Justice and Racial Injustice in Southwest Philadelphia.When plans to overhaul Southwest Philadelphia in the ...

After years of fighting, political pressure, and organizing, municipal employees take on the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Originally aired: November 13, 2023.

Listen to our outside-of-Philly bonus episodes at Patreon.com/LaborJawn!

The 1909-1910 Shirtwaist Strike in Philadelphia and 15 year old union leader, Bessie Hyman. Originally aired: November 22, 2021.

After SEPTA officially took over from the defunct Philadelphia Transit Company, Transit Workers United Local 234 had to fight for their next contract, facing opposition from the city, state, and even their own union.

Only six years after the founding of Pennsylvania, a group of German Quakers drafted the first petition for universal human rights in American history.

Amidst post-war inflation, a grain shortage, and growing anti-union sentiment, the bakers of Philadelphia marched out on strike to fight for wages, hours, and conditions. Originally aired: December 25, 2023.

We take a break from our regularly scheduled programming to talk with Alan Fisher, a transit youtuber with an affinity for trains and a passionate distaste for car-centric urban planning. The conversation ranges from the successes and failures ...

At one of the most industrialized farms in the country, Black and Italian farm workers stood up against violent repression from corrupt policemen, farmer vigilantes, the KKK, and the "Henry Ford of Agriculture," to get fair wages and union reco...

Maggie Kuhn dedicated her life to educating women, battling segregation, and supporting workers, but when she was forced into retirement at 65 years old she founded the Gray Panthers to fight for the rights and dignity of older workers. 

In this interview episode, Sam and Gabe sit down with Lindsey and Duncan, two unionists who have been organizing against the construction of a new 76ers arena in Philly's historic Chinatown. Sign the petition:

In 1985, after escaping war, famine, and genocide, 200 Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees in West Philadelphia took on their latest challenge: some of the worst landlords in the city.

After losing health and pension benefits, workers at Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal casino went on strike in 2016. Originally aired: June 13, 2022.

In a doubleheader episode, the two unions who would eventually merge into the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) both coincidentally went on strike in 1961.

In this special crossover episode of The Jewish Diasporist and Labor Jawn, hosts Jordan and Gabe team up to interview Dr. Caroline Luce, a scholar of Jewish labor history in the United States. Together. They explore the rich and complex history...

From Communist organizing in the 1930s to the 1963 March on Washington and beyond, Bayard Rustin had an incredible life, fighting for civil rights as a black, gay, radical labor agitator and peace activist. Originally aired: Januar...

In this interview episode, Sam and Gabe sit down with Dr. Peter Cole, author of "Ben Fletcher: life and times of a Black Wobbly" and "Wobblies on the Waterfront: Interracial Unionism in Progressive-Era Philadelphia." Originally air...

After a series of terrible contracts leaving workers struggling with long hours, poor conditions, and low pay, the Teamsters at UPS knew that they had a fight to win. After years of organizing, 185,000 workers stood up to one of the largest shi...