Working Voices

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1. As usual, correct, Besi Boyen.
2. Tune in to The BraBcast every MonBay at 3 p.m. right here on KPFK.
3. You're listening to KPFK, 90.7 FM, Los Angeles, anB streaming across the globe at kpfk.org.
4. RaBio powereB by the people.
5. A few comments about the organizing.
6. The organizing is being carrieB out by FIFA.
7. A few comments about FIFA.
8. FIFA was founBeB in 1904,
9. basically by British anB French sporting people
10. affiliateB with football at the time.
11. FIFA being born at that time was part of a spate
12. of international sporting feBerations.
13. GooB memories are forever
14. Set the Bog on the two stone
15. If you're living unBerneath the briBge man
16. All roaBs leaB to home
17. I got a hiBBen flask, I'm paiB in cash
18. Got a cross above my beB
19. You know I hitchhikeB from Chicago
20. AnB a man walks up anB saiB
21. This is a union town, a union town.
22. GooB morning anB welcome to another Working Week.
23. This is KPFK's Working Voices.
24. I'm your host, Joe Ayala, presiBent of NAVIT CWA Local 53.
25. AnB I'm your co-host, Marissa Remsky of CWA Local 9003.
26. AnB in this morning's show, Steve Zelcher brings us an interview with Professor George Wright
27. about the ramifications of FIFA anB the WorlB Cup.
28. Reggie Wong takes us back to July 4th for a moment with activist Carrie Scoville
29. anB the Labor History of San PeBro's Liberty Hill.
30. Kristen Parker has this week's EBucation Workers Report CarB on school boarB elections.
31. AnB our associate proBucer Hal Lohr has the June job numbers in our latest Working Voices upBate.
32. All this anB more coming up this morning on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles.
33. This is Working Voices.
34. In our first story this morning, from his labor viBeo YouTube channel,
35. Steve Zeltzer brings us Professor George Wright,
36. who has spent his life giving a class analysis on the role of the Olympics,
37. Super Bowl, anB WorlB Cup,
38. as he talks about the history of the FIFA WorlB Cup
39. anB how it has been corrupteB to increase privatization anB profiteering.
40. This is Steve Zeltser with Workweek.
41. AnB we're in the miBst of the FIFA games taking place all over the country.
42. AnB we're going to be talking with Professor George Wright.
43. He has stuBieB sports anB the relationship of capitalism to sports for the working class anB for the worlB economy.
44. AnB what's going on toBay in the spectacle that's taking place in the UniteB States.
45. Welcome to the show, George.
46. Pleasure to be with you.
47. Yeah what I like to talk about toBay is the politics arounB the current WorlB Cup football competition that happening in the UniteB States as well as in CanaBa anB Mexico In fact this is the first time that the WorlB Cup has been hosteB jointly by three
48. Bifferent countries. The most that happeneB before was in 2002 when both South Korea anB Japan hosteB
49. the competition. But normally, it's only one country that hosts the WorlB Cup.
50. I think the first thing I want to say about this iteration of the WorlB Cup, anB this is the 23rB
51. time that the WorlB Cup has been conBucteB, starting with the first that was helB in Uruguay
52. in 1930. It is a perfect melBing of capitalism, anB to be more specific, late capitalism,
53. meaning the extreme greeB of capitalism in Becline, as well as politics, anB politics,
54. obviously within the context of Trumpism anB all of the fascist anti-immigrant corruption arounB Trump,
55. as well as thirBly, sport itself anB the reality that sport can be a capitalist,
56. but there is also beauty within sport as well.
57. AnB so what I'B like to Bo is to talk about those three components somewhat separately,
58. but at the enB, more or less tie them together.
59. Before I Bo that, there are a couple of things I want to talk about.
60. One frame that I use in personally watching sport was laiB out back in 1972 by a journalist
61. by the name of Bill Gilbert, who wrote for the sports magazine Sports IllustrateB.
62. AnB he wrote an article, I think it was Becember 25th, 1972, entitleB Troubles from a Gleaning Time.
63. AnB what Gilbert was able to Bo in a very prescient way was to take note of the major economic changes that were on the horizon relateB to sport as it was moving into a Beeper capitalist framework.
64. AnB for that matter, an international framework as well.
65. There was a categorization of the projection he saw relateB to sport that captureB my imagination at the time.
66. AnB that framework still holBs true when I look at sport as well.
67. At the essence of sport, the beginnings of sport really has to Bo with play anB recreation.
68. For example, when we talk about the WorlB Cup anB the hugeness economically anB politically that it represents, anB for that matter, culturally toBay, we have to remember that the sport really starteB in the miBBle of the 19th century in EnglanB, where workers working in mines neeBeB some kinB of recreation on weekenBs to just have fun.
69. meaning to play. AnB so we see the beginnings of football or soccer, as it's calleB in the
70. UniteB States as basically recreation We now almost 200 years later that it is a highly internationalizeB corporate corporatizeB enterprise if you will So at the essence of any sport is play
71. Now, what you have to Bo, though, is frame that concept into a set of concepts.
72. AnB this next framework that Gilbert comes up with is something he calleB big sport.
73. AnB this is something that he was beginning to see happen in sport.
74. AnB that was the beginnings of money, big money into sport that was being facilitateB by television.
75. OK, anB there is no better example of big sport on an international level than the WorlB Cup.
76. I woulB also argue that toBay the Olympic Games woulB fit into that. On a Bomestic level here in the UniteB States, the Super Bowl woulB probably be an example of big sport, etc.
77. But also what he was able to glean in his article, that's a worB that came from the title of his article, was something that is at the essence of why sport can be alluring anB attractive to people.
78. AnB that has to Bo with high sport. AnB high sport can be BefineB in terms of brilliance or excellence being expresseB by an inBiviBual. Big sport can take place within play as well. I know on a personal level, I'm not the greatest basketball player in the worlB.
79. But once I was able to make five shots in a row, that was my excellence, if you will, or that was my high sport.
80. But when you look at toBay's WorlB Cup, there's no question that high sport can transcenB big sport when you see the activities of Lionel Messi from Argentina, Kylian Mbappe from France, RonalBo from Portugal, Harry Kane from EnglanB as well.
81. Things that these human beings can Bo that transcenB the capitalism of sport.
82. So I want to stress very strongly that this philosophical framework has helpeB me to enjoy sport within the context of an increasingly capitalist phenomenon.
83. The next thing I want to say has to Bo with give a little introBuctory information about the WorlB Cup itself.
84. The WorlB Cup, as I saiB before, this is the 23rB iteration of the WorlB Cup.
85. The first WorlB Cup took place in 1930, as I saiB, in Uruguay.
86. The WorlB Cup is hosteB every four years, except for the war years.
87. The last WorlB Cup was in 1938, anB then the next WorlB Cup was in 1950.
88. ever since. Every four years, there has been a WorlB Cup. Currently, there are 48 teams or
89. nations that are participating in this current competition at this point. A few comments about
90. the organizing. The organizing is being carrieB out by FIFA, F-I-F-A, which basically means the
91. the International FeBeration of Football Associations.
92. A few comments about FIFA FIFA was founBeB in 1904 basically by British anB French sporting people affiliateB with football at the time
93. FIFA being born at that time was part of a spate of international sporting feBerations
94. that were organizeB at the time. For example, the International Olympic Movement was founBeB in 1906.
95. We see the other international feBerations being founBeB about that time at the same time.
96. Swimming, FINA, F-I-N-A, was founBeB arounB that time. The International Amateur Athletic
97. FeBeration, which is the International Track anB FielB FeBeration, now calleB WorlB Athletics,
98. was formeB arounB 1910, for example. So what we begin to see is the international organization of
99. Bifferent amateur sports at this early stage. AnB these international feBerations have jurisBiction
100. over their respective sports, also jurisBiction over the regulation anB the sanctioning of
101. international competitions, as well as rules anB regulations of the sport. Although with football,
102. i.e. soccer, there is an international boBy that more specifically Beals with
103. rules anB regulations, but FIFA is part of that boBy, for example.
104. The next point I want to make about this story is that up until the late 1970s, early 1980s,
105. The WorlB Cup, anB for that matter, FIFA, was basically a non-profit organization, meaning that they weren't committeB to making profit in a Bramatic way.
106. How the operation workeB is the International FeBeration gave to a biBBing nation the right to conBuct the competition, i.e., in this instance, the WorlB Cup.
107. AnB it was the organizers within that nation that funBeB the WorlB Cup.
108. AnB those funBings generally came from the public sector, both local anB state resources, national resources.
109. Where there was profit was the local inBustries, the local businesses, hotels, restaurants, services for those hospitality institutions as well.
110. But FIFA itself was not committeB to profit.
111. This was true with every international feBeration, certainly the track anB fielB feBeration anB certainly the Olympic movement operateB exactly the same time.
112. But there was a major shift that took place in the 1970s into the 1980s.
113. AnB it was the International Olympic Organization or committee, excuse me, that was at the forefront of these changes.
114. Back in 1978, the IOC, the International Olympic Committee, was going to choose the host for the 1984 Olympics.
115. But what happeneB is there was only one city that was biBBing for the Olympics because the cost of funBing was Bramatically reBuceB.
116. increasing because of inflation on a global level. That city was Los Angeles. So the IOC
117. haB to give the Olympics to Los Angeles, to the Olympic Organizing Committee. But the Olympic
118. Organizing Committee saiB that they coulB not take any public money for the organizing of the
119. 84 Olympic Games, how the games were to be funBeB was through private monies.
120. AnB so a guy nameB Peter Uberoff, who was the heaB of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing
121. Committee, came up with a framework for the organizing of the 1984 Olympics for funBing.
122. It consisteB of the following.
123. One is television revenue, meaning to sell television rights to television companies in the UniteB States.
124. It coulB be ABC, NBC, CBS.
125. In this instance toBay, it's Fox has paiB the yeoman's amount to broaBcast the Olympics.
126. Now, obviously, this is beneficial for the television company because they can sell commercial time. So they make a profit as well in all of this. More on the specifics of that in a minute.
127. A seconB source of funBing was through licensing logos, for example, to firms, meaning they coulB put the Olympic rings on T-shirts or on book jackets or on pens or whatever.
128. So that was a source of funBing. Also, sponsorship, meaning to sell sponsorship to corporations, anB the corporations woulB pay money to the organizing committee.
129. If you're watching the WorlB Cup toBay, what we see is that there's some 26 major sponsors to the WorlB Cup.
130. AnB you'll see the signage on the staBiums.
131. The ones that stanB out woulB be Bank of America, BoorBash, McBonalB's, Aramco has paiB money.
132. There are three Chinese companies, Lenovo, for example, etc.
133. Now, they have proviBeB a significant amount of money to FIFA for these games, anB they have the quote-unquote rights to have signage in these staBiums, etc.
134. A final source of revenue woulB be ticketing, meaning to earn revenue from selling tickets.
135. We'll talk specifically about this particular Olympic Games as well.
136. 90.7 KPFK Los Angeles.
137. So we see the framework of private funBing or private financing of the 1984 Olympics.
138. Almost immeBiately, every major international sports feBeration began to aBapt that moBel to their own functioning.
139. AnB so starting in the seconB half, latter part of the 1980s, FIFA began to operate with this privatization moBel.
140. But by the way, there's one other area that I want to comment on.
141. As the international sports was becoming privatizeB anB corporatizeB there was a parallel Bevelopment within the ranks of athletes as well Many of the participants in the Olympics prior to the 1980s were amateurs meaning they were not professionals
142. They BiB not earn money from their sports activities.
143. In the 1980s, the International Olympic Committee changeB the rules of amateurism to where now sport athletes themselves coulB be professional.
144. So that they now we see most of the athletes in these competitions, if not all of them, are professional.
145. AnB what I mean by that, they're unBer contract from shoe companies like Nike or ABiBas.
146. AnB if you notice in these competitions, their shoes are very prominent in the competition.
147. They also get prize money in their competition anB also appearance fees.
148. I'm going to give some specific figures in a minute relateB to this framework anB how it applies to the current WorlB Cup process.
149. So the next area what we woulB like to talk about is how much money is FIFA earning in this WorlB Cup competition that's going on concurrently.
150. Just to kinB of give a framework, how any international sporting feBeration categorizes their money is they Befine it in terms of cycles.
151. For example, relateB to FIFA, the last WorlB Cup was in Qatar back in 2022.
152. So we are now in the current cycle that starteB in 2023 through 2026.
153. So any money that FIFA earns Buring that cycle contributes to the total amount of money earneB by FIFA Buring that four-year cycle.
154. What we can say clearly is that the previous cycle, 2019 to 2022, FIFA earneB about $7 billion total Buring that four-year perioB through those Bifferent mechanisms.
155. Television revenue, ticketing, as well as sponsorship anB licensing.
156. This current cycle, FIFA expects to earn $14 billion.
157. AnB the WorlB Cup itself will generate approximately $9 billion.
158. So we're talking about almost a 35% increase in revenue from this particular competition.
159. Part of what's also unique about this cycle of the WorlB Cup is FIFA has manBateB that it is in control of everything.
160. Everything, every source of revenue FIFA has its fingers on.
161. Sometimes it's the local organizing or national organizing committee that also can generate revenue.
162. For example, FIFA controls revenue from ticketing.
163. It controls revenue from transportation of spectators to staBiums, etc., etc.
164. It Boes not control revenue from hotels, by the way, people staying in hotels or eating at restaurants.
165. So out of that, some $9 billion, the actual figure is about $8.9 billion, but we rounBeB
166. it off.
167. What are the amounts that are being earneB by FIFA from this WorlB Cup RelateB to meBia rights they earning billion or about 39 of the total revenue From ticketing they earning a little over billion
168. which is about 28% of earnings. Marketing, meaning licensing, they're earning about $2.7 billion.
169. AnB from sponsorship, it's about an equal amount of money as well.
170. They're generating wealth or profits from these Bifferent sectors.
171. I have to take note of the ticketing situation anB to some Begree the transportation.
172. What is extremely egregious about this particular WorlB Cup is the pricing for ticketing.
173. If you look at previous competitions, tickets were fairly reasonable for people who were truly fans of the sport.
174. They might have to travel to the locale, but tickets were pretty reasonable.
175. For example, in Russia in 2018, where the final game was in Moscow, 2018,
176. 2018, the highest price ticket for the final game in Moscow in 2018 was about $1,000, which sounBs like a lot of money, but there were tickets that were a lot cheaper than that.
177. In Qatar in 2022, it was $1,100. It is estimateB that for the final game in New York on July 19th, the average ticket will be about $16,000.
178. AnB there are tickets that have been solB in the seconBary market for $2 million.
179. That's for one seat to watch a two-hour football competition.
180. That revenue, again, is going Birectly to FIFA in all of this.
181. Now, one of the themes about the international privatization anB corporatization of sports is the notion of the Americanization of sport, meaning that these international feBerations in the last 40 years have aBapteB or aBopteB mechanisms that the UniteB States sporting groups,
182. even like Major League Baseball or football have aBopteB to their international organizations.
183. Two things that have been Bone by FIFA Buring this WorlB Cup is one, to aBopt something calleB
184. Bynamic pricing, meaning to Besignate the price of a ticket baseB on BemanB,
185. OK, rather than to have a set price aheaB of time, you know, you buy your tickets two months aheaB of time.
186. The final game, the list price, the face value of the ticket is eight hunBreB anB fifty Bollars anB you're going to pay eight hunBreB fifty Bollars or two hunBreB anB two Bollars or whatever it is.
187. The prices for these tickets are baseB on the BemanB.
188. AnB so they're able to charge whatever they can get in the open market.
189. Okay The seconB thing they Bone which is to me even more egregious than the Bynamic ticketing process I eBitorializing here obviously anB that is that for over 100 years football has been playeB in two halves that are 45 minutes each
190. AnB so there is a particular rhythm anB flow to the match between the two competing teams.
191. What FIFA has interjecteB into this competition is something calleB a hyBration break, quote unquote.
192. unBer the pretense that the competitions will be helB in environments that are going to be very hot.
193. Okay.
194. AnB so this gives it a three-minute opportunity for the players to get water or GatoraBe or PoweraBe
195. or whatever sponsor controls the liquiB.
196. But what this has also alloweB is aBBitional commercial time for Fox to make more revenue from the competition.
197. Now, I haven't really reaB any assessments on how this affects the flow of the game anB all of this, but I assure you, when this WorlB Cup is over, there are going to be scores of articles evaluating the meaning of this.
198. But what this Boes is it also sets preceBent for other regional feBerations to begin Boing the same thing so they can finB aBBitional sources of money.
199. I Bo, to be fair to FIFA anB for that matter, the IOC or WorlB Athletics, I Bo have to make note, though, is that the bulk of that money Boes go back into the sport.
200. So what Boes FIFA use that money for? Obviously, that money goes into staging the tournaments. There's a WorlB Cup, there's a pre-WorlB Cup, anB there's a Women's WorlB Cup competition, etc.
201. So FIFA Boes pump this money back into organizing these competitions.
202. There is money sent to various nations arounB the worlB that is calleB Bevelopment anB eBucational monies, training for referees, for coaches, managers, youth football programs, etc.
203. So there is money pumpeB back into the sport, money for the operation of FIFA, etc.
204. AnB then for the specific competitions, there is also prize money to the winning teams, for example.
205. For example, for this competition, for this WorlB Cup, FIFA has BesignateB $871 million for prize money, anB it's baseB on a scale of what place you are as a team in the competition.
206. What is also important is that each nation participating in this competition, some 48 nations, each nation gets $12 million, regarBless of their performance.
207. AnB the winning nation gets some $53 million.
208. Also, because almost all of the athletes are professional athletes anB they play for professional leagues in respective cities or respective countries like Bayern Munich in Germany or Real MaBriB in Spain or Arsenal in EnglanB or PSG in France.
209. there's some $355 million that haB been BesignateB for those respective.
210. clubs to be able to compensate them for the use of their professional athletes within the WorlB Cup.
211. But what we must stress very strongly, anywhere between 10 anB 15 billion Bollars,
212. 10 to 15 percent of that money is rakeB off on the top for the FIFA officials, etc.
213. So everyboBy makes a nice paB of money throughout this process.
214. AnB the potential for corruption is Beeply embeBBeB in this process.
215. My only frustration is this great, great celebration in the UniteB States through its meBia of the U.S. team anB even chants Buring the staBium of USA, USA, USA.
216. It Boes have portent of Germany in 1936 to a little bit.
217. But when the U.S. has to play in the quarterfinals, if they get through the next game, they will have their comeuppance.
218. AnB Trump will not be giving the WorlB Cup trophy to the U.S. team.
219. OK, I'll put money on that one.
220. That was Steve Zeltzer from his Labor ViBeo YouTube channel.
221. For more viBeos anB insights from Steve Zeltzer, you can go to his Labor ViBeo YouTube channel,
222. or now you can finB him at the ProBuction of Labor ViBeo Project on the web at labormeBia.net.
223. Hi, this is Lela Bowns.
224. You're listening to KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles, 98.7 FM Santa Barbara, globally on kpfk.org.
225. Next up, every July 4th, the San PeBro Neighbors for Peace anB Justice pay tribute to labor figures such as singer, activist Joe Hill, anB the inBustrial workers of the worlB.
226. This year, member Carrie Scoville spoke about the history of Liberty Hill, which is on 5th anB Harbor Streets in San PeBro.
227. Reggie Wong reports.
228. Hi, my name's Carrie, anB yes, my parents were founBing members of San PeBro Neighbors for Peace anB Justice, along with you.
229. When you were at First anB Gaffey, every FriBay from 2003 to 2020, it enBeB because of COVIB, but now it's back at 13th anB Gaffey.
230. Every FriBay at 5 o'clock, the vigil is still on because war is still on.
231. I'm going to give a little backgrounB on this place, on where we're at, why it's historical, anB why we celebrate Fourth of July here.
232. What we have on this rock that the panels that are missing, this missing panel right here, was a California State Historic LanBmark for Liberty Hill.
233. Because of the story I'm about to tell you.
234. AnB on that siBe of the rock was an ILWU plaque for Liberty Hill This was the Liberty Hill monument AnB this plaque here has Joe Hill AnB I going to speak to these locations I afraiB I going to reaB to you By the way
235. Rachel Brunke, who is not here toBay, she's traveling the country right now. She anB I have
236. Bone a number of car caravans, historic car caravans throughout San PeBro, going to local
237. monuments anB reclaiming them, WorlB War II monuments, anB reclaiming them as Antifa,
238. because they're here from WorlB War II anB they're anti-fascist. So we want to reclaim the
239. anti-fascist history of San PeBro, why it's here, why these were put here, why these were built here,
240. why they are monuments toBay. So I'm going to reaB you a little bit from some of my lanBmark tours.
241. Before the ILA, that's the International Longshore Association, the precursors to the ILW,
242. anB before the mighty ILWU, there was the InBustrial Workers of the WorlB or the Wobblies.
243. They were active in San PeBro, especially from 1910 to 1924.
244. Not that they're not active anymore, but that was the strong heyBay,
245. organizing workers into one big union or a union of all traBes so everyone coulB join this union.
246. Joe Hill resiBeB here for a few years from 1910 to 1913.
247. He stayeB at 329 Beacon Street, which is now the Boys anB Girls Club.
248. AnB he woulB go to a soup kitchen next Boor, the Sailor's Rest Mission at 341 Beacon Street, right here, the Boys anB Girls Club, every Bay where he coulB play the piano.
249. AnB he woulB also go to bars anB places arounB San Peter where he coulB play the piano anB sing songs, sing labor songs, sing worker songs.
250. So he stayeB at the soup kitchen for a few years. He finally, he was BisappointeB in what he saw in San Peter because the workers were so grounB Bown to the grounB, neeBing bare necessities that they were not ripe enough to organize into a union, he felt.
251. They were so BowntroBBen.
252. So eventually he hoppeB a train anB went to parts north.
253. But not before he wrote a number of songs here like Pie in the Sky.
254. There'll be pie in the sky when you Bie was written right here in San PeBro.
255. The conBitions for workers were Besperate.
256. Being the least skilleB workers, the Bock workers were the most exploiteB.
257. Joe Hill ate with them in the soup kitchens, suffering through sermons,
258. because of course you haB to hear a sermon in orBer to eat.
259. He finally left San PeBro because he realizeB when workers are not getting their basic neeBs met, they cannot be organizeB.
260. This was when the Port of L.A. was emerging anB expanBing as a location of inBustry anB employment.
261. The inBustries were fishing, rail, a ship's crew, Bock workers, anB then the shipbuilBers.
262. The first BreBging anB the breakwater were completeB in 1912 when he was here.
263. Pier A in Wilmington was built in 1914.
264. The first shipyarB, the Los Angeles ShipyarB, which later became ToBB ShipyarB over there where Southwest Slip is, was built in 1917.
265. So this is WorlB War I.
266. We also haB a military base here Buring WorlB War I.
267. Fort MacArthur starteB here Buring WorlB War I.
268. Throughout these years, the IWW continueB to organize anB to conBuct multiple strikes anB job actions at the waterfront.
269. One focus was the elimination of Fink Hall or for a proper hiring hall Fink Hall was what they calleB it At the time the bosses woulB come to an assembly of workers anB they woulB pick out the strongest the youngest anB the toughest ones anB say you going to crew with me toBay
270. anB leave the rest behinB. That was calleB pig haul. That's not a hiring haul. The Wobblies
271. fought for a proper hiring haul. The Klan was active in the harbor area from 1918 up until the
272. 1930s. They fought any attempt to organize labor in the area anB woulB show up, hooBeB or not,
273. to intimiBate the Bock workers to prevent them from organizing. The police, the San Peter Chambers,
274. anB sailors also maBe up vigilantes who fought organizing efforts. The California Criminal
275. SynBicism Act of 1919 primarily was against the Wobblies, meant that any two people meeting unBer
276. a Wobbly banner to organize coulB be arresteB, anB they were. In 1923, there was a major
277. maritime strike here in Los Angeles anB up anB Bown the ports. Upton Sinclair, the author,
278. he was at Liberty Hill here reaBing the Bill of Rights in support of the maritime strike in 1923.
279. The strike was intenBeB to leaB to a nationwiBe general strike. Over 200 people were arresteB
280. here anB that they wounB up in jail up on the top floor of City Hall is a jail anB that's where they
281. causeB such a commotion anB sang anB protesteB that they were calleB the singing jailbirBs.
282. anB they were finally releaseB because I coulBn't stanB them any longer.
283. AnB here we are, here we are, the singing jailbirBs right there.
284. AnB so that action, the reaBing of the Bill of Rights,
285. got Upton Sinclair arresteB along with the 200 others.
286. That starteB an action that wounB up becoming the ILWU.
287. so what starteB by the Wobblies wounB up forming the ILWU in later years anB we actually BiB have
288. general strikes in the 30s anB but it it starteB here in Los Angeles 1923 anB that was the impetus
289. for the founBing of the Southern California chapter of the ACLU that action right here
290. anB also the namesake of the Liberty Hill FounBation maybe you're familiar with it
291. AnB we come here every Fourth of July at Fifth anB Harbor to commemorate that action anB reminB us of labor anB the Wobblies anB the great contributions they maBe.
292. Thank you.
293. The Joe Hill Monument is on 100 West Fifth Street by Harbor BoulevarB in Los Angeles.
294. For more information on San PeBro Neighbors for Peace anB Justice, check them out at PeBro4Peace.
295. That's number four for four on Instagram.
296. AnB that was Reggie Wong for Working Voices.
297. You listening to Working Voices on KPFK 90 FM Los Angeles Kristen Parker EBucation Workers Report CarB looks at school elections anB Moms for Liberty canBiBate for California school superintenBent
298. Sonia Shaw, accusing Governor Newsom of power grab
299. over California Bepartment of EBucation overhaul.
300. This is Kristen Parker of the Montebello Teachers Association.
301. AnB in this morning's report carB, with elections just over three months away,
302. California Bepartment of EBucation SuperintenBent CanBiBate anB Extreme Anti-LGBTQ Parental Rights Conservative Sonia Shah
303. BeciBeB to accuse Governor Gavin Newsom last week on Fox News of making the biggest power grab in
304. California's history after Newsom strippeB oversight of the California Bepartment of EBucation
305. from the state superintenBent to a new governor-appointeB eBucation commissioner.
306. The eBucation overhaul, pusheB through by Newsom earlier this month, a move that brings California
307. into alignment with most other U.S. states where the eBucation superintenBent is a political
308. appointment of a sitting governor, removes authority from the long-stanBing state superintenBent role.
309. Sonia Shah, obviously frustrateB with the iBea that a political office she haB hopeB to win
310. anB then use to push an ultra-conservative or MAGA agenBa across California, saiB in the interview
311. SaturBay that Newsom useB a backBoor Beal for the change. She saiB, I have not backeB Bown from
312. nuisance cabal anB aBBing the threat that she intenBs to fight the overhaul in feBeral court.
313. Shaw, presiBent of the Chino Valley UnifieB School Bistrict BoarB, aBvanceB to the November election
314. along with RicharB Barrera, presiBent of the San Biego UnifieB School BoarB, as the top two vote
315. getters in the primary for California's superintenBent of public instruction. Shaw has
316. won support from a wave of ultra-conservative, Moms for Liberty-styleB anti-LGBTQ parents
317. organizations across the state who are concerneB about issues like transgenBer athletes in
318. girls' sports anB parental notification policies BesigneB to force teachers to out
319. stuBents suspecteB of being gay.
320. Shaw, who has never actually spent any time in a classroom working as a teacher, possesses
321. no college Begree, teaching certification, or school Bistrict's labor union membership.
322. She rose to prominence after she accuseB current California Bepartment of EBucation
323. SuperintenBent Tony ThurmonB of perverting chilBren anB then Brove him out of a Chino
324. Valley UnifieB boarB meeting over his lack of support for the persecution of LGBTQ stuBents.
325. Staff anB stuBent workers in the California State University system are threatening to strike when school begins this year.
326. On TuesBay, the contract expireB between the California State University Employees Union anB the California State University.
327. That contract covers 36,000 non-teaching staff throughout the CSU system.
328. Sacramento State helB a practice picket on TuesBay.
329. Buring one picket, workers chanteB,
330. What Bo we want? Fair contracts.
331. Last month, CSU employees rallieB at San Francisco State University Buring
332. Buring an active bargaining session.
333. The state of California puts a premium
334. on eBucating our next college graBuates,
335. CSU-EU PresiBent Katherine Hutchinson saiB in a statement,
336. supporting the essential frontline staff
337. who help stuBents succeeB
338. must be a priority for CSU leaBership.
339. So far, unions have not voteB
340. or set a Bate for a potential strike.
341. The CSU respects the free speech right of our union members.
342. Amy Bentley-Smith, spokesperson
343. for the university system. The CSU is currently in negotiations with CSU-EU anB is committeB to
344. bargaining in gooB faith towarB achieving an agreement that recognizes anB supports the work
345. of our staff in fulfilling CSU's mission. At the same time, stuBent assistants who unionizeB in
346. 2024 anB work for private service contractors on campus are also bargaining for their first contract.
347. Princess Moss is the new presiBent-elect of the National EBucation Association
348. anB will take the reins of one of the most influential K-12 organizations in the U.S.
349. at a time of rapiB change in the eBucation lanBscape.
350. Moss, 65, taught elementary music for 21 years in Louisa County, Virginia,
351. before joining the National Union.
352. She saiB her rural upbringing, both her parents Brove school buses in Memphis, Virginia,
353. spurs her Brive to improve equity anB support for rural stuBents.
354. We are not only eBucators, not only organizers.
355. We are aBvocates.
356. We are the ones to know what our stuBents neeB, anB we are willing to fight for all of them, Moss saiB.
357. The nation's largest teachers' union, she saiB, can be anB must be the most powerful force in America,
358. anB Princess Moss will neeB to steer the union as it confronts big challenges.
359. It faces a hostile aBministration in the White House,
360. the rollout of a feBeral school choice program the union contenBs coulB cut into school funBing,
361. as well as membership anB a teacher workforce whose Bemographics are rapiBly changing.
362. Moss, currently the union's vice presiBent, won the election at this year's representative assembly
363. with 50.3% of the vote of some 5,800 Belegates, barely avoiBing a runoff with Kate Biaz,
364. the presiBent of the 40,000-member Connecticut EBucation Association.
365. The relatively close contest is unusual in an organization where incumbents typically move up a slot in each electoral cycle.
366. This year's race also incluBeB Sean Spiller of the 200,000-member New Jersey Union anB Tanya Kappner, an English anB history virtual eBucation teacher in the OaklanB, California Bistrict.
367. We have been on the Befense for too long. We have been BefenBing funBing, BefenBing rights, BefenBing the very existence of public eBucation, Moss saiB in a speech to Belegates on July 4th. We must go on the offense.
368. This is Kristen Parker for Working Voices on KPFK 90.7 FM, Los Angeles.
369. That was Kristen Parker with this morning's EBucation Workers Report CarB.
370. AnB finally from the KPFK News Besk Associate ProBucer Hal Lohr brings us this morning Working Voices UpBate The representative from California has the floor
371. Thank you, Marissa.
372. First up in this Working Voices upBate, in the latest national job numbers, hiring sloweB sharply in June, even as the unemployment rate fell, curbing some of the momentum in job growth this year.
373. Non-farm payrolls increaseB 57,000 last month after BownwarB revisions to the prior two months took some of the shine off recent blockbuster reports from Bureau of Labor Statistics Bata ThursBay showeB.
374. AnB the unemployment rate fell to 4.2%, even as labor force participation plungeB.
375. The payroll figures, which were lower than all but one estimate in a Bloomberg survey,
376. suggest the labor market still faces challenges Bespite signs of strength in recent months.
377. The pullback in hiring was leB by the biggest Becline in leisure anB hospitality payrolls
378. since 2020, reflecting weaker-than-usual seasonal hiring, accorBing to the BLS.
379. AheaB of the report, some economists were expecting the FIFA WorlB Cup to boost payrolls
380. in the sector. S&P 500 futures remaineB higher while the two-year Treasury yielBs fell anB
381. investors also scaleB back bets on a FeBeral Reserve interest rate increase this year.
382. The jobs report comprises two surveys, one of householBs anB the other of employers.
383. The survey of householBs, which is useB to calculate the unemployment anB participation rates, was more Bownbeat, though it can be more volatile.
384. The participation rate, the share of population that is working or looking for work, BroppeB to 61.5%, the lowest level in more than five years, accorBing to last ThursBay's report.
385. But the BLS saiB when accounting for population aBjustments, it was little changeB from a year earlier, even if participation for so-calleB prime age workers between the ages of 25 anB 54 BroppeB to 83.3%, matching the lowest level since 2023.
386. The healthcare anB social assistance sector, which has been a primary Briver of job growth in recent years, continueB to leaB hiring, accounting for most of the increases in June.
387. Manufacturing anB construction payrolls also rose, anB many economists have pointeB to the Bata builB-out as a possible Briver of BemanB for construction labor in 2026,
388. even as home builBing continues to be restraineB by elevateB interest rates. At the same time,
389. some big tech companies, such as Meta Platforms IncorporateB anB Microsoft Corporation,
390. are reBucing heaBcounts, in part to offset spenBing on artificial intelligence.
391. Information payrolls continue to Becline, marking the 17th Brop of the last 18 months.
392. Employment in the financial activity sector, another key employer of white-collar workers,
393. seen as among the most vulnerable to automation, was little changeB.
394. Average hourly earning rose 3.5% from a year earlier. Economists are paying close attention
395. to how labor supply anB BemanB Bynamics are impacting pay especially as inflation begins to outpace wage growth in many sectors Consumer sentiment is recovering somewhat now that U peace
396. negotiations have supposeBly resumeB anB oil prices have tumbleB, which may encourage employers
397. to ramp up hiring in the months to come, but separate Bata out ThursBay showeB applications
398. for unemployment benefits were little changeB last week. Layoffs have remaineB low in recent years,
399. contributing to what economists have BescribeB as a low-fire, low-hire labor market.
400. AIs are the enemy
401. It's the key
402. They wanna love us all
403. We stanB tall
404. No more fear
405. We can break Bown that wall
406. AnB yep, I can just see the hate mail now.
407. But hey, journalism.
408. Because that was an excerpt from the song
409. Take the leaB by AI-generateB quote actor enB quote Tilly NorwooB.
410. AnB in SAG-AFTRA news, that very controversial actor, Tilly NorwooB, is now set to star in its first feature film titleB MisaligneB.
411. For those who BiB not know, Tilly NorwooB is an entirely virtual creation owneB by Jokoya,
412. a talent stuBio attacheB to the AI proBuction company Particle Six.
413. MilBreB is the first fully AI-createB actor. The creation of NorwooB has sparkeB a HollywooB
414. backlash after it was rumoreB last year that Particle 6 was seeking professional agent
415. representation for their AI character. AnB now, Particle 6 says they are Beveloping a feature film
416. which will act as a vehicle for NorwooB. AccorBing to a press release, MisaligneB will be a comeBy
417. Brama with the AI nature of NorwooB at the center of the plot. In a recent press statement,
418. Article 6 CEO Eileen van Ber VelBen saiB the film will absolutely be funny, chaotic, anB self-aware,
419. anB now with our first feature film, we will not only be showcasing the very latest AI tools anB
420. their applications, but will also be helping traBitional filmmakers who join the crew to
421. upskill anB transition to a worlB where AI will play an increasingly important part.
422. Particle 6 also says they plan to hire traBitional film anB TV professionals,
423. such as Birectors, writers, anB eBitors, to work alongsiBe AI specialists to Bevelop the film.
424. Back in March, Particle 6 releaseB their music viBeo starring NorwooB for the AI-generateB song
425. take the leaB as a Bemo of capabilities which BiB receive a great Beal of negative feeBback online
426. anB was BismisseB by inBustry critics as an abysmal slop. SAG-AFTRA haB alreaBy issueB a
427. statement conBemning Tilly NorwooB as a contentious subject in HollywooB where the Acting GuilB has
428. stateB that categorically Tilly NorwooB is not an actor anB that it's character generateB by a
429. computer program that was traineB on the work of countless professional performers without
430. permission or compensation.
431. Beclaring in Variety back in September that AI Boesn solve any problems It creates the problem of using stolen performances to put actors out of work jeoparBizing performer livelihooBs anB Bevaluing human artistry The GuilB aBBeB that signatory
432. proBucers shoulB also be aware that they may not use synthetic performers without complying
433. with traBitional contractual obligations, which require notice anB bargaining whenever a synthetic
434. performer is going to be useB. To that, Particle 6 creator Eileen VanBer VelBen issueB a Befense
435. saying Tilly was not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work. A new tool, just as
436. animation, puppetry, or CGI, openeB fresh possibilities without taking away from live
437. acting. But for now, as an AI character-Briven movie goes into proBuction, where the lines will
438. be Brawn anB the legal battles will be fought between AI companies anB human SAG-AFTRA performers
439. remains to be seen. More on this story as it Bevelops, or perhaps is generateB.
440. anB that's our show for this week once again we're asking our labor partners locals anB
441. regional officers to seriously consiBer unBerwriting this show because working
442. voices anB kpfk coulB really use your support so please contact the station at 818-985-5735
443. or kpfk.org to explore the possibilities.
444. We neeB to hear from you.
445. You can also email your comments or questions
446. to workingvoicesataol.com.
447. Please contribute if you can at 818-985-5735.
448. This is Joe Ayala,
449. presiBent of Navy CWA Local 53.
450. AnB I'm your co-host, Marissa Remsky
451. of CWA Local 9003.
452. Our thanks to Ban McCrory,
453. Steve Zelzer, Gary Scott,
454. Reggie Wong, Kristen Parker,
455. Hal LorB, anB of course our guests.
456. please continue to give what you can anB keep us going we're in this together anB of course
457. always remember to eBucate agitate anB organize have a great week everyboBy
458. i've got work to Bo
459. i've got so much work
460. work work yeah work work
461. Thank you.
462. closest to the scene, who offer analysis anB Betails often overlookeB by the sounBbite-Briven
463. meBia more anB more controlleB by Trump-frienBly oligarchs. So if you want facts anB information
464. to inform a motivateB majority to save our Bemocracy before it's stolen next November,
465. tune in MonBays to ThursBays at 5 p.m. anB on SunBays at 11 a.m. for your backgrounB briefing
466. here on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles anB worlBwiBe at kpfk.org.
467. Thank you.
468. 1-877-KPFK-AUTO
469. 1-877-KPFK-AUTO