Skagit Talks
We Do The Work–a workers’ radio program started by the Labor-Democrat Work Group-airs every Monday at 5 pm, KSVR, 91.7 FM.
The show is hosted by Rich Austin, a retired member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Ken Winkes, retired school administrator and teacher. Audio, editing, and other technical duties will be performed by Janet McKinney, a retired member of Operating Engineers Local 302.
“The time to act is now,” they said in a statement announcing the show’s debut. “Supporting fellow workers and collective bargaining rights is especially urgent after what happened to working people in Wisconsin and to public workers here in Washington . In addition to that, working men and women cannot rely on mainstream media or elected officials for the whole story. We must search elsewhere to get all the facts in order to make informed decisions.”
The aim of “We Do The Work” is to bring information that is vital to workers. The program’s creators believe everyone deserves to be treated fairly and that each of us should have the opportunity to live in economic security with dignity and respect. Topics that will be discussed will range from free trade agreements to health care, from jobs to corporate accountability, from security in retirement to legislative deception.
If all goes well, KSVR’s General Manager Rip Robbins wants “We Do The Work” to have its own 28-minute dedicated program each week. KSVR is committed to providing local, national, and global news and information to listeners in the Skagit Community and beyond in both English and Spanish.
Together we will learn what we can do to bring about social and economic justice for all.
Listen to We Do The Work, within Skagit Talks, Mondays, 5 pm, at KSVR, 91.7 FM or
For live streaming go to http://ksvr.org/liveStreaming.html. (Live streaming is temporarily out of service. Once funding is restored, the service will resume.)
To hear the previous two weeks’ programs that are archived, go to http://ksvr.org/archives.html:
Look for the Skagit Talks section, click on a Monday date, and We Do The Work will be within that archive audio clip. Questions about interviews? Email ksvrwedothework@gmail.com
We Do The Work Radio Interview Schedule:
Steve Garey, USW Aired January 30
President of United Steel Workers Local 12-591, Steve illustrates how unions are good for our communities, and he tells us that workers are not responsible for the prices we all pay at gas pumps.
Tom Riggs, AFSCME (WFSE), Parks Aired February 13
A member of the Washington Federation of State Employees and a Park Ranger, Tom talks about some of the funding problems plaguing our beautiful Washington State Park system and what that will mean to people who use the parks.
Rick DeBay, AFSCME (WFSE), Corrections Aired February 20
A member of the Washington Federation of State Employees, Rick provides listeners with some cold hard facts about why budget cuts to Community Corrections (probation and parole officers) will undermine community safety, and how budget cuts to other state programs will also hurt our communities.
Justin Ayers, AFSCME (WFSE), DSHS Aired February 27
A member of the Washington Federation of State Employees, Justin tells us about some of the funding problems plaguing the Department of Social and Health Services and how that will affect our communities and the people who need help.
David Bacon, Immigrants March 5
A writer and photojournalist based in Oakland and Berkeley, California, will expose how globalization creates migration and criminalizes immigrants while debunking the myths around immigrants.
David Bacon, Immigrants Part 2 March 12
Part two of the discussion concerning immigrants.
Mark Dudzic, Healthcare March 19
The National Coordinator of the Labor Campaign for Single-Payer will inform how and why the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act falls far short of the health care reform that is so urgently needed in our nation, and what can be done to assure that everyone will have access to the care they need.
Mark Dudzic, Healthcare, Part 2 March 26
Part 2 of healthcare issues.
Lori Wallach, Free Trade Agreements April 2
Director of Global Trade Watch – Public Citizen, will expose how so-called “free trade” agreements like NAFTA continue to punish U.S. workers.
Robby Stern, Social Security April 9
Social Security Works – Washington , will tell the truth about Social Security. (Hint: It is solvent!)
Miguel Perry, Cheatin’ Contractors April 16
Business Agent/Recording Secretary of the North Puget Sound Carpenters Local 70 speaks strongly about the effects of cheating contractors (54 billion annually), which cheat workers, taxpayers, and honest contractors.
Miguel Perry, Part II, Cheatin’ Contractors April 23
Business Agent/Recording Secretary of the North Puget Sound Carpenters Local 70, explains further the effects of cheating contractors (54 billion annually), which cheat workers, taxpayers, and honest contractors.
Michele Stelovich and Mark Lowry, Workers Memorial Day April 30
Michele, President of Washington Federation of State Employee and Treasurer of NWWCLC, and Mark Lowry, President of the Amalgamated Transit Union and Northwest Washington Central Labor Council, will honor Workers Memorial Day by talking about the Bread and Roses Strike of 1912. Workers Memorial Day is the day working people throughout the world remember those who were hurt or killed on the job and renew our struggle for safe workplaces.
Aileen Satushek, United for National Healthcare May 7
Board member of the local United for National Healthcare (Bellingham) will explain the National Single-Payer Healthcare System. This group believes healthcare for all is a human right and not a privilege based on one’s ability to pay.
Do you want to communicate to your community about a worker issue or concern? You have a tool. Interview with We Do The Work. We make it easy!
For questions about interviews, email: ksvrwedothework@gmail.com
Another successful project of the Labor-Democrat Work Group was being invited by the Skagit Human Rights Festival to give a two-hour Labor presentation at the Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon , March 29, at 7 pm.
To find out more about the entire SHRF program and the Labor presentation, go to http://skagithrf.wordpress.com/labor-evening-march-29-2012/
Look for and click on “Labor Evening—March 29, 2012’’ under the picture of the fern.
You have 2 other choices: Links and Resources; Worker Rights Are Human Rights