The Rick Smith Show

Doug Cunningham Brings the Labor News

Doug Cunningham, Reporter at Workers Independent News Service joins Rick to discuss the Labor News of the day from around the nation.

Senator Haywood talks Building an Army of Citizen Lobbyists

Pennsylvania State Senator Art Haywood joins Rick to update progress on the state raising the minimum wage, where the 2015 budget is, and his views on Paycheck destruction now being pushed through the PA GOP General Assembly.

Will Fischer talks Trump using Vets as a Prop

Will Fischer, Executive Director Unions Veterans Council joins Rick to respond to the latest Donald Trump statement about veterans and to talk about what veterans need to know about 

Full Three Hour Show for February 2, 2016

Rick Bloomingdale, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO joins Rick on Groundhog Day to discuss another round of anti-worker legislation reminiscent of last year’s GOP attacks on workers.

Eric Boehlert, Senior Fellow at Media Matter for America joins Rick to examine the media coverage and reaction to the results from Iowa.

Melissa Boteach, Vice President of Poverty to Prosperity Policy at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to talk about cutting food stamps for families struggling to make ends meet.

Brenda Fields, Unit Secretary at Washington Hospital joins Rick to talk about the contract negotiations going on at Washington Hospital in western Pennsylvania.  

Rick Bloomingdale talks GOP Groundhog Day as Worker Attacks are back

Rick Bloomingdale, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO joins Rick on Groundhog Day to discuss another round of anti-worker legislation reminiscent of last year’s GOP attacks on workers.

Eric Boehlert recaps Iowa

Eric Boehlert, Senior Fellow at Media Matter for America joins Rick to examine the media coverage and reaction to the results from Iowa.

Melissa Boteach Talking Poverty

Melissa Boteach, Vice President of Poverty to Prosperity Policy at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to talk about cutting food stamps for families struggling to make ends meet.

Full Three Hour Show for February 1, 2016

Abe Amoros, Pennsylvania Legislative Director for LIUNA joins Rick to talk about the need for a massive infrastructure plan to rebuild the nations faltering in light of the news coming out of Flint, MI and how that need is being addressed by Presidential candidates.

Cole Stangler, Labor reporter at the International Business Times joins Rick to report on Friday’s Longshoremen walkout at ports in New York City.  What prompted the action? Has it been resolved? And all questions in between.

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at the Raging Chicken Press joins Rick to highlight organizing campaigns going on across the nation on college campuses and to preview the upcoming Philadelphia Federation of Teachers union election. 

Shalon Miller, 15 year Detroit Public School (DPS) teacher who wrote an article published in the Washington Post about the state's disinvestment in DPS and the horrible conditions there joins Rick to talk about how and why the DPS and other poverty ridden school districts have been defunded.

Gloria Johnson, former Tennessee state legislator and retired public school teacher joins Rick to talk about her organizing efforts against Tennessee's proposed school voucher bill.

Abe Amoros talks Rebuilding American Worker Power

Abe Amoros, Pennsylvania Legislative Director for LIUNA joins Rick to talk about the need for a massive infrastructure plan to rebuild the nations faltering in light of the news coming out of Flint, MI and how that need is being addressed by Presidential candidates.

Cole Stangler talks Longshoreman's Walkout

Cole Stangler, Labor reporter at the International Business Times joins Rick to report on Friday’s Longshoremen walkout at ports in New York City.  What prompted the action? Has it been resolved? And all questions in between.

Kevin Mahoney, Join in on Raging Chicken Monday

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at the Raging Chicken Press joins Rick to highlight organizing campaigns going on across the nation on college campuses and to preview the upcoming Philadelphia Federation of Teachers union election. 

Shalon Miller talks Teachers Standing Up for Students

Shalon Miller, 15 year Detroit Public School (DPS) teacher who wrote an article published in the Washington Post about the state's disinvestment in DPS and the horrible conditions there joins Rick to talk about how and why the DPS and other poverty ridden school districts have been de-funded.

Gloria Johnson Talks Terrible Tennessee Voucher Bill

Gloria Johnson, former Tennessee state legislator and retired public school teacher joins Rick to talk about her organizing efforts against Tennessee's proposed school voucher bill.