The Labor Exchange on KGNU

NYC 1970. Construction workers and anti-Vietnam War student protestors violently clash in what became known as the Hard Hat Riot. Marc Levin's new film on American Experience digs deep into this tumultuous history with archival footage and interviews with people on the ground in 1970. Listen to his interview with Labor Exchange Host Robert Lindgren. 

With a poverty rate above the state average and a higher median wage, Boulder is at a crossroads around the minimum wage and affordability. We catch up with Alejandra Beatty, President of the Boulder Area Labor Federation about an effort to lower the rate of the minimum wage in Boulder County and wider fights around what tipped workers should be paid. 

Legendary United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard passed recently at the age of 78. We talk with Joel Buchanan, a longtime member of the United Steelworkers about the work and legacy of President Gerard. 

We hear from Chris deGruy Kennedy from the Bell Policy Center and Joel McClurg from the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger about challenges in Colorado's state budget and a proposed solution with a graduated income tax. 

This week we talk with Austin Sauerbrei about his debut graphic novel Trouble at Coal Creek that tells the story of a rarely told piece of east Tennessee labor history. The book is available from Haymarket Books.

On this episode of the Labor Exchange we talk with Caroline Nutter with the Colorado Fiscal Institute about the Special Session of the Colorado General Assembly addressing budget shortfalls related to the Trump administrations budget bill.

On this episode we remember Sheila Ivy Traister, a leader with SAG-AFTRA and the AFL-CIO who passed away recently. We listen back to a conversation with her from 2023 about the work of an artist, the importance of unions in the entertainment industry and the Screen Actor Guild Awards. This is a special extended version of our radio interview. 

On this episode of the Labor Exchange we hear the most recent Labor Radio Podcast Weekly, a digest of the top labor radio from across the country. 

We talk with Adam Fox from the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative about what Trump's budget bill will mean for health in Colorado including cuts to Medicaid and the effects on access to healthcare in rural areas and across Colorado. 

KGNU Labor Exchange - Artificial intelligence, vetoes and workers' rights on this 2025 legislative session wrap up episode with Kjersten Forseth, Colorado AFL-CIO lobbyist and worker advocate. 

KGNU Labor Exchange - we get a brief update on Gov. Polis' veto of the Worker Protection Act and we listen back to our interview with Ryan Dineen on the organizing happening in Colorado and Utah's ski communities. Ryan is the President of the Breckenridge Professional Ski Patrol Union which is part of United Mountain Workers and CWA Local 7781.

 KGNU Labor Exchange - The danger of Medicaid cuts with Todd Kaanta, SEIU 105 member and Colorado Coalition for the Homeless case manager and Tim Faust, author, healthcare organizer and OPEIU local 9 member. Our host this week is Ben Ullrich, a member of the Denver Newspaper Guild and SEIU 105 organizer.

KGNU Labor Exchange - We talk to TWU 555 President Abilio Villaverde about his new children’s book about union solidarity, We Are Family. We also delve into what it takes to work in extreme conditions as ramp crew at some of the world’s busiest airports. [Book Link]

The Labor Exchange teams up with Lynn Fields of the Resolved Labor Podcast to hear about Howard Wallace an activist from Denver that dared to marry LGBTQ rights and labor rights. 

KGNU Labor Exchange - Carl Smith SMART-TD talks about a bill to fund more safety inspectors in Colorado and we hear from the hearing on SB5 the Worker Protection Act - including Reps. Jennifer Bacon and Javier Mabry and Casa Bonita worker Michelle Mendenhall. 

KGNU Labor Exchange - Guest Host Ben Ullrich talks about the joy of organizing with Karli McClure & Nate Paer, SEIU 105 Mental Health Workers. Karli and Nate helped build the union at Mental Health Partners (now Clinica Family Health) and are negotiating a first contract. We hear the challenges and successes including how Colorado’s outdated labor laws slow down unionizing efforts.

The KGNU Labor Exchange talks with with union organizer Ryan Dineen on the organizing happening in Colorado and Utah's ski communities. Ryan is the President of the Breckenridge Professional Ski Patrol Union which is part of United Mountain Workers and CWA Local 7781.