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The Valley Labor Report (TVLR) is conducting a 32 hour marathon livestream on multiple platforms to support workers striking on the South beginning Friday, Nov.10 at 9:30 a.m. CT.
The livestream will be on Youtube, Twitch and Facebook starting that Friday morning and ending Saturday Nov. 11, at 5:30 p.m. TVLR, Alabama’s only union talk radio show and podcast, is performing the marathon livestream to help fundraise and support striking workers.
Several strikes have been ongoing throughout multiple southern states including Tennessee and Florida. In Memphis, the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) Local 390G members in Memphis have been on strike since June against the company International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF). IFF is attempting to take away paid breaks, certain overtime protections and more despite inflation.
The BCTGM union workers are responsible for manufacturing soy protein for Nestle, Nestle Purina, Abbott, Kind Bars and other companies to make baby formula, pet food, nutritional powder and beverages.
In Florida, United Auto Worker (UAW) members that work for Mack Trucks have been on strike for over a month seeking real wage gains, the elimination of tiers and more.
APR spoke with Adam Keller, one of the co-hosts of TVLR, who stated they were hosting this lovestream because it is important to support workers fighting the “good fight.”
“We think it’s important that when workers stand together and they fight back, support them, and we have to come together as a community to support folks who are fighting the good fight,” Keller said. “And so you know, these workers and nurses have been on strike since June. The Mack Truck UAW members have been on strike for over a month now. They’re fighting for the fair contracts that they deserve. They’re fighting for their fair wages and benefits they deserve.”
Keller also stated the reason for making the marathon livestream 32 hours was due to the renewed call by UAW to fight for a 32 hour work week.
“The UAW recently revived the demand for a 32 hour work week and that is struggle that the labor movement has fought. We came very close in the 1930s to achieving that and so you know, it’s sort of a symbolic time frame to pick 32 hours in honor of that struggle.”
The marathon will have multiple prominent figures that will join at different time frames including Sam Seder, host of The Majority Report; Bhaskar Sunkara, President of The Nation Magazine; Kim Kelly, author and freelance labor reporter; and Maximillian Alvarez, Editor-in-Chief of The Real News Network; Maile Flannagan, English voice actor for Naruto and several more guests.
According to TVLR, there are several ways to support including joining the livestream, calling in to the show and donating to their strike fundraiser.
