When we think about college, there’s a certain whimsical image, a time of self discovery and carefree fun before you step out into the “real” world. But now, with the rising costs of education and living expenses, most students work, and work a lot. In this episode of Re:Work, Adolfo González shares his decades long journey to provide for his family while pursuing his education.
Uber. Lyft. Their arrival has transformed daily life and raised important questions about job quality, employment law, and creating an economy that works for everybody. What’s it like to be a woman driving for these rideshare companies? In this episode, Alexandra Carbone shares her story.
Trafficking. When you hear the word, many images come to mind. It may seem like something distant, hidden, and secretive — something that happens to somebody else.
One of the most common forms of trafficking is labor trafficking: compelling people to work through fraud, force, or coercion. The International Labor Organization estimates 20.1 million people are trapped in forced labor globally, in industries including agriculture, construction, domestic work and manufacturing. Who does this happen to? And how does it happen? In this episode, we bring you the story of Lester Ramos and his journey from the Philippines.
Re:Work Radio is back with another episode on LA’s Garment District. This time we explore the Garment District’s rich history through three generations of strong Mexican women. Vanessa, Re:Work Radio staff, comes from a family of women whose lives are intricately tied with the LA Garment district. Starting with her great-grandmother who was a garment worker in the 1920s, the family eventually owned and operated a bridal shop in Mexico for over 50 years — always returning to the Garment District for materials. This is a story about love, labor, and transnational solidarity.
It’s one of the most dangerous jobs in America: taxi driving. In this special joint episode from ReWork and Making Contact, we’ll hear a radio adaptation of TeAda Productions’ play “Global Taxi Driver,” and we’ll take a ride to meet the cab drivers at one of the country’s busiest airports.