1 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to wok F Daily with 2 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 1: Meet your Girl Danielle Moody, recording from the Home Bunker. Folks, 3 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: you know, I gotta say something about Donald Trump's trials 4 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: that are happening right now, which is that currently you 5 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: have Republicans whose names you know, some of them you know, 6 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: some of them you do not know, that are showing 7 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:45,480 Speaker 1: up at Donald Trump's trials. And right before I came 8 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: on to record today's episode, CNN was doing an interview 9 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: with Elis Stefanik, who you know is just a heinous, 10 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: fucking individual. She's a liar, she's reprehensible. She gave you know, 11 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: herself a Maga makeover and just has anointed herself as 12 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: Donald Trump's mouthpiece, and you know is doing so because 13 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 1: they're all vying to be vice president or to be 14 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: considered vice president and to be a part of the 15 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: you know, audition to be Donald Trump's number two. And 16 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: Elie stefanic is in front of the courthouse as Stormy 17 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 1: Daniels and others. I think right now, Michael Cohen is 18 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 1: on the stand. We know that last week Stormy Daniels 19 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: gave graphic detail about sleeping with Donald Trump, and you know, 20 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:41,400 Speaker 1: Michael Cohen is now testifying to the larger cover up. 21 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:44,279 Speaker 1: And you hear Donald Trump on audio talking about how 22 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: this is very, very bad for the election. Not his marriage, right, 23 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: not in terms of business accounting, as his sons and 24 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: other people have said, like, oh, this is just a 25 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: ma this was a clerical error. It was an error 26 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: in a lot of ways. But at least Stephonik found 27 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: herself talking about the fact that this is all politically motivated. 28 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 1: It's a political witch hunt, you know. Side Vance refused 29 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: to prosecute this case, the Department of Justice refused to 30 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: prosecute this case, and it's all a sham and blah 31 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: blah blah. And the reality is, folks, is that it's 32 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: not a sham. Is it salacious? Yes? Is it you know, 33 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: reprehensible that a man that has been you know, nominated 34 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: as a Republican candidate for president is involved in such 35 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: a salacious, you know, scandal that involves bribery, hush money, 36 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: election interference. You know, because honestly, if this was just 37 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: about a blowjob, as it was with you know, Bill 38 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: Clinton in the nineties, if this was just about an affair, 39 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: I really wouldn't give a fuck. Donald Trump is a misogynist, 40 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 1: He is an alleged sexual assaulter. He is a whole 41 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 1: lot of things. Right. We know, oh what Donald Trump 42 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 1: thinks about women. He told us what he thinks about women. Right, 43 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: you can grab him by the pussy, you can do 44 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 1: whatever it is that you want. So if it was 45 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: just that he fucked a porn star, I honestly wouldn't care, 46 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 1: right like, because look at him. Clearly the man has 47 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: to pay, right Like, Ain't nobody want to do that 48 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: for free? Right? Mulania is getting something out of the 49 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: deal because she gets the Trump last name. She solidified 50 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 1: the deal with a kid, and you know she's written 51 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: into the will and has you know, an allowance and 52 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 1: money and all of the things, right that come along 53 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: with Donald Trump. But we know that when we zoom in, 54 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: she don't even want to hold his fucking hand, right, 55 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: And you haven't seen her shown up in court right 56 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: to stand by her man. So if it were just sex, 57 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: this would be a non issue. But the fact is 58 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: that this case isn't about Donald Trump sleeping with a 59 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: porn star. It is about Donald Trump using the National 60 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: Enquirer and his relationship there. One to sabotage his political opponents. 61 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: That's not what's on trial, because we know what journalism, 62 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:17,559 Speaker 1: or lack thereof does in this country politically, the fucking 63 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: National Inquirer. We don't think you know that a outlet 64 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: that goes on the search for illegitimate children, you know, 65 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 1: made by Bigfoot, you know that happened on in UFO, 66 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: is you know, groundbreaking journalistic reporting. But the fact is 67 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 1: that Donald Trump had his lawyer pay off a porn 68 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: star in a series of checks that he signed while 69 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:52,040 Speaker 1: he was President of the United States that Michael Cohen 70 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: himself went to jail for to cover for Donald Trump. 71 00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: So if Michael Cohen can go to jail right for 72 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: his part in this cover up, tell me why the 73 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: man that told him to cover things up isn't responsible 74 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:15,279 Speaker 1: for the crime that was committed. And so when you 75 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: have a leased Stephonic and now you have apparently Tim 76 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,039 Speaker 1: Scott's going to roll up to the courthouse in jd 77 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 1: vance and folks are saying, oh, is this actually how 78 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,559 Speaker 1: Donald Trump is deciding who's going to be the next VP. 79 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:33,280 Speaker 1: I've reported on this before, where people that are being 80 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 1: interviewed as part of Project twenty twenty five to go 81 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 1: into their right wing swamp of a LinkedIn to be 82 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 1: a part of this fascist takeover of America. That one 83 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,480 Speaker 1: of the questions that are asked is do you believe 84 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: that the election in twenty twenty was stolen? Who? Or 85 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: the question better yet is probably phrased of who won 86 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:59,279 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty election? And if you don't say Donald Trump, 87 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:03,720 Speaker 1: guess what, you're not up in the mix. You are 88 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: out passed. So you either have to feign ignorance, write 89 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: and lie really well, or you just have to be 90 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 1: a part of a cult and actually believe it down 91 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:19,839 Speaker 1: to your core. I'm not quite sure which is worse. 92 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:26,039 Speaker 1: But the fact is that we are watching what we 93 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: thought was just, you know, a tumor named Trump that 94 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: could be removed from our body politic metastasize and spread 95 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: in a way where we are watching current senators base 96 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: themselves in order to align with Donald Trump's power. This 97 00:06:53,960 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: corrosion will not end until we, the people make it end. 98 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: Donald Trump is going to continue, his power is going 99 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: to continue to grow. They're going to continue to be 100 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: these copycats and these wannabes until this man is put 101 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: out of his electoral misery, meaning that we unanimously vote 102 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty four to fucking rid ourselves of Donald Trump. 103 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: That's the only way, folks, because otherwise we are in 104 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: for it. And what we joke about as folks on 105 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: Earth two will become our reality because they will make 106 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: it such. And that, to me is what is even 107 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 1: more terrifying. Now. I know, I have conversations on this 108 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 1: show every day where I'm saying that swallowing the pill 109 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: of Joe Biden is like drinking bleach and you know, 110 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 1: and washing it down with knives, given what this man 111 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: is doing in Gaza and Israel. But the fact is 112 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: that just when you think that things can't get worse, 113 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: I promise you, I promise you, they fucking will. And 114 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: so you know, as we make this March less than 115 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: two hundred days away, we know that Judge Alien Cannon 116 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 1: has completely torpedoed the Document's case so that'll never get heard. 117 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: We know that the Supreme Court is in the midst 118 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:59,839 Speaker 1: of anointing presidents a king with their decision with the 119 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: immunity case, and the fact that they are even having 120 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 1: and hearing arguments about presidential immunity is insane. So we 121 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:16,079 Speaker 1: already know the corrosion, so that case is not going 122 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: to be heard anytime before the election. The hush money case, 123 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:27,079 Speaker 1: as the DA's trying to tell us, the electoral interference case, 124 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:36,559 Speaker 1: that's what we got. And finally the Georgia case, also 125 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 1: given what happened with Fannie Willis, will not be heard 126 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: before November twenty twenty four. So this is all we got. 127 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 1: And I don't know how it will turn out. I 128 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 1: don't know what a jury in New York will do. 129 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: We know that Donald Trump, even if he's convicted, he 130 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 1: it's not like we're going to see him in an 131 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: orange jumpsuit. They will appeal, appeal, appeal, appeal because they 132 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 1: have the money to do so. A hung jury in 133 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: this case will bode well for him. He'll be able 134 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: to fundraise around it. Look, it was a witch hunt 135 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:18,080 Speaker 1: because even the people of the Liberal Sewer New York 136 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: didn't convict me. We are in a precarious place, friends, 137 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 1: and so what it comes down to is that the 138 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: only people that are going to be able to save 139 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 1: us are us. So we have to think really hard 140 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 1: about where we want to be come November twenty twenty four, 141 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 1: and the decisions that are going to come out of 142 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 1: this election that are not just going to be about 143 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 1: our lives, but about everyone who we love now and 144 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:57,359 Speaker 1: generations to come. Coming up next, dear friends, I'm continuing 145 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 1: my conversation with auto workers on their fight to unionize, 146 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 1: and now we are moving to another facility. We spoke 147 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: with folks that we're working at a Volkswagen facility, and 148 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: now we are moving to another auto workers facility because 149 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:22,479 Speaker 1: what we are seeing is that the desire to unionize 150 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: is growing in this country and the conversation and the 151 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 1: narrative around unions are changing for the better. And so 152 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: coming up next we will have a conversation with another 153 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 1: auto worker about their current fight to unionize. Folks. I 154 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:48,720 Speaker 1: am very happy to welcome to Woke f Daily K Finkley, 155 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 1: who has been a worker at the Mercedes benz Us 156 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: International plant near Vance, Alabama for twenty three years and 157 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: has been working as a volunteer to help organize the 158 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 1: plant and unionize the plant. Okay, tell us about your 159 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: work over the last twenty three years and this push 160 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 1: to organize and unionize your plant. 161 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 2: Okay. When I first started, the job was great, a 162 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 2: career job, and everything was well. People work together, the 163 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 2: atmosphere was great and your pay was good at the time. 164 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 2: At the year's progress, your pay didn't move but stayed 165 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 2: the same. So it became an issue. And the atmosphere changed, 166 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 2: the work environment became different, management was different, and so 167 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:45,319 Speaker 2: things just went downhill, and we're to the point where 168 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 2: we need a change, we need something better, and we 169 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 2: need to make a difference. 170 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 1: What are some of the difficulties that you have faced 171 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:57,079 Speaker 1: over the last twenty three years, Like when you say 172 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: that things have changed and management has changed, and like 173 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 1: the environment has changed. What are some of the things 174 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: that you are organizing around for your plant? 175 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:14,079 Speaker 2: The favoritism, the treatment as far as promotions, just our 176 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 2: pay in general, the fact that it's not moving, it's 177 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 2: just staying the same, whereas everything around us is going up. 178 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 2: So that's one of the major issues. But just the 179 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 2: treatment as far as management and how they treat us, 180 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 2: it's almost like we're not important, like we're invisible. 181 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 1: Has there been any pushback from the Mercedes Benz plant 182 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 1: for your trying to unionize. We spoke to folks at 183 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:45,560 Speaker 1: Volkswagen in Tennessee, and you know, they weren't allowed to 184 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 1: talk about unionizing. They could only they weren't allowed to 185 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 1: do it on the line. They could only do it 186 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 1: during their breaks. People were intimidated or threatened. So what 187 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: has the experience been like for you all? 188 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 2: Pretty much the thing not being allowed to talk about it. 189 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 2: Videos telling you why the union is so bad for 190 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:14,679 Speaker 2: us basically, you know, threatening around about way, not directly, 191 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,199 Speaker 2: but kind of thing. If you get a union, then 192 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 2: you won't baby use the restroom. If you get a union, 193 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 2: you won't be able to talk to your supervisors. You 194 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 2: have to go between the union rep and your supervisor. 195 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 2: That kind of thing. Just trying to place fear in 196 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 2: people to make them think that basically they wouldn't be 197 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 2: able to communicate or have restroom breaks, certain things like that, 198 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 2: which is. 199 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 1: Crazy because that, I mean, the unions do the exact opposite, 200 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 1: at least that's my understanding, which is to make sure 201 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: that you workers are protected. Is that not right? 202 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 2: Correct? Exactly? And then if you have to go to 203 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 2: the restroom, it's against the law to refuse someone to 204 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 2: take a restroom break. But those are the things that 205 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 2: they're killing people because you have newer people and they're fared, 206 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 2: So those are the things that they feel that they 207 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 2: can put in their mindset to keep them from voting. 208 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: Yet, So, how are you able to spread the message 209 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: of the importance of the unions? What the United Auto Workers, 210 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: because that's what I'm assuming the union that you are 211 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: trying to create. How do you talk to people and 212 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 1: where do you talk to them if it's not allowed, 213 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: you know, on the line. 214 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 2: We try to have meetings and get people to come 215 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 2: out to the meetings or out in the parking lot, 216 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 2: different things like that over the phone, try to do 217 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 2: on your break so that if not doing work hours 218 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 2: and we try to explain to them that we need 219 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 2: a voice. We need to be able to have a 220 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 2: feat at the table to bargain so that we're treated 221 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 2: fairly and some of the stuff that we're getting as 222 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 2: or it's the unfair pay, the benefits, not having profit sharing, 223 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 2: different things like that, we'll be able to actually bargain 224 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 2: for those items. 225 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: What are some of the things that you all are 226 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 1: asking for, Like what is on your list of I 227 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 1: would say demands or requests. 228 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 2: Better pay, better benefits, better retirement, profit sharing, better work hours, 229 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 2: fair treatment across the board for everyone just to be 230 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 2: treated fairly so everyone's receiving the site treatment. 231 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: And what is the response been from Mercedes? 232 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 2: Like I said, they're showing negative videos just about every 233 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 2: week now. They're sending messages to our phones. We have 234 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 2: something called the MBUSI Insider app where they're supposed to 235 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 2: post information daily. They're flooding us with it, all kinds 236 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 2: of negative stuff about if we get a union, we 237 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 2: won't be a family anymore. If we bring in a union, 238 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 2: it's gonna change everything, the rules will be different. Just 239 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 2: the negativity. Everything that they say is negative towards the union, 240 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 2: and they're actually supposed to be neutral, but it's. 241 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 1: Far from that. How many people are in your plant? 242 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:21,640 Speaker 1: What's the size of your plant? 243 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 2: Well, they're saying that we have five thousand eligible people 244 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:28,640 Speaker 2: that's able to vote for the union against or four 245 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:33,720 Speaker 2: five thousand okay, five thousand okay, man, how many volunteers 246 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 2: like yourself are there? And like, what is what does 247 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 2: your efforts look like so that you can reach all 248 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 2: of those people? Because you can't I'm assuming you don't 249 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 2: have an app, right, so you can't do what the 250 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 2: company is doing to just reach people via text on 251 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 2: their phone. So how do you reach that many people? 252 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:58,920 Speaker 2: In the beginning, we just went from phone to phone, 253 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:03,200 Speaker 2: just calling people, talking to people, communicating. But we've gotten 254 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:05,880 Speaker 2: some help from the UAW and so now we do 255 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:10,119 Speaker 2: have apps that we're able to do maths connections with. 256 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 2: So that's helping out tremendously. 257 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: And what are some of the fears that when you 258 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:19,400 Speaker 1: get on the phone with your fellow employees. What are 259 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 1: some of the things that they say to you about 260 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:25,439 Speaker 1: what they've heard or the reason why they could be 261 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:30,120 Speaker 1: thinking about voting against unionizing. They're afraid that they're gonna 262 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:33,200 Speaker 1: shut the plant down and move to a different play 263 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 1: because that's what's being said that if we unionize, they're 264 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 1: going to shut it down and move. They say stuff like, 265 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:42,880 Speaker 1: you know, we can't afford to go on a strike, 266 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 1: So what are we going to do to prevent that, 267 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 1: or what can we do to prevent that? They're worried 268 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 1: about things like that. Are there other plans with Mercedes 269 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 1: that are unionized or would this be one of the 270 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 1: first ones in the US. 271 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 2: The Germany plant is unionized and then Diaimler trucks just 272 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 2: became unionized. But we'll be the first here. 273 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 1: You'll be the first here. So they're not this is 274 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:17,160 Speaker 1: not new to them right like they so they have unions. 275 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: They're just trying to hold out because you all are 276 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: one of the last. 277 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:25,359 Speaker 2: Well, we give them what it's called the Alabama discount, 278 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 2: where they get the labor for free pretty much or 279 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 2: basically almost free anyway, because they're not paying us what 280 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 2: we deserve to be paid. 281 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: Do you know what the comparison is between the plants 282 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,200 Speaker 1: like the one in Germany? I know it's different because 283 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:44,639 Speaker 1: we have dollars, but are their plants like Do you 284 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 1: understand how different or better they are operating? 285 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 2: From my understanding, their work hours are totally different. We 286 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 2: work twelve hours a day. They work eight hours a day. 287 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 2: We work weekends and saturdays for straight pay. They don't 288 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 2: work in any weekend. They have time with their families, 289 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 2: and we struggle with that because our hours are so long. 290 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:09,440 Speaker 2: And so the difference is the hours and their wages 291 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:11,880 Speaker 2: they make. As far as I know, no one has 292 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 2: actually given me an actual amount, but I'm being told 293 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,280 Speaker 2: that they make more than we do on work less hours. 294 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 1: So they have weekends off, yes, ma'am, they work less hours, 295 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 1: yes ma'am, and they get paid more, yes, ma'am. That 296 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: is incredible. So let me ask you this. When you 297 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:38,960 Speaker 1: work a twelve hour shift, which is half a day, 298 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: how many breaks do you get? 299 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:46,199 Speaker 2: We get a two ten minute breaks, and then we 300 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 2: get a thirty five minute lunch break, and at the 301 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:54,399 Speaker 2: end of the day you get I think it's like 302 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 2: a five minute break that you get right before time 303 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 2: to go home. If I'm not mistaken. I don't hardly 304 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:06,479 Speaker 2: ever get to take them in my department because I'm 305 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 2: always doing something during that time. But I think it's 306 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 2: too ten minute breaks. No, let me kind say it's 307 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:17,119 Speaker 2: a ten minute break in the morning because they just 308 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 2: changed the schedule. Actually ten minute break in the morning, 309 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 2: a thirty five minute lunch break, and then you get 310 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 2: two fifteen minute breaks at the latter part. 311 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 1: Of the day during twelve whole hours. Yes, ma'am, that's 312 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: not a lot of time. 313 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 2: No, ma'am, it's not. 314 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 1: It's not so really. It really just I'm like, in 315 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 1: my head, I'm trying to do the math, and I'm 316 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 1: saying I would assume too, that a majority of your 317 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 1: job is on your feet, right like that you're standing 318 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 1: up during that time, yes, ma'am, on a line, My goodness. 319 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:57,959 Speaker 1: So if this vote happens and between May thirteenth and 320 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: May seventeenth, how quickly would things change if it is 321 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 1: a yes vote for a union. 322 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 2: I'm hoping that it will change immediately. I'm hoping Mercedes 323 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 2: won't drag anything out that once we start to bargain 324 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 2: and come up with the contract, hopefully we can go 325 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 2: ahead and come to an agreement and get everything settled 326 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 2: so it won't be, you know, a long drug drug 327 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:26,640 Speaker 2: out process. 328 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:30,880 Speaker 1: And if it fails, okay, what does that mean. 329 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:36,600 Speaker 2: If not gonna fail, we're gonna win. There's no room 330 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:39,359 Speaker 2: for fail. And we've worked too hard for this, put 331 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 2: in too much time, too much effort. We're gonna win. 332 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 1: How long have you all been organizing for You've been 333 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 1: at this plant for twenty three years. How long has 334 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:52,160 Speaker 1: this organizing process been in the works for. 335 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 2: This particular time. We started back in November, but we've 336 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 2: tried different times before and it just never got off. 337 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 2: We couldn't get enough people. It just never made it 338 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:11,240 Speaker 2: this far. And this particular campaign, people are just tired. 339 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 2: They're tired of the hours, they're tired of the treatment. 340 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 2: So it was easy as far as actually getting once 341 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 2: we talk to people, it was easy getting them to, 342 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:23,720 Speaker 2: you know, say yes they were willing to vote or 343 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 2: help or just whatever we. 344 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 1: Needed, because I would say right that the worst that 345 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:36,160 Speaker 1: could happen is that nothing changes, meaning that you're still 346 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 1: working long hours, still working weekends, and still have the 347 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:43,359 Speaker 1: same pay. So if you're talking to people joining a union, 348 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:47,119 Speaker 1: you're saying things could only go up from here, They 349 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:48,320 Speaker 1: can only get better. 350 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 2: Right. 351 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 1: My last question for u K is you know, what 352 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:03,239 Speaker 1: do you want people to understand about your type of 353 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 1: work that may not be in you know, may not 354 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 1: understand when when they see, oh, this company is trying 355 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 1: to unionize, or this company is trying to unionize in 356 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:17,679 Speaker 1: a headline, but they don't really understand what that means. 357 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 1: What do you want people to understand and know about 358 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:25,920 Speaker 1: unions and their importance, particularly in the type of work 359 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:26,440 Speaker 1: that you do. 360 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 2: So, as the auto auto maker or a worker, we 361 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:38,200 Speaker 2: work hard and the days are long. We take pride 362 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:41,680 Speaker 2: in what we do, so we feel like we should 363 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 2: be compensated for those things. And with the union, you 364 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 2: can receive the treatment that you're supposed to receive. You 365 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:52,920 Speaker 2: have the voice, the apps for things, whereas right now 366 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:55,879 Speaker 2: we have something called open door policy, but it's no 367 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 2: such thing, because you can't go and talk to the 368 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:03,160 Speaker 2: president or talk to the vice president if you need something. 369 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:06,440 Speaker 2: That's not how it works. It's said that's how it works, 370 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:10,080 Speaker 2: but it's not. With the union, it can happen because 371 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:12,119 Speaker 2: we can have a feat at the table to ask 372 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 2: for certain things and to bargain for certain things. So 373 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:22,000 Speaker 2: the union would help transform the situation that we're in 374 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:25,480 Speaker 2: right now to just make it better. I don't think it. Well, 375 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 2: it can get worse because Mercedes good. Yeah, it could 376 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,920 Speaker 2: get worse, But with the union, I just think it's 377 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 2: just gonna be better for us all around, and not 378 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 2: just for one individual. It will be better for all 379 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 2: of us as a whole. 380 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:43,480 Speaker 1: Well, okay, I wish you luck. I hope that everything 381 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 1: goes the way that you will want it to. That 382 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: people have recognized the unions are important and they are helpful, 383 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 1: and they are necessary in order to protect workers like 384 00:25:55,600 --> 00:26:00,119 Speaker 1: you from being exploited from major companies. So thank you 385 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: so much for taking the time to speak with me 386 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:05,840 Speaker 1: today on wok F. Really appreciate you and wish you love. 387 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. You have a great day. 388 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:16,639 Speaker 1: That is it for me today, Dear friends on wok 389 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 1: f as always power to the people and to all 390 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 1: the people. Power. Get woke and stay woke as fuck.