1 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to look F Daily with 2 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: Meet your Girl Danielle Moody, Recording from the home bunker. Folks, 3 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: I want to start off the show today with some 4 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: exciting news things that I have been working on for 5 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: the last couple of months that have finally come to fruition. 6 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: So first up, Patreon. So let me tell you a 7 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: little bit about Patreon and the changes that I've made. 8 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: So when Woke a f Daily left unceremoniously serious XM, 9 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 1: I went to a couple of different outlets before landing 10 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: with iHeart where you guys find me today. And in 11 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 1: the interim, as I was kind of moving around and 12 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: you know, we were living through a global health pandemic, 13 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 1: I've launched a Patreon account where I could post episodes 14 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: of wokf Daily and just really find a place to 15 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 1: gather folks that were interested in staying in the loop 16 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: with me, regardless of what platform I was on. And 17 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: so I've had wonderful, amazing dedicated Patreon subscribers for God 18 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: the last four years, and I am completely and totally grateful, 19 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 1: and so I have wanted to do a revise of 20 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: my Patreon for God the last year or so, and 21 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: so finally have been able to do just that, and 22 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: so I'm really excited to announce that Patreon has been 23 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 1: refreshed and you can head over to patreon dot com 24 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: slash WOKF and take a look at some of the 25 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: offerings that I have there. You can become a supporter 26 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 1: with as little as five dollars a month and you 27 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 1: get two video shows of WOKEF a week. That is 28 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: woke Wednesday, which is a video show for Patreon subscribers only, 29 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:20,359 Speaker 1: and Bucket Friday, which is also a video show for 30 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: WOKF listeners. If you jump up to the fifteen dollar 31 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 1: a month, which is the Explorer level, you get all 32 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: of the support of benefits, so you get those video shows. 33 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: Plus I'm going to be doing a quarterly Zoom Ask 34 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: Me Anything, where you will get to connect with other 35 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 1: explorers virtually in a zoom setting and we'll do about 36 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 1: thirty to forty minutes of Yes, ask Me Anything, and 37 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 1: if you miss the live version of the zoom you 38 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: will get a recording in your inbox. And I am 39 00:02:56,919 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 1: going to be sending out my first Ask Me Everything, 40 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: because I'll probably obviously do two in the second quarter 41 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,239 Speaker 1: to catch up from the first quarter, but you will 42 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 1: receive that information in your inbox on Patreon, and then 43 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: you jump up to the thirty five dollars a month level, 44 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: which is the Seeker level of Patreon dot com, where 45 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,959 Speaker 1: you receive all of the Supporter and Explore benefits plus 46 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: a monthly blog from yours truly that will hit your 47 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: Patreon inbox the last Friday of the month. And then 48 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: finally for the activators set at the fifty dollar a 49 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: month level, you will receive all of the prior benefits 50 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: at the Supporter, Explorer and Seeker level plus a monthly 51 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: election deep dive via zoom that I will do and 52 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 1: host and bring on some of our favorite guests from 53 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: WOKF to be in a live session and setting for 54 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: thirty minutes where you're able to ask questions via the 55 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: chat as well as connect with other activators and so folks, 56 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: head over to patreon dot com slash WOKF that is 57 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: Patreon dot com slash WOKF and you can see there's 58 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: a new welcome note from me with a video in 59 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 1: the about section, just more info about how to find 60 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: different ways to support and like I say, all of 61 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:35,160 Speaker 1: the time, supporting independent voices independent creators is more important 62 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: now than ever, and so head over there and we 63 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:43,599 Speaker 1: can get into some good trouble, as the late John 64 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: Lewis used to say. And then, lastly, super excited as 65 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: well to announce the launch of my new newsletter, The 66 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: Damn Digest, which will come out twice a month, and 67 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 1: it we'll have content in there to get you inspired 68 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 1: as fuck, peaceful as fuck, and engaged as fuck as 69 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:12,600 Speaker 1: we try and navigate these unprecedented times. You can head 70 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: over to Danielle Moody dot com and join the mailing 71 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:22,040 Speaker 1: list immediately. It is a free newsletter, and I am 72 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 1: looking for other ways to get out content that I 73 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 1: am interested in creating. The times are chaotic and so 74 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: I don't want to just be raging, which you will 75 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: get a lot of rage. One of my featured articles 76 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 1: up right now at Danielle Moody dot com is the 77 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: right to protest right and the right to protest being 78 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 1: under attack, and that is in the Engaged as Fucked section, 79 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 1: as well as I give you five tips to help 80 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:52,839 Speaker 1: you romance your life a little more. 81 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 2: Why do we wait for. 82 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: Other people to romance us when we can romance ourselves 83 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:59,679 Speaker 1: as a way to live a more joy centered life. 84 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 1: So head over to Danielmoody dot com and you can 85 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:06,039 Speaker 1: click on the blog and see the latest and sign 86 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,359 Speaker 1: up for the mailing list so that you never miss 87 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: a newsletter. And then finally, friends, omg, the damn shop 88 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: is open. I have officially launched merchandise. So many of 89 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: you have been asking me throughout the years, and I've 90 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:29,160 Speaker 1: launched my first capsule collection, The Future is Woke, which 91 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 1: is out now. T shirts, sweatshirts, totes, mugs, get it, 92 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: get at it, gift it to people. 93 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 3: You know. 94 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 1: I want to be able to create and find ways 95 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 1: for us to wear our messages, wear our pride like 96 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 1: and in a time when you have governors that are 97 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: trying to ban books and ban curriculum and you know, 98 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 1: weaponize the word woke, I want to fucking reclaim it 99 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 1: and I think that we should rock it. So The 100 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:03,160 Speaker 1: Future is Woke is the first capsule collection that I'm doing. 101 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 1: Grab a T shirt, grab a mug, grab a sweatshirt, 102 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: and a toad and let people know just how fucking 103 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: woke af you are. So all of that, friends, head 104 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: over to Daniel Moody dot com. All right, I'm excited. 105 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: I'm super excited because I'm just trying to find different 106 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: ways to create, connect and collaborate with all of you 107 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: and do so in a way that makes me feel 108 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: good and I don't have to go through gatekeepers to 109 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: do it. And so that's why that's the other reason 110 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: for the creation of this newsletter and the creation of 111 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: the store is that, you know, we got to own 112 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: our own shit, because apparently at any time, the government 113 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: can come in and decide that they're going to go 114 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: ahead and ban TikTok, right, and they're going to ban Instagram, 115 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: and they're going to ban whatever it is that they want, 116 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: and they will create the grounds to do so. So 117 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: that is really the impetus of you know folks being like, well, 118 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: you know, Danielle, I really want to find a way 119 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,239 Speaker 1: to support you, but I don't want to go through 120 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: these you know, mass corporations that don't help their creators, 121 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: that are really about their own algorithms and selling and 122 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: selling your data. So yes, I'm trying to find ways 123 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: to be able to go direct to consumer, direct to you, 124 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 1: direct to audience, in a way where we can have 125 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: a relationship that we own and that is not owned 126 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: and go away in the middle of the night. And 127 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: this was all prompted by the recent push with our 128 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: Octanegerian elected fucking officials who have decided that they're going 129 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,199 Speaker 1: to ban TikTok. Now, the lie, folks that they are 130 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 1: telling us that we've talked about on this show, the 131 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: lie that they are spewing is that oh, well, TikTok 132 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: needs to be sold to a non Chinese you know, ownership, 133 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 1: and then it'll be all fine and good. Well, come 134 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: to find out. I want to tell you you who 135 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 1: has been behind this band, which will shock absolutely no one. 136 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 1: But again it's like, hmm, ask yourself the reason why 137 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: things are happening, in the way that they're happening, and 138 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,720 Speaker 1: when they are happening. So come to find out, great 139 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: site called the Slow Factory which I follow on Instagram, 140 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: and a slow factory is, you know, building systemic change 141 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:36,479 Speaker 1: for collective liberation. And they did a nice little roundup 142 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: basically telling us that APAC, or the American Israel Public 143 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: Affairs Committee, has spent millions of dollars silencing the ever 144 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 1: growing movement for free Palestine by using, as they say, 145 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: quote corrupt politicians as a way to fuel censorship and 146 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: promote apathy. They go on to say that the writing 147 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: is on the wall. The lengths the powers that be 148 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: are going to to silence our voice online and in 149 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: our workplaces, to violently attacking our bodies on university campuses 150 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: and our streets have been extreme. But it's clear that 151 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: those who support genocide are scared because they currently sit 152 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 1: on the wrong side of history. And this carousel that 153 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: they put out points to how the band had passed 154 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 1: through the House of Representatives and the Senate that currently 155 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: now TikTok is suing the United States for trying to 156 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: institute this ban. They tell us that the bill to 157 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 1: ban TikTok was authored by Wisconsin Congressman Mike Gallagher, who 158 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 1: spoke to Congress about the dangers of lobbyists advocating on 159 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: the behalf of foreign countries, referring to China. But come 160 00:10:56,320 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: to find out, this motherfucker has taken upwards of sixty 161 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: thousand dollars from guess who a pack while drafting the 162 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: TikTok ban. Mike Gallagher has been paid handsomely by Apax 163 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: Slow Factory. Reports in March of twenty twenty four, Gallagher 164 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: received seventeen thousand from APAC following the forty four thousand 165 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 1: he received from them in twenty twenty two. Y'all, they're 166 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:29,559 Speaker 1: all in on it, right, Everyone is in cahoots. And like, 167 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: I am not a conspiracy theorist, but this is not conspiracy. 168 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: You have to look at recently a recent interview that 169 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: Mitt Romney did with Anthony Blincoln where he openly said, 170 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:49,079 Speaker 1: and Ryan Grimm posted this on x He openly said 171 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 1: that the reason why they are looking to ban TikTok 172 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 1: has nothing to do with fucking privacy and China and 173 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 1: has everything to do with the footage that is coming 174 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: in directly from Gaza that is not being filtered through 175 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 1: mainstream media outlets and whitewashed. 176 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 2: Right. 177 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 1: We've already seen reports that have come out from the 178 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: New York Times. People have investigated the New York Times 179 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 1: for the use of certain words when they are talking 180 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:22,959 Speaker 1: about Israel and the use of other words when they 181 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: are talking about Palestine, and the whitewashing and the fabrication 182 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: that was happening in their headquarters, right, that made it 183 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 1: to the front page following the horrific attack on October seventh. 184 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: So this is why I started out the show with 185 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: saying this is what I'm doing in these different content 186 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:52,679 Speaker 1: creator focused spaces. Because when it comes down to it, folks, 187 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: TikTok wasn't seen as a threat when it was just 188 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: about dances and bullshit, right where it was just about 189 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 1: dances and gossip and you know whatever the latest challenge is. 190 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: But when it started to be used as a tool 191 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:16,839 Speaker 1: to bring awareness to the heinous, violent crimes that are 192 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: being committed against the people of Palestine in Gaza at 193 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: the hands of Israel that is being backed by the 194 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:31,840 Speaker 1: United States, all of a sudden, TikTok became the enemy 195 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 1: and they want to use the lie of privacy as 196 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 1: the reason for it. Meanwhile, fucking Meta, right, Google, the 197 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: rest of them have been selling our data to each other. 198 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 2: Right. 199 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:52,839 Speaker 1: We just learned most recently that Meta sold our data 200 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 1: to Netflix for like a couple hundred million dollars. So 201 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: we know that it's fine when it's a quote unquote 202 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 1: American company that is doing dirt, But all of a sudden, 203 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 1: when it's a Chinese operated company that allows us to 204 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 1: have on the ground reporting in real time that is 205 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: raw and real, that becomes the problem because now you're 206 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 1: not able to control the masses in the way that 207 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: you want to. So this is why I say to folks, 208 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 1: you have to look at the sources. You have to 209 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: look what is being said and also what is not 210 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: being said. When they are referring to children that are 211 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: being killed as adults, right, when they are labeling certain 212 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: people terrorists, but ignoring the terrorizing and the complete obliteration 213 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: of the Geneva Convention, and as it pertains to the 214 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 1: actions that Israel has been taking. They want these student 215 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: protests and all of these things stamped out so that 216 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 1: they can regain control. And who is the they. I'm 217 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: talking about our government, I'm talking about our mainstream media. 218 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 1: I'm talking about the powerful one percent that is seeing 219 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: a workforce that is becoming untethered to the idea of 220 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 1: working as a machine and our production being our only value. 221 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: This younger generation is questioning everything and everyone because they 222 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 1: realize what the rest of us are coming to understand 223 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: that we have been sold a fucking lie, a lie 224 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: about the possibility of the American dream, a lie about 225 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 1: American excellence, a lie about our diplomacy and the footprint 226 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 1: that we have around the world. And so young folks 227 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: are waking up and becoming very aware and conscious and 228 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: woke to who America has always been. And so, folks, 229 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: in order for us to really get to a place 230 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: of systemic change, we got to excavate. We got to 231 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: clear out the basement. We gotta take out the skeletons. 232 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: We have to do the hard, dirty work right before 233 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 1: we get to reimagine and redecorate. And that is where 234 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: I think that we are right at this moment, and 235 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: we are a part of it. We are a part 236 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 1: of the solution. I know that there are days when 237 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 1: I get on here and I turn on this mic, 238 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 1: and I am beat down, and I have not even 239 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: the mustard seed of hope. But I will tell you 240 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 1: that I have more days than not when I recognize 241 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: the systems that are at play to make us apathetic, 242 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 1: to drain us up our hopefulness, to wash away our faith. 243 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: And it's when we decide to ban together, when we 244 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:11,160 Speaker 1: decide that our voices are bigger than their descent, that 245 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: real change happens. Coming up next, I'm really excited to 246 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:21,919 Speaker 1: welcome to f Daily a conversation that I think is 247 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: really important, Folks, that we have often here, but not 248 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:29,159 Speaker 1: with the people that are most adversely affected, and so 249 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:33,199 Speaker 1: today or bringing onto the show Yolanda Peoples, who is 250 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 1: a worker in the Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, and I 251 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:43,160 Speaker 1: get into a conversation with Yolanda about their recent win 252 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:49,160 Speaker 1: at Volkswagen to join the United Auto Workers' Union and 253 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: what it means to be in a union and why 254 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 1: that matters, and so to really understand from first hand 255 00:17:56,400 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: accounts what it was like to organize and what it 256 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: was like to win. And we have been talking about 257 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:08,199 Speaker 1: labor and workers' rights as we saw many uprisings and 258 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 1: boycotts and worker strikes happen from Hollywood to Detroit to 259 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 1: other places and other industries, and so I think it's 260 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:21,440 Speaker 1: really important to bring her voice to the forefront. That 261 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:30,679 Speaker 1: conversation is coming up next, folks. I am very happy 262 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 1: to welcome to wok F Daily UAW member Yolanda Peoples, 263 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:39,959 Speaker 1: who just had a recent victory as a worker at 264 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:46,119 Speaker 1: the Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga. And we on this show, Yolanda, 265 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 1: have spent a lot of time good time talking about 266 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 1: the labor movement, talking about the importance of workers, workers protections, workers' rights. 267 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:00,360 Speaker 1: So tell us what happened down in Chattanooga, and why 268 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 1: you all had been in the press for the last 269 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 1: couple of months. 270 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 2: We won our union. 271 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 3: We are now officially part of the ua W United 272 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:12,679 Speaker 3: Auto Workers Union. 273 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 2: Congrats, thank you so much, thank you. 274 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:21,119 Speaker 3: We are all so excited to finally reach this milestone 275 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 3: and to win our union. This was our third time 276 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 3: trying to bring the UAW into Volkswagen of Chattanooga. For 277 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 3: a long time, employees had felt as though they were 278 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 3: being treated unfairly. They being heard, They wanted their voices 279 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 3: to be heard, and they just knew that we could 280 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:48,320 Speaker 3: make Volkswagen the best place to work in Chattanooga. And 281 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:52,920 Speaker 3: so we decided that now is the time to see 282 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 3: if we can try it once more to get our union. 283 00:19:56,760 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 1: So this was the third attempt. What happened in the 284 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 1: first two. If you can like what happened in those 285 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:07,640 Speaker 1: first two attempts, why didn't why wasn't it able to succeed? 286 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:12,280 Speaker 3: The first attempt was in twenty fourteen and the second 287 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:16,119 Speaker 3: one was in twenty nineteen. When we first tried to 288 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:19,879 Speaker 3: bring the union into volks Wagons, a lot of people 289 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 3: wasn't really familiar with the UAW, and a lot of 290 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 3: people weren't even familiar with unions at all. So when 291 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 3: we tried to organize, both wagons had brought out a 292 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 3: lot of miscommunication untruths about the union. They brought up 293 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:43,159 Speaker 3: the scandals and things like that that were with the 294 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 3: ras W. They also brought up how the union were 295 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:51,160 Speaker 3: closed factories, and it just wasn't good those times. We 296 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 3: weren't able to speak freely about the union. We can 297 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:59,160 Speaker 3: always talk about the UAW on our breaks and off 298 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 3: company time, so. 299 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:03,119 Speaker 2: We weren't able to get the word around. 300 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 3: We weren't able to educate people as much about the 301 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:09,440 Speaker 3: benefits of being part of the UNAW or being part 302 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:14,159 Speaker 3: of a union, and so we weren't really able to 303 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 3: just inform the other employees or get word around the 304 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 3: plant how beneficial this will be. But this time around, 305 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 3: there have been changes in the National Labor Relations Board. 306 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 3: They've changed certain laws that give employees the freedom to 307 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 3: speak about unions and forming a union just as they 308 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 3: were talking about their families or talking about a game, 309 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:39,119 Speaker 3: and so that that was the big change. It allowed 310 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 3: us to be able to have discussions on the line 311 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 3: while we were working, because we're working beside people eight 312 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 3: hours a day, eight to twelve hours a day and 313 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 3: all we do is talk. 314 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 2: All day long while we're working. 315 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 3: Because of helped the time passed and so I was 316 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 3: a voc a voluntary organized committee person and my job 317 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:01,479 Speaker 3: was to get information into to the plan, talk to 318 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 3: my coworkers, discuss the issues, see what issues they were having, 319 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 3: and see what if they knew about the u a W, 320 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:12,359 Speaker 3: if they knew about unions, and what changes they want 321 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:15,399 Speaker 3: to see broad about. And by me being able to 322 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 3: talk freely, I was able to talk to people I 323 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 3: had never even thought to talk to talk to before 324 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 3: I've been working with I've seen them and pass them, 325 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 3: but I never just stopped and saying anything to them. 326 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 3: So talking about the UAW and discussing these issues, that 327 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:32,920 Speaker 3: was a good way to open up conversation. And during 328 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:35,440 Speaker 3: this process I've made a lot of new friends. I 329 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,480 Speaker 3: made a lot of I call them family because we've 330 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 3: been working together for so long. And it just gave 331 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:45,919 Speaker 3: me the opportunity to discuss something that I feel so 332 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:49,880 Speaker 3: passionately about being part of the u a W. And 333 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 3: that was the main factor. Because we just was able. 334 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 3: We were talking. We did a lot of talking. When 335 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 3: I say we. 336 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:57,800 Speaker 2: Talked We did a lot of talking a lot, because that's. 337 00:22:57,720 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 3: That's the only we can't bring out our phones on 338 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 3: the we can't do it. So it was just word 339 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:07,920 Speaker 3: of mouth communication. We were not faced with a lot 340 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:11,399 Speaker 3: of backlash or a lot of in the previous years. 341 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 3: You know, people felt as though they were being targeted 342 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:14,360 Speaker 3: and they stood up. 343 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:16,720 Speaker 1: I was gonna ask if there had been in the 344 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:23,359 Speaker 1: prior to tries retaliation that the company took out against folks, But. 345 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 2: What was that not the case at all? 346 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:27,639 Speaker 3: The first two times it was, you know, people were 347 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 3: saying they were getting retaliation. 348 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 2: It's sound as though supervisors knew that you stood with 349 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 2: the UAW. 350 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:39,119 Speaker 3: You know, sometimes you'll get right up certain things like 351 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:41,680 Speaker 3: that that just came out of nowhere, and you were wondering, 352 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 3: anybody okay because I'm with the UAW. And in private 353 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 3: conversations that supervisors would have with certain organizers, and may 354 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:53,200 Speaker 3: people really afraid to stand up and say that I 355 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:57,200 Speaker 3: don't want this at the plan? And then are the 356 00:23:57,280 --> 00:23:59,879 Speaker 3: employees see this happening? You know? And they was like, 357 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 3: and if our company is fighting this hard against this 358 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 3: against the union, maybe I should just sit back. Maybe 359 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 3: I should say no, just out of fear, you know, 360 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:14,360 Speaker 3: it was. It was really fear because in twenty fourteen, 361 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:16,720 Speaker 3: be cause I started working at Volkswagen in twenty eleven, 362 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:20,879 Speaker 3: and by twenty fourteen, Okay, I knew all about the UAW. 363 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 3: My dad and my grandfather were both part of the UAW. 364 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:27,720 Speaker 3: But I saw the organizers coming into plant, I was excited. 365 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:30,000 Speaker 3: I was like, oh, we finally finna get our union. 366 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:32,399 Speaker 3: From then, I've seen the way they were treated, and 367 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 3: I was like, well, I'm for a reunion. I'm going 368 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 3: to vote yes, but I'm not gonna raise my voice 369 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 3: and stand up because I need my job and because 370 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 3: the way they were treated, it made a lot of 371 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 3: people fearful to really stand up behind the UAW at 372 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:55,480 Speaker 3: that time. And this time the laws I changed, and 373 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 3: then I made it to where the workers can organize 374 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 3: and their company cannot step in. They cannot do anything 375 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:06,679 Speaker 3: in volks banging paid attention to that. 376 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 1: So can you talk to me about some of the 377 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 1: things that the UAW was advocating for for the folks 378 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,359 Speaker 1: at Volkswagen, like yourself, Like what were some of the 379 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 1: things that maybe were happening that you were trying to change? 380 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:27,359 Speaker 3: Being the VOLCA our first mission was to ask the 381 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 3: people exactly what they wanted, ask the people that they 382 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 3: have any concerns. And one of the main things that 383 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 3: a lot of people have brought up. We recently had 384 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 3: our insurance changed, and a lot of people are paying 385 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 3: for medical prescriptions and going to the doctor they recently 386 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:44,160 Speaker 3: didn't have to pay for and a lot of people 387 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 3: are upset about that. That was the number one issue 388 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 3: that a lot of people kept bringing up, is insurance. 389 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 3: And then following the Big Three contract and their strikes 390 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:58,000 Speaker 3: and everything and seeing their contracts, we was like, Okay, 391 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 3: they're fighting for better wages, but they already make more 392 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 3: than what we made. 393 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 2: Now we realized that we are so underpaid. 394 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:09,919 Speaker 3: You know, a lot of people didn't realize that the 395 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:12,920 Speaker 3: other auto manufacturer companies, people that do the same things 396 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:15,160 Speaker 3: that we do, we're getting paid so much more than 397 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 3: what we're getting paid. So when that brought that to 398 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:20,640 Speaker 3: the forefront and we were able to see exactly how 399 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 3: much they were getting paid, they made us realize that 400 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:27,119 Speaker 3: why aren't we getting off what they're getting, you know, 401 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,760 Speaker 3: And that was a big issue too. The wages was 402 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 3: a bit different because we have a lot of people 403 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,320 Speaker 3: that are working work there in tails off and they're 404 00:26:35,359 --> 00:26:36,880 Speaker 3: still struggling financially. 405 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 2: And to be part of the. 406 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:42,119 Speaker 3: Number one of the number one all the manufacturers in 407 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:44,320 Speaker 3: the world, and to still be struggling while they're making 408 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 3: billions of dollars, that did not sit right with a 409 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 3: lot of my coworkers. 410 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:50,119 Speaker 2: For myself, also. 411 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:53,320 Speaker 3: A lot of people are getting up in Asian they're 412 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 3: preparing for their retirement and they just don't feel secure 413 00:26:56,560 --> 00:27:00,680 Speaker 3: with just having a fore on like Kay because it's 414 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:04,159 Speaker 3: based on the market and it's not dependsible. It's not 415 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:08,400 Speaker 3: as dependsible as other plans are, or even having a pension. 416 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 3: And a lot of people was upset that we weren't 417 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 3: getting profit sharing. You have other Volkswagon plans and other 418 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 3: bolts bagging companies that are making money off our bags, 419 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:21,439 Speaker 3: and we are not being a part of that. 420 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 2: We don't have a part of that because we aren't unionized. 421 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 3: And those were the many issues that I came in 422 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 3: contact with when I was our Simier cords. 423 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:35,880 Speaker 1: It's incredible because one information is so powerful, right. The 424 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:39,920 Speaker 1: more you know, right, the more you can advocate for yourself. 425 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:44,679 Speaker 1: And so part of Volkswagen's original plan of oh, you 426 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 1: can only talk about this at your break. You know, 427 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:49,159 Speaker 1: I don't know you know how long the break is, 428 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:51,880 Speaker 1: but I guarantee you that it's it's you know, I'm 429 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 1: assuming that it's short. That doesn't really give you a 430 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:57,439 Speaker 1: lot of time to be able to share information. And 431 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:01,480 Speaker 1: just by looking at you know, the Big Three, looking 432 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:05,080 Speaker 1: at the contracts that they had, then you have a comparable, 433 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:07,640 Speaker 1: right like you were able to say like, well, wait 434 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 1: a minute, this position, I'm in this position, and this 435 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:14,719 Speaker 1: is what they're making. I think that the profit sharing 436 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:18,920 Speaker 1: piece is also really important. So when you all just won, 437 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:23,200 Speaker 1: which is incredible because the persistence, right, the persistence over 438 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:27,119 Speaker 1: the last ten years to get this done. So what 439 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 1: are some of the things now that will be accessible 440 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:34,440 Speaker 1: to the workers at Volkswagen now that you all are 441 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:36,880 Speaker 1: officially members of the UAW. 442 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:41,040 Speaker 3: Well, the Volkswagen family has what's called the Works Council, 443 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 3: and VOLKSWAGENO Chattanooga could not partake in the Works Council 444 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 3: because we were not unionized. They make a lot of 445 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:55,400 Speaker 3: the big decisions between the corporate and the regular workers, 446 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:58,320 Speaker 3: between upper management and the regular workers, and we had 447 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 3: never been able to, oh, we say, sit at the 448 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:04,440 Speaker 3: table with them because we were not unionized. All the 449 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 3: rest of the Volkswagen companies are unionized except us here 450 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 3: in Chattanooga. 451 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 1: Oh okay, yes, So. 452 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:17,200 Speaker 3: We were never able to be part of that. Since 453 00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 3: we have our union, now we can partake in decision 454 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:24,960 Speaker 3: making and what type of decisions are being made at 455 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 3: our plant here, and we can be part of the 456 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:28,520 Speaker 3: words council. 457 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 1: Okay, So that piece I didn't realize. I didn't realize 458 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:37,400 Speaker 1: that other areas were unionized with Volkswagen, so they were 459 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 1: not unfamiliar with unions. 460 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:44,560 Speaker 3: We always had to say Volkswagen is all for unions. 461 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 3: It wasn't Volkswagen is a company that did not want 462 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:50,600 Speaker 3: us to unionize. It was just people placed in certain 463 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:54,840 Speaker 3: positions that really did not want us unionized. And then 464 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:59,160 Speaker 3: it was a lot of political issues that that's why 465 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 3: we weren't able to organized here with Chattanooga. 466 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:10,120 Speaker 1: So now that you're a U a W member and 467 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 1: you all have the right to organize, this now means 468 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: that you're sitting at the table literally with the rest 469 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:19,200 Speaker 1: of the council. Are you now a part of the 470 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:20,680 Speaker 1: collective bargaining right? 471 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 2: The absolutely? 472 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:25,200 Speaker 1: What what are some of the things now that you're 473 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:27,400 Speaker 1: going to be at the table. What are some of 474 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 1: the things that you're you're going to be looking for 475 00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 1: some of the changes right now. 476 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:35,640 Speaker 3: What we're going We're going to take a plant wise survey. 477 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 3: We're going to survey every employee to see what their 478 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 3: main concern is. And once we get all everything together, 479 00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:48,920 Speaker 3: we're going to see what people are really looking for 480 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:51,680 Speaker 3: one has some majority and what and it's all going 481 00:30:51,760 --> 00:30:55,280 Speaker 3: to be voted on by each person in the plant. 482 00:30:56,120 --> 00:31:01,640 Speaker 3: And those issues whatever everybody feeling though, is the main concern. 483 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 3: Those are the ones that we were going to address 484 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:05,560 Speaker 3: first when we get ready to go to the bar 485 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:09,000 Speaker 3: and the table. And we haven't put out the survey 486 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:12,080 Speaker 3: as of jets. We're still waiting going our union recognization 487 00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:13,280 Speaker 3: to be finalized. 488 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:17,120 Speaker 1: And how many people are are at your plant? 489 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:19,120 Speaker 2: Almost five thousand people at the plant? 490 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:20,360 Speaker 3: Wow? 491 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:23,160 Speaker 2: Yes, wow. 492 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:27,480 Speaker 1: You You had mentioned at the beginning that both your 493 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:30,200 Speaker 1: your dad, right you said, was in a union and 494 00:31:30,240 --> 00:31:32,600 Speaker 1: I think did you also say your brother was also. 495 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 2: My dad and my grandfather your dady and your grandfather. 496 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:39,280 Speaker 1: I have had the pleasure of speaking with members of 497 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:43,920 Speaker 1: asked me of another union for custodial workers for UH 498 00:31:44,080 --> 00:31:48,680 Speaker 1: nurses and the like. And a lot of people come 499 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:52,440 Speaker 1: from family union family. Yes, right that that and are 500 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:56,080 Speaker 1: very very proud of that. And so did you grow 501 00:31:56,160 --> 00:32:00,840 Speaker 1: up like understanding the importance of the union in how 502 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:03,800 Speaker 1: did it change the benefits that your family were able 503 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:04,040 Speaker 1: to have. 504 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:07,720 Speaker 3: My dad and my grandfather both worked in Georgia. They 505 00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:11,200 Speaker 3: worked at General Motors going out I said. This was 506 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:15,240 Speaker 3: in the sixties and seventies, and being an African American, 507 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,600 Speaker 3: they felt as though they whenever they went up against management, 508 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:21,440 Speaker 3: the supervisors, or their team lead, they always needed somebody 509 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:24,800 Speaker 3: to have their back. So my grandfather started working at 510 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:27,200 Speaker 3: Generalmots first, and when my dad came, he said, you 511 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:30,239 Speaker 3: better join that union because you go to need your 512 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:33,920 Speaker 3: union rep to have your back when you go against 513 00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:39,160 Speaker 3: HR for anything that you need. So anytime, and when 514 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:42,680 Speaker 3: I worked there for a season temporary seasonal workers, when 515 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:44,920 Speaker 3: they had the employees' family members come in and work 516 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:47,880 Speaker 3: and get a feel of it, I would hear stories 517 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 3: from all his coworkers and things, whether their union rep 518 00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 3: or their line Stewart saved their job. 519 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:57,760 Speaker 2: You know, it was just hearing all these stories. 520 00:32:57,840 --> 00:32:59,800 Speaker 3: And John, I know anytime that my dad, like my 521 00:32:59,840 --> 00:33:02,760 Speaker 3: mom if she needed any legal counseling or anything like that. 522 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:04,720 Speaker 2: All she he had to do was call his union 523 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:05,720 Speaker 2: rep and. 524 00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:09,240 Speaker 3: They could get him anything that he wanted or anything 525 00:33:09,280 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 3: that he needed. 526 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:11,880 Speaker 2: They were able to put him in the right direction. 527 00:33:12,560 --> 00:33:16,240 Speaker 3: My dad has been retired since two thousand and four 528 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:19,480 Speaker 3: and my mom recently just passed, and he still needed 529 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:22,000 Speaker 3: help finding out how to handle everything. 530 00:33:22,520 --> 00:33:24,360 Speaker 2: And he was like, let me just call the UAW 531 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:25,440 Speaker 2: and see if they can help. 532 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:28,840 Speaker 3: And but relieve they were right there to help him 533 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 3: guide him to whatever he needed done, even if it 534 00:33:32,280 --> 00:33:37,280 Speaker 3: wasn't benefits related any if from anything they needed to ask, 535 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:39,960 Speaker 3: they always were able to put him in the direct 536 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:42,800 Speaker 3: right direction. So it's not just why you work there, 537 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:46,720 Speaker 3: it's also this is a lifelong relationship that you have. 538 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:50,280 Speaker 3: It's a lifelong concept or somebody have in your back. 539 00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:53,440 Speaker 3: I mean, any time he needed anything, all he had 540 00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:55,240 Speaker 3: to say, let me call of the union and see 541 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:57,400 Speaker 3: what they can do for me, and they always pointing 542 00:33:57,480 --> 00:33:58,600 Speaker 3: him in the right direction. 543 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:00,840 Speaker 1: I mean, that's credible. 544 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:03,480 Speaker 3: Exactly, and that's why I fight so off. People don't understand, 545 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:06,680 Speaker 3: but I've lived this. I know the good that could 546 00:34:06,720 --> 00:34:10,400 Speaker 3: come from this. It's not just for us here. It's 547 00:34:10,719 --> 00:34:14,959 Speaker 3: they do stuff for the community. You know, they try 548 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:17,879 Speaker 3: to Okay to a Tendessee is a right to hire, 549 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:20,719 Speaker 3: right to fight in state. But you need that security. 550 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:23,239 Speaker 3: You need some going to always have your bag. It's 551 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:26,920 Speaker 3: nothing like going to work, working eight to twelve hours 552 00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:30,000 Speaker 3: a day and then you have the issue with the supervisor. 553 00:34:30,120 --> 00:34:32,200 Speaker 3: Now you stressed out about that because you have to 554 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:34,319 Speaker 3: fight on your own. But if you just headed to 555 00:34:34,400 --> 00:34:37,160 Speaker 3: your steward, let them take that stress off of you, 556 00:34:37,440 --> 00:34:39,279 Speaker 3: and all you have to do is focus on work. 557 00:34:39,640 --> 00:34:42,000 Speaker 3: Let them handle all that extra stuff. You don't need 558 00:34:42,120 --> 00:34:44,360 Speaker 3: to worry about that. We're here to build quality cards 559 00:34:44,680 --> 00:34:46,600 Speaker 3: and if you got all this other stuff on your mind, 560 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:49,840 Speaker 3: it's hard, it's really hard. So they just take the 561 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 3: stress off of you. Basically, that's a lot. That's one 562 00:34:53,160 --> 00:34:54,839 Speaker 3: of the Bay reads why a lot of people want 563 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:57,600 Speaker 3: it just to have somebody fight for them or be 564 00:34:57,719 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 3: there with us so they don't have to feel alone. 565 00:35:00,560 --> 00:35:04,320 Speaker 1: Yolanda, I just want to want to congratulate you again 566 00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 1: on the win on a ten year, ten year battle 567 00:35:08,640 --> 00:35:12,759 Speaker 1: that you personally had been in order to get your 568 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:16,880 Speaker 1: Chattanooga facility unionized, and just you know, thank you. So 569 00:35:17,040 --> 00:35:21,719 Speaker 1: much for explaining the importance of unions and that it 570 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:24,560 Speaker 1: is necessary for people to be able to do their 571 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:28,040 Speaker 1: jobs and do so with security. And that's what it 572 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:33,200 Speaker 1: really means, is that a union means security for workers. So, Yolanda, 573 00:35:33,239 --> 00:35:36,800 Speaker 1: thank you so much for making the time to speak today. 574 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:37,840 Speaker 1: Really appreciate you. 575 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:40,839 Speaker 3: These help us all lot if we're trying to help 576 00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:43,400 Speaker 3: every other plans and is trying to organize as well. 577 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:44,839 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. 578 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: That is it for me today. Dear friends on wok 579 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:56,680 Speaker 1: a app as always, power to the people and to 580 00:35:56,960 --> 00:36:00,799 Speaker 1: all the people. Power, get woke and stay a woke. 581 00:36:00,840 --> 00:36:01,880 Speaker 1: A spot