Last week we brought you a conversation on the 9 to 5 working women's movement of the 1970s and '80s that was highlighted in a new documentary on PBS called "9 to 5: the Story of a Movement". We heard how the Cleveland chapter at the time, called Cleveland Women Working, organized protests against unequal pay at National City Bank and won.

Eventually, 9 to 5 became its own union fighting for women office workers nationwide, but that era was shortlived. On August 3rd, 1981, air traffic controllers all across the country went on strike seeking better pay and working conditions. Two days later, President Reagan fired 11,000 of them who refused to go back to work. That decision changed the trajectory of unions in this country, as large private employers were encouraged to work around unions rather than with them.

Today on the Sound of Ideas, we're going to start by learning about where the labor movement is today, especially with a new administration in place. President Biden has vowed to be "the most pro-union president you've ever seen". He has already rolled back several of the laws that were seen as anti-union in the Trump administration, including those that intensified the policing of unions. We'll talk to local labor leaders about what they are fighting for.

Later this hour, we'll talk to Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler about the new state budget that was released this week.

Guests:
Dan O'Malley, Executive Secretary, North Shore AFL-CIO and president, Lakewood City Council
Yanela Sims, Ohio State director and vice president for SEIU Local 1
Sandra Ellington, Executive Board Member, SEIU Local 1 and custodial worker, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau chief, Ohio Public Radio
-Tony Ganzer, All Things Considered host, Ideastream
-Nick Castele, reporter, Ideastream