Spring Radio

This month marks one year since Israel escalated its genocidal actions in Palestine. We sat down with Palestinian community organizer, Spring member, and trade unionist Moe Alqasem to reflect on the past year and what comes next. We also spoke with Taher Dahleh (a member of the Communication Workers of America and the Palestinian Youth Movement) and Frank Hammer (a former president of the United Auto Workers local 909) on the importance of unions in the fight for Palestinian liberation. Join Spring for the Red October conference from October 18 to 20 in Toronto, Canada. There will be talks and discussion on Palestine, the role of unions in social justice, and much much more. Purchase tickets here (PWYC options available): https://www.tickettailor.com/events/springmagazine1/1357089  You can follow Labour for Palestine on Instagram at @labourforpalestine and on Twitter @PalestineLabour. You can follow Frank Hammer on Twitter @detroitunionist and check out https://aflcio-int.education/ - a Labor Education Project on AFL-CIO International Operations. Lastly, you can follow the Palestinian Youth Movement on Instagram @palestinianyouthmovement and Twitter @palyouthmvmt. This episode was produced in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. It was produced by Ayan Tani, Spencer Bridgman, and Sarah Shahid. With original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.

Today’s episode is about Philippine labour organizing and political prisoners. We spoke with Migrante BC Secretary General, labour organizer, and former political prisoner Dennise Velasco about the ongoing union organizing in the Philippines as well as the situation for political prisoners such as Maoj Maga, and how these struggles connect to the labour movement, Indigenous self-determination, and other movements in so-called Canada. Join Spring for a weekend of socialist ideas and strategy from October 18 to 20 in Toronto, Canada. Purchase Red October tickets here (PWYC options available): https://www.tickettailor.com/events/springmagazine1/1357089  This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations including the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Coast Salish Nations. It was produced by Kai Koski, Carlie Macfie, and Lina El Garawany, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca. You can find the transcript for this episode here.

In this episode, Bangladeshi economist and public intellectual, Anu Mohammad, discusses the working class nature of the mass uprising in Bangladesh and where the country is headed after ousting an authoritarian government.  In Spring’s annual Red October conference, we will be going deeper into the discussion around mass uprisings and revolution, along with other talks on state and elections, fighting the right-wing and fascism, and building workers’ power. Join Spring for a weekend of socialist ideas and strategy from October 18 to 20 in Toronto, Canada. Purchase Red October tickets here (PWYC options available): https://www.tickettailor.com/events/springmagazine1/1357089 This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. It was produced by Spencer Bridgman and Sarah Shahid, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. The song at the end of the interview is called Awaaz Utha by Bangladeshi rapper Hannan, who was arrested during the uprising but is now free. The song is available wherever you get your music. To support more episodes like this, please consider contributing to Spring Magazine’s 2024 Fund Drive: https://www.gofundme.com/f/spring-magazines-2024-fund-drive.

This episode is the first installment in an ongoing series on the rhetoric of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, and his bid to become the next Prime Minister of Canada. Poilievre's catchy one liners and strong online presence have been working over drive to promote a broadly regressive, neo-liberal and populist agenda as an option for Canada. With the polling as it stands, it is clear we must be prepared for the very real possibility of a Pierre Poilievre led Conservative government in the near future. But what can we as socialists do to counter his harmful messaging? In this series, we will unpack Poilievre's many slogans and how to challenge them in conversations with those who may be swayed by messaging. Consider this your toolkit for the inevitably difficult conversations with loved ones, acquaintances and strangers as we approach the upcoming federal election.  According to a poll released earlier this month, two of the top issues for voters in turning off support for the Liberal Party were cost of living increases and a lack of progress on inflation. Co-host Josh Frame sits down with Spring Member & Justice for Workers coordinator Pam Frache to talk about what is wrong with Poilievre's views on inflation and his solutions for making life more affordable for the working class.    This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.   It was produced by Carlie Macfie and Josh Frame, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.   To support more episodes like this, please consider contributing to Spring Magazine's 2024 Fund Drive: https://www.gofundme.com/f/spring-magazines-2024-fund-drive.

The fight in the imperial core for a free Palestine has gained new momentum in the last couple months. This is due, in part, to the growing movement of pro-Palestinian student encampments demanding that their universities divest from the genocidal Israeli state. In this episode, you’ll hear perspectives and insights from Ontario Tech University student Waddah, UCLA student and labour organizer Desmond, and OFL President Laura Walton.    This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.   It was produced by Sarah Shahid, Ayan Tani, Spencer Bridgman, and Josh Frame, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.   To support more episodes like this, please consider contributing to Spring Magazine's 2024 Fund Drive: https://www.gofundme.com/f/spring-magazines-2024-fund-drive.  You can find the transcript for this episode here.

In this episode, Spring member Valerie Lannon sits down with Sudanese engineer and Marxist political activist Muzan Alneel to discuss the dire political and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Muzan walks us through the current political situation, resistance efforts on the ground, and the best way for international allies to express their solidarity.   This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.   It was produced by Valerie Lannon, Carlie Macfie and Sarah Shahid, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.   To support more episodes like this, please consider contributing to Spring Magazine's 2024 Fund Drive: https://www.gofundme.com/f/spring-magazines-2024-fund-drive   You can find the transcript for this episode here.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Matthew Huber, author of the excellent book: Climate Change as Class War. We discuss the causes and possible solutions to the climate crisis from a socialist perspective. This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. It was produced by Deena Newaz, Josh Frame, and Spencer Bridgman, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, go to SpringMag.ca.

Today’s episode is about the Migrant Spring: a campaign pushing for permanent resident status to all undocumented people in Canada. We spoke with Migrant Workers Alliance for Change organizer Sarom Rho about the campaign, why it is so necessary in this moment, and how it connects with the fight for a Free Palestine.  To see if there’s a Migrant Spring action being held near you, go to migrantrights.ca/events/mar16/.  This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. It was produced by Samuel Tetelepta, Carlie Macfie, Spencer Bridgman, and me, Josh Frame. With original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, go to SpringMag.ca. You can find a transcript for this episode here.

In this episode we tune in to a condensed version of Spring's recent conversation with Benoit Renaud, a Quebec education worker and socialist, about lessons we can learn from the Quebec labour movement. Listeners tuning in from outside of Quebec may be surprised to learn that more than half a million public sector workers went on strike in November and December. It was the largest strike in Quebec’s history and one of the largest in the history of Canada. The Common Front strategy in Quebec has a rich history in the province— and the coalition on strike this past fall was not only incredibly large, it was also successful in gaining both wage increases and improved working conditions for hundreds of thousands of public sector workers. This episode was recorded on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. It was produced by Spencer Bridgman, Carlie Macfie, and Sarah Shahid, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring, and find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.   You can find the transcript for this episode here.

This episode is about the spirit and energy of a revolution. You’ll hear a talk from Spring members Deena Newaz and Peter Hogarth that was originally recorded on October 14, 2023 as part of Spring’s Red October conference. The talk centres around the Russian revolution of 1917 and its impact not only on the Russian working class, but on people facing oppression at the hands of the ruling class around the world — from India to Peru, and from 1917 to today.  This episode was recorded in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. It was produced by Spencer Bridgman, Everett Kehew, and Joshua Frame, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. You can find the transcript for this episode here.

In this episode, Spring Member Dave Bush sits down with labour journalist Emily Leedham to reflect on workers’ struggles in Canada in 2023, and the state of labour journalism.  This episode was recorded on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. It was produced by Dave Bush, Carlie Macfie and Josh Frame, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring, and find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca. You can sign up for Emily's labour newsletter, Shiftwork, at https://pressprogress.ca/shiftwork/ You can find the transcript for this episode here.

At Spring’s inaugural Red October conference, Spring members Krisna Saravanamuttu, Loretta Fisher, and Robyn Letson presented talks at the session titled “Centering Equity in the Fight for Workers’ Power”. In this episode, we share excerpts from their talks where they discuss why fighting transphobia, homophobia, racism, and sexism is inherently a workers’ issue and why socialists need to build anti-oppressive, multi-racial working class movements.  This episode was recorded on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. It was produced by Ayana Aden, Spencer Bridgman, and Sarah Shahid, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring, and find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca. You can find the transcript for this episode here.

In this episode, Spring members Krisna Saravanamuttu and Adam Lee sit down with John Clark, co-founder of Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) to discuss the organization’s years of militancy and how it built a coalition of organizers from varying left tendencies and developed a basis of unity.  This is part of a longer interview that will be published in Spring Magazine soon. While OCAP has folded, the struggle against capitalism, state-sanctioned poverty, and artificial borders lives on. It lives in the form of vibrant, multi-racial movements for decent work, for permanent immigration status for all, for housing for all If you are looking to get more involved, please check out: Justice for Workers campaign that is demanding a $20/hr minimum wage.Status for All campaign that is pushing for full and permanent immigration status for all.230FightBack and YSW Tenants Union who are fighting greedy landlords. This episode was recorded on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. It was produced by Carlie Macfie, Krisna Saravanamuttu, Adam Lee and Sarah Shahid, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring, and find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to springmag.ca Field clips are from Toronto Video Activist Collective’s footage of the “Pope Squat.” Watch it here. You can find the transcript for this episode here.----more----

In this episode, we look at the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and the urgent need for a ceasefire and an end to the occupation of Palestine by the Israeli state.  The episode features Dania Majid, a Palestinian activist and lawyer with the Arab-Canadian Lawyers Association, Suzanne Weiss a Holocaust survivor, author, activist, and James Clark a Spring member and organizer. You’ll also hear a poem from Maysam Ghani recited at a recent vigil for Gaza organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement.  If you’re part of an organization, please go to CeasfireNow.ca to see if your organization has endorsed the call for an immediate ceasefire, end to the blockade, and restoration of humanitarian aid. If you don’t see them there, ask the leaders why not, and encourage them to join the growing coalition. You can also use the ‘Email Your MP’ tool on the website to pressure your elected representatives. This episode was recorded on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. It was produced by Spencer Bridgman, Rajean Hoilett, Carlie Macfie, and Josh Frame, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring, and find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca. You can find the transcript for this episode here.

In this inaugural episode of Spring Radio, we look at the exploitation of tenants by landlords and the struggle to fight back.    We begin by looking at the Canadian housing system and how it's designed to squeeze the working class for the benefit of landlords. Next, we focus in on how one group of tenants—the York South-Weston Tenant Union—are fighting back against their greedy landlords through a rent strike. Spring Radio field reporter Benjamin Bilgen links up with organizers from the tenant union to get a look at what organizing a rent strike looks like from the ground.    Thank you to the York South-Weston Tenant Union for sharing their time, space, and wisdom with us. Read the latest updates from the York South-Weston Tenant Union, and how you can help, at TenantUnion.ca.   This episode was recorded on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.    The episode was produced by Benjamin Bilgen, Spencer Bridgman, and Josh Frame, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. You can read and listen to more from Spring, and find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, at SpringMag.ca. You can find the transcript for this episode here.