Playlist: Labor Day 2019
Compiled By: PRX Editors

Labor Day is Monday Sept. 2.
Below are picks chosen by PRX editorial staff. You can see all potential Labor Day pieces by using our search.
Hour (49:00-1:00:00)
Science at Work
From WHYY | Part of the The Pulse Specials series | 58:59
It’s Labor Day, which means we’re celebrating the hard-working people who keep the engines of productivity humming. This special from The Pulse at explores how science and technology are changing work and workplaces, and what we are learning about the pitfalls of different work environments. Our current healthcare conundrum certainly stems in part from the coupling of work and insurance benefits — so we’ll look at the past and future of this union. We’ll meet a woman who used science to prove that ladies should be part of the work force. Also: The psychology of snarky office emails, and the case for mandatory vacation days
- Playing
- Science at Work
- From
- WHYY
Mental health days are encouraged here
No job? No health insurance.
I love my job
Scientists say vacations make you a better worker
Interviews with host Maiken Scott
Women were thought of as too “fragile” for work
Cubicles
The Working Tapes of Studs Terkel
From Radio Diaries | Part of the The Working Tapes series | 54:59
NEW for 2017: In the early 1970s, author Studs Terkel went around the country with a reel-to-reel tape recorder interviewing people about their jobs. The result was a book called "Working," which quickly became a bestseller. But until now, few of the taped interviews have ever been heard. In this hour, The Working Tapes of Studs Terkel. Featuring interviews with a telephone switchboard operator, a hotel piano player, a Chicago police officer, a private investigator, an auto factory worker and more.
- Playing
- The Working Tapes of Studs Terkel
- From
- Radio Diaries
Science at Work
From WHYY | Part of the The Pulse Specials series | 50:29
This Labor Day, air this special from The Pulse that explores how science and technology are changing work and workplaces, and what we're learning about the pitfalls of different work environments. Our current healthcare conundrum certainly stems in part from the coupling of work and insurance benefits — learn about that union. And, meet a woman who used science to prove that ladies should be part of the work force. Also: The psychology of snarky office emails, and the case for mandatory vacation days.
- Playing
- Science at Work
- From
- WHYY
Mental health days are encouraged here
No job? No health insurance.
I love my job
Scientists say vacations make you a better worker
Interviews with host Maiken Scott
Women were thought of as too “fragile” for work
Cubicles
Life Stories - Jobs: Women at Work
From Jay Allison | Part of the The Life Stories Collection series | 59:07
Three portraits of women working - A pastor, a seasonal worker, and a judge.
- Playing
- Life Stories - Jobs: Women at Work
- From
- Jay Allison
These are public radio stories made over many years, by producer Jay Allison -- working together with Christina Egloff, and friends, colleagues, neighbors, strangers and whoever would take the loan of one of his tape recorders. They are are stories about life as we find it, and record it.
HOST: Alex Chadwick
In this hour:
A Pastor's Journal (27:23)
For two months, the pastor of Park Union Church in Chicago kept an audio journal chronicling her daily life and thoughts about the career and the calling of the ministry. Produced with Rev. Susan Johnson and WBEZ Chicago.
After Labor Day (2:44)
A short meditation on the end of the summer's work and the long winter ahead from writer Carol Wasserman. Produced with Viki Merrick.
Retiring the Robe (27:05)
On the occasion of her retirement, this Chicago judge borrowed a cassette recorder, and with her family, reflected on her 18 years on the bench. Produced with Judge Susan Snow, Brent Runyon and WBEZ Chicago.
HV030- Nine to Five
From Hearing Voices | Part of the Hearing Voices series | 54:00
The work we do, from Wall Street traders to taxi cab drivers. People who work with brassieres, with dead bodies, and off-the-books in an underground economy. A tone-poem by Ken Nordine, a podcast from Love and Radio, and sound-portraits from Radio Diaries, Toni Schwartz, Ben Rubin, David Greenberger, and hosts Ann Heppermann and Kara Oehler.
- Playing
- HV030- Nine to Five
- From
- Hearing Voices
Host: Ann Heppermann and Kara Oehler of Mapping Main Street
For Labor Day, the work we do, from Wall Street traders to taxi cab drivers. People who work with brassieres, dead bodies, lost golf balls, and off-the-books in an underground economy:
The Ramones obviously believe "It's Not My Place (In the 9 to 5 World)" (1980 Pleasant Dreams).
Meryn Cadell fills out a "Job Application" (1992 Angel Food for Thought).
In the 1950s Tony Schwartz conversed with The New York Taxi Driver about "A Temporary Job." (This 1959 LP is on The Library of Congress National Recording Registry).
Steve Fisk recites some "Government Figures" (1980 Over and Thru the Night).
Grief and guts fill the work day of Aftermath,® Inc: Specialists in Crime Scene and Tragedy Cleanup, Trauma Cleanup, Accidental Death Cleanup. Interview with Tim Reifsteck by Laura Kwerel, produced by Nick van der Kolk; an excerpt from "Aftermath," a Love and Radio podcast. (L & R's slogan: "What Ira Glass might make if he showed up to work drunk.")
Cilla Black's boyfriend believes "Work is a Four Letter Word" (1968 The Best of Cilla Black).
Break music: Leroy Anderson "Plink, Plank, Plunk!" (1951 Leroy Anderson Favorites). Part two…
Retired school teacher Paul Neibuhr dons a full wet suit with air tank and transforms into a professional "Golfball Diver." Produced by Jeff Rice, with music by Leroy Anderson ("Plink, Plank, Plunk!" 1951; theme for the TV game Show I've Got a Secret for 24 years; CD: Leroy Anderson Favorites).
Ken Nordine wants to be "The Bullfighter" (2001 A Transparent Mask). A Radio Diary from "Selma Koch, Bra Saleswoman." Sez Selma: "Nobody says the retail business was gonna be easy." Produced by Emily Botein and Joe Richman with help from Ben Shapiro and Deborah George (2002 New York Works). Tony Schwartz talks with The New York Taxi Driver about "Females" as fares. "Open Outcry" is the trading technique heard on the floor of the New York Mercantile Exchange. This sound-portrait by composer Ben Rubin is a 2002 commissioned by Creative Time for Sonic Garden, World Financial Center, NYC. Features the voices of Madeline Boyd, J. Robert Collins, Jr., David Greenberg, John Hanneman, Vincent Viola, Elisa Zuritsky, and others. John, the Medicine Man does the "Chicago Hustles." An excerpt from the documentary on the city's underground economy by our hosts Ann Heppermann and Kara Oehler for the 2005 series Chicago Matters: Money Talks. Reinhardt "Buck" Buchli makes a "Fortunate Decision" (2005). A story told and production by David Greenberger of Duplex Planet. Music performed by Bangalore, composed by Phil Kaplan. The New York Taxi Driver waxes work philosophies with Tony Schwartz in "...The Way It Has to Be." Depeche Mode clocks out with Work Hard (1984 Singles Box 2). And mixed in there is "Toner" by Cornelius (2006 Sensuous). A "collaboration with Takagi Masakatsu produced for Japan's Sound & Recording magazine... inspired by inkjet printers!" Cornelius "Toner":
Work 'n Music - A Labor Day Weekend Special
From Charlie Warren | 59:08
From mining to manufacturing, housework to ranching, hear surprising information about the labor movement, the return of overseas jobs, U.S. manufacturing, employment, and the auto industry, plus quitting, firing, and hiring, all highlighted by songs about unusual, tough, and dangerous jobs.
Along with many features in the special, relive the creation of the Transcontinental Railroad on this 150th Anniversary of its completion in 1869. In the whole program hear music about work and workers in a variety of genres: soft rock, bluegrass, country, bebop, folk, show tunes, and more. Artists include Amy Adams, Tom Paxton, Jim Croce, Sawyer Brown, Gordon Lightfoot, Joan Baez, Jim Brickman, Hank Snow, The Silhouettes, John Denver, and many more. plus a classic comedy bit by George Carlin.
Working With Studs
From Atlantic Public Media | Part of the The Transom Radio Specials series | 54:00
Studs Terkel, America's greatest listener: A remembrance from those who worked with him.
- Playing
- Working With Studs
- From
- Atlantic Public Media
For many years, Transom editor, Sydney Lewis, worked side by side with Studs on his radio show and his books. For this remembrance, told in a seamless blend of doumentary and reminiscence, she brings together of crew of Stud's co-workers with their great stories along with wonderful previously-unheard tape of Studs himself.
Note: Studs would have been 98 on May 16, 2010.
Labor Day Special - "Workin’: The Work Song in Jazz and Popular Music"
From WFIU | Part of the Night Lights Classic Jazz: Specials series | 59:00
An hourlong program for the Labor Day holiday, with special guest jazz historian Ted Gioia (author of the book WORK SONGS). Featured artists include Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Nat Adderley, Louis Armstrong, and Cassandra Wilson.
- Playing
- Labor Day Special - "Workin’: The Work Song in ...
- From
- WFIU
Work songs gave laborers a way of transforming their toil into something more meaningful, of enriching their everyday lives through music. How did the influence of the work song emerge in the recordings of artists such as Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Nat Adderley, Dave Brubeck and other musicians? Jazz historian Ted Gioia, author of Work Songs, joins Night Lights for a Labor Day look at the work song's relationship to jazz and popular music. Other featured artists include Louis Armstrong (his ode to Pullman porters, "Red Cap"), Cassandra Wilson (her cover of Jimmy Webb's "Wichita Lineman") and Sting (with saxophonist Branford Marsalis joining him for the tribute to English coal-miners, "We Work the Black Seam").
BEAT LATINO 032: Working, Trabajando - A Labor Day Special
From Catalina Maria Johnson | Part of the BEAT LATINO series | 58:00
An hour of melodies and rhythms that are all about working to celebrate Labor Day!
Whether it´s working all the time, working too hard, not working enough, looking for work, or even taking the occasional day off, there´s a song (and a dance!) to match the mood. Hosted in English and Spanish by Catalina Maria Johnson, so that nearly all who enjoy the music will also have access to the information.
Broadcasts nicely around Labor Day.
Half-Hour (24:00-30:00)
The Port Chicago 50: An Oral History
From Long Haul Productions | Part of the American Worker Series series | 25:12
The story of the worst homefront disaster of World War II -- an ammunition explosion that killed more than 300 men -- and what happened to the 50 African-American men who refused to go back to work loading ammunition after the explosion.
On July 17, 1944, two Liberty ships anchored at the Port Chicago Munitions Case near San Francisco exploded, killing 320 men and injuring 390. It was the worst homefront disaster of World War II. A majority of the casualties were African-American sailors who loaded ammunition onto the ships at Port Chicago. Shortly after the explosion, the African-American munitions loaders who survived were transferred to a nearby base and ordered back to work. Shaken by the death of their workmates and afraid that another explosion might occur, 50 men refused. In the largest courtmartial in Navy history, they were all convicted of mutiny and sentenced to up to fifteen years of hard labor. In January 1946, only months after the war ended, all convicted men's sentences were suspended as part of a general amnesty. While these men were allowed to return to civilian life, they were left angry, ashamed, and afraid they would be fired from their jobs or worried that they would be seen as unpatriotic. As a result, some did not discuss the case, even with family members, for more than 50 years.
Originally broadcast on This American Life in 1996.
Hog Butchers to the World
From Long Haul Productions | Part of the American Worker Series series | 28:21
For labor day, check out the whole series! Studs Terkel reads excerpts from Upton Sinclair's novel "The Jungle" in this history of African Americans in the packinghouse industry of Chicago.
- Playing
- Hog Butchers to the World
- From
- Long Haul Productions
The history of African Americans in Chicago's meatpacking industry and the formation of the Packinghouse Workers Union, featuring Studs Terkel reading excerpts from Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle." Production note: Host introduction can be transcribed and edited and read by station announcer.
Skywalkers of Akwesane
From Helen Borten | Part of the A Sense of Place: Third Season series | 29:20
For over a hundred years the Mohawks of Akwesane, a reservation on the New York-Canada border, pursued the occupation of ironworkers, one of the most dangerous jobs in construction.
- Playing
- Skywalkers of Akwesane
- From
- Helen Borten
For over a hundred years the Mohawks of Akwesasne, a reservation on the New York-Canada border, pursued the occupation of ironworkers, one of the most dangerous jobs in construction. Mohawks were on the high steel crews of every bridge and skyscraper in Manhattan, commuting between job and their 12-hour-distant home every weekend, and became famous for their skill, daring and major contribution to the skyline of New York. This is the story of men plying a difficult craft in the modern world while cleaving to tribal customs in an ancient world -- a balancing act that has taken its toll in lives and relationships. An honest, intimate and informative portrait of an unusual occupation and the Native Americans who made it their own.
Nightfall in Chester County
From Helen Borten | Part of the A Sense of Place series | 29:29
In Pennsylvania farmland that was the first stop on the Underground Railroad, a strike by Mexican mushroom pickers polarizes a Quaker community.
- Playing
- Nightfall in Chester County
- From
- Helen Borten
In Pennsylvania farmland that was the first stop on the Underground Railroad, a strike by Mexican mushroom pickers polarizes a Quaker community. From historical chronicles of escaped slaves to the present-day inequalities of immigrants who also followed the North Star,this program traces the journey and ordeals of two groups who arrived at the same place,separated in time but connected by their hopes for a better life.
One :30 Promo (click "listen" page, promo labeled "Segment 2")
Remembering Mother Warren
From jessica lockhart | 28:41
A look into the labor history of one of the world's oldest paper mills.
- Playing
- Remembering Mother Warren
- From
- jessica lockhart
Remembering Mother Warren -
A look into the labor history of one of the world?s oldest paper mills
Remembering Mother Warren unearths the culture of an industrial community, the drama of life working for a once-great employer, and probes the meaning of workers? memories in the face of disruptive industrial change. Produced by Big Talk on WMPG, it is a 30-minute documentary that traces the labor history of the S.D.Warren paper mill in Westbrook, Maine. You?ll hear stories from generations of mill workers and managers, including Shirley Lally, a 30-year veteran who sorted reams of paper by hand, Phil LaViolette, who recalls the struggles of Warren?s Franco workers, and Howard Reiche, a former mill manager who describes the mill?s paternalism and the favoritism encountered by workers prior to unionization. Other workers tell the history of the S.D. Warren ?family,? of their experiences in the mill dating back as far as the 1920s, of the extreme heat, dangerous equipment and deadly accidents, a forgotten1916 strike, unionizing in the 1960s, and of the mill?s recent decline. University of Maine historian Charles Scontras, and University of Southern Maine economist and labor historian Michael Hillard provide analysis of the mill?s unique labor history.
?Remembering Mother Warren? is produced by Big Talk members Jessica Lockhart, Michael Hillard, and Claire Holman. Narrator: Thomas Lestage, President PACE Local 1069. Project Historians: Eileen Eagan and Michael Hillard. Additional narration by Paul Drinan.
?Remembering Mother Warren? won First Place in Public Affairs from the Maine Association of Broadcasters 2003. Sponsored by the Southern Maine Labor Council, AFL-CIO, with funding from the Maine Humanities Council.
e-mail us at bigtalk@maine.rr.com
Cutaways (5:00-8:59)
People Who Work (Series)
Produced by Richard Paul
A series of self-narrated stories of blue-collar workers. We spend time with a garbage man, a bus driver, a parking ticket writer, the owner of a barber shop, an aerobics instructor and the drivers of a van that checks on the health of pregnant women in the inner city. Various pieces between 3 and 9 minutes.
Most recent piece in this series:
Barber Shop-Long Version
From Richard Paul | Part of the People Who Work series | 04:40
- Playing
- Barber Shop-Long Version
- From
- Richard Paul
(NOTE: The name of the shop is pronounced like the second syllable in "Detroit")
It seems like you can't pick up the paper today without reading a story decrying the loss of a sense of community in America. Well in Southeast Washington, DC, there's a man who's KEEPING community alive along an aging business strip that -- depending on your attitude -- is either all the way down or well-on-its-way-up. The man is Danny Washington -- the latest proprietor of a neighborhood institution known as Troyit's Barber Shop.
This week, in our continuing series on people who work, we spend a Saturday with Danny -- an experienced barber, who, when he took over the shop -- was NOT an experienced businessman. But he's a survivor and he'll keep going because he holds to one, undeniable truth.
(THE PIECE BEGINS WITH HIM SAYING: "If you can cut hair, you know that somebody always gonna get a haircut. So all you gotta do is be here. Simple as that.")
CLOSE: Danny Washington runs Troyit's Barber Shop at 2018 Martin Luther King Ave, Southeast, Washington, DC. Our series on people who work is produced by Richard Paul.
WORKING (Series)
Produced by Homelands Productions
WORKING is a series of intimate, sound-rich profiles of workers in the global economy. It was broadcast as a special monthly feature on Marketplace Radio between 2007 and 2009. WORKING won the 2008 Sigma Delta Chi Award for Radio Feature Reporting from the Society of Professional Journalists.
Most recent piece in this series:
Shipbreaking Worker
From Homelands Productions | Part of the WORKING series | 07:41
- Playing
- Shipbreaking Worker
- From
- Homelands Productions
Ismael "Babu" Hussein works as an assistant in one of Bangladesh's shipbreaking yards, where armies of laborers dismantle old vessels the way ants devour a carcass. The work is perilous, the bosses abusive, the hours exhausting. Babu's reward? Just over two dollars a day, and nightmares about being crushed by giant sheets of steel. Pretty heavy stuff for a 13-year-old kid.
Not My Job: Tales From the "Degreasing Room."
From Chelsea Merz | 08:42
Matthew Works has been living on the streets for ten years. Here he remembers one of his last paying jobs, assembling Braille typewriters, which thrust him into a Dickensian nightmare.
Matthew Works has been living on the streets of Boston for over a decade. Here he remembers one of his last paying jobs, assembling braille typerwriters, which thrust him into a Dickensian nightmare.
Producer Chelsea Merz has been chronicalling Matthew's life on the streets for the last few years. This story was taped at a pizza joint in downtown Boston.
Entrepreneur
From Jesse Dukes | 06:13
Adam Johns never wanted to be a worm digger, but he does what's necessary to make ends meet.
- Playing
- Entrepreneur
- From
- Jesse Dukes
Adam Johns is a self-styled entrepreneur. These days, that means digging for bloodworms at thirty cents a worm, or anything else to make a quick buck. Adam is frustrated by his circumstances and worried that he might not be able to dig worms anymore. Even so, he still manages to laugh at life.
Drop-Ins (2:00-4:59)
On the Night Shift (Series)
Produced by WFUV
On this Labor Day, WFUV news catches up with local night shift workers to get their perspective on life after dark, balancing family obligations and the big question -- when do they sleep?
Most recent piece in this series:
A Night at the Spa
From WFUV | Part of the On the Night Shift series | 04:40
- Playing
- A Night at the Spa
- From
- WFUV
Intro: While you may be in bed at two in the morning, some people are melting their worries away at a 24-hour spa in mid-town Manhattan. Perhaps not surprisingly, the spa's manager shares some, shall we say -- interesting -- stories about the facility overnight.
Tag: This "On the Night Shift" segment was produced by WFUV news.
Day Job (2007-2008 series) (Series)
Produced by Joshua McNichols
Back in 2007-2008 I first explored the "Day Job" concept as a unique way to profile musicians in an online series for the alternative "Seattle Weekly." Several years of public radio experience under my belt now, I rebooted the project in 2014 as a podcast at http://www.northwester.org/dayjob/
Most recent piece in this series:
8. Steve Smith drives a bus and a rockabilly band.
From Joshua McNichols | Part of the Day Job (2007-2008 series) series | 04:29
I interview Seattle's non-professional musicians about their dayjobs, mixing in music and ambiance from the workplace. The series gets at something universal - how to achieve balance and contentment in life.
Steve Smith drives a bus for King County Metro. He also drums in a rockabilly band.
Day Job is an ongoing series. New entries will be added to PRX thirty days after episodes debut at Seattleweekly.com.
Let's Rename it "Labor Exploitation Day"
From KSFR | Part of the Equal Time with Martha Burk series | 02:30
Labor Day was created in the 19th century by the unions, to celebrate the economic achievements of American workers. But if we look at the 21st century “economic achievements” by U.S. corporations in taking advantage of their low wage employees, we might as well rename it Labor Exploitation Day.
- Playing
- Let's Rename it "Labor Exploitation Day"
- From
- KSFR
Big low-wage employers are now issuing ATM style "payroll cards" instead of paychecks, costing low wage employees hundreds of dollars a year just to acess their money.
Commentary: Labor's Day -- and Yours
From Dick Meister | 03:20
A commentary on how working life would be much harder and far less rewarding were it not for organized labor.
- Playing
- Commentary: Labor's Day -- and Yours
- From
- Dick Meister
There are many reasons to honor unions on Labor Day. Despite their declining membership and arguments among themselvers over organized labor's future direction, they remain extraordinarily important to all working people, union and non-union members alike.
Paid holidays such as Labor Day, paid vacations, the eight-hour workday and 40-hour workweek, overtime pay, empl;oyer-financed pensions, medical care and other fringe benefits, health and safety standards, the right to bargain collectively with employers, a truly effective voice in politics -- working people owe all that, and more, to the labor movement.
Interstitials (Under 2:00)
Gumbuster
From WFUV | Part of the Odd Jobs series | 01:27
In this piece Anthony Mulay explains the technology he uses to rid New York City's sidewalks of gum patches, and where his machine gets the most use.
19-35: Labor Day Live from New Orleans, 8/28/2019
From American Routes | Part of the American Routes series | 01:58:59
at the 2019 French Quarter Festival with Kermit Ruffins, Don Vappie, Sunpie Barnes, the Original Pinettes Brass Band, Corey Henry, and the Iguanas
Mx101 Ep68: Look For The Union Label: Labor Day Pt. 2, 8/29/2019
From KUNC & The Colorado Sound | Part of the Music 101 series | 57:01
The working rights we enjoy today did not come without a struggle. (Not to mention the working rights not yet attained.) Labor Day is a day set aside to honor the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the country. This, the 2nd part of a 2 part episode, highlights the songs from the labor movement.
The working rights we enjoy today did not come without a struggle. (Not to mention the working rights not yet attained.) Labor Day is a day set aside to honor the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the country. This, the 2nd part of a 2 part episode, highlights the songs from the labor movement.
Mx101 Ep67: Look For The Union Label: Labor Day Pt. 1, 8/22/2019
From KUNC & The Colorado Sound | Part of the Music 101 series | 57:00
The working rights we enjoy today did not come without a struggle. (Not to mention the working rights not yet attained.) Labor Day is a day set aside to honor the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the country. This episode, and Pt. 2 to follow, highlights the songs from the labor movement.
The working rights we enjoy today did not come without a struggle. (Not to mention the working rights not yet attained.) Labor Day is a day set aside to honor the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the country. This episode, and Pt. 2 to follow, highlights the songs from the labor movement.
298: Science at Work, 8/30/2019
From WHYY | Part of the The Pulse series | 58:59
It’s Labor Day, which means we’re celebrating the hard-working people who keep the engines of productivity humming. This rebroadcast production from The Pulse at WHYY in Philadelphia explores how science and technology are changing work and workplaces, and what we are learning about the pitfalls of different work environments. Our current healthcare conundrum certainly stems in part from the coupling of work and insurance benefits — so we’ll look at the past and future of this union. We’ll meet a woman who used science to prove that ladies should be part of the work force. Also: The psychology of snarky office emails, and the case for mandatory vacation days.
- Playing
- 298: Science at Work, 8/30/2019
- From
- WHYY
It’s Labor Day, which means we’re celebrating the hard-working people who keep the engines of productivity humming. This rebroadcast production from The Pulse at WHYY in Philadelphia explores how science and technology are changing work and workplaces, and what we are learning about the pitfalls of different work environments. Our current healthcare conundrum certainly stems in part from the coupling of work and insurance benefits — so we’ll look at the past and future of this union. We’ll meet a woman who used science to prove that ladies should be part of the work force. Also: The psychology of snarky office emails, and the case for mandatory vacation days.