News & Updates

New Protest Art Channels Spirit of Mother Jones on the National Mall

A mysterious group of artists—using the name Mary Harris, a nod to legendary labor organizer Mother Jones—has unveiled another provocative installation mocking former President Donald Trump.

Set up near the Capitol, the golden, old-school TV loops silent footage of Trump dancing alongside figures like Jeffrey Epstein. The piece follows last week’s “Dictator Approved” statue and continues the artists’ mission to spotlight threats to democracy and free expression.

While the White House dismissed the work as “ugly,” the reference to Mother Jones underscores a tradition of protest art rooted in labor activism and the fight for civil liberties.

The installation remains on display through Sunday evening. Read more in the Washington Post. Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post

Laborpalooza 2025: The First Set Is Here!

The 2025 Great Labor Arts Exchange came alive on June 21 as Laborpalooza took the stage. The evening opened with Cindy O’Neal sharing her award-winning poem, followed by the soaring harmonies of the Pittsburgh Labor Choir. Ben Grosscup energized everyone with his Joe Glazer Best Union Song performance of "Rich Men Owning North of a Billion", while Ricardo Levins Morales inspired reflection through art and storytelling, and JenDogg brought the house down with her powerful Talkin' Union: the Hip Hop Remix (check out the video in the Labor Song of the Week video, below). These and other performances from the evening’s first set are now available to watch on our YouTube channel.

2025 Great Labor Arts Exchange Photo Albums Posted

Check out highlights of this year’s Great Labor Arts Exchange in two Facebook photo albums where you can catch the performances, workshops, and moments of solidarity that made this year unforgettable:

2025 GLAE: Song & Poetry Contest, Joe Hill Awards & more

View Album

2025 GLAE: Saturday Plenaries, Workshops & Laborpalooza Concert

View Album

Labor Arts News Briefs

AFM Members and Springfield Symphony Orchestra Reach New Agreement: Despite years of difficult negotiations, the members of American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 171 and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in Massachusetts have agreed to a new two-year contract. Read more.

NLRB Charges Pittsburgh Post-Gazette with Contempt: The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed civil contempt of court charges Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for refusing to restore health insurance coverage to striking members of Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh-CWA Local 38061 despite a federal court order compelling them to do so. Read more.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago faculty win big in first contract: The non-tenure-track faculty at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) just proved what’s possible when working people come together and speak up with one voice. In a unanimous vote, 342 to 0, they ratified their first union contract with AFSCME Council 31, locking in real gains for themselves, their students and the future of education at SAIC. Read more.

Reports from AFL-CIO Daily Brief & AFSCME News

WEEKEND LABOR ARTS CALENDAR

Sat/Sun/Mon: Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin (Virtual)

Sat: Love Songs from the Liberation Wars — A Special Showcase Performance (NC)

Sun: A Night of Serious Story Telling (Virtual)

Mon: EMF Faculty Artists Present a Free Concert for our Community (NC)

LABOR VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Lynn Marie Smith, “The Detroit Diva” performs "Union Funk" at the 2025 GLAE Laborpalooza Concert on June 21.

LABOR SONG OF THE WEEK

Jendog Lonewolf: "Talkin' Union: the Hip Hop Remix" at the 2025 GLAE Laborpalooza Concert on June 21.

LABOR ART OF THE WEEK

Ben Shahn, The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti

Part of the On Nonconformity exhibition, which traces Shahn’s journey from documenting labor struggles and discrimination to creating allegorical works that championed social change. On view through October 12 at The Jewish Museum (1109 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10128) through October 12. Thanks to Anne Mannix Brown; send your tips to us at info@laborheritage.org

The Screenwriter Who Fought Back

This week on the Labor Heritage Power Hour: We go behind the scenes of Hollywood’s Golden Age with J.E. Smyth, author of Mary C. McCall Jr.: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s Most Powerful Screenwriter. SAG-AFTRA member Harold Phillips talks with Smyth about McCall’s groundbreaking career, her role in founding the Screen Writers Guild, and her fight for union recognition in an industry built on stars but powered by words.

Then we head to San Francisco for a preview of this year’s LaborFest, commemorating the 1934 General Strike with a month-long lineup of labor walks, films, music, and international solidarity. Organizer Steve Zeltzer shares what’s on tap this July—and why art and culture remain vital tools in the struggle for workers' rights.

CLICK HERE to listen to the show!

Like this newsletter? Help us spread labor art by passing it along!

CLICK HERE for our complete labor arts calendar; look for our Labor Arts Calendar edition on Monday

LABOR HISTORY TODAY

1905: The Industrial Workers of the World, also known as the "Wobblies," is founded at a convention in Chicago.

1935: Congress passes the National Labor Relations Act, creating the structure for collective bargaining in the United States.

1993: A.E. Staley locks out 763 workers in Decatur, Ill. The lockout was to last two and one-half years.

LABOR QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"An injury to one is an injury to all."

Motto of the IWW, the Industrial Workers of the World.

LABOR HISTORY TODAY PODCAST

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW!

We Rise Fighting: Strikes, Struggle, and Strategy

This week on Labor History Today, we bring you a special episode from the We Rise Fighting Labor Podcast, exploring the power and potential of today’s mass protests—from the streets of LA to immigrant rights rallies; where is all this energy going, and what vision can turn protest into real, lasting change?

LABOR HISTORY QUIZ OF THE WEEK

How old was Emma Goldman when she emigrated to the U.S.?

LAST WEEK’S QUIZ: The Taft-Hartley Labor Management Relations Act, curbing strikes, was vetoed by President Harry S Truman on June 20, 1947. The veto was overridden three days later by a Republican-controlled Congress.

"The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too."

Please CLICK HERE NOW to pledge your financial support to our 2025 program, which includes our annual Solidarity Forever Award, the Great Labor Arts Exchange, the DC Labor FilmFest and much more (check out our website for details!).

Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

RECENT NEWSLETTERS

2025 Great Labor Arts Exchange Kicks Off Today! (6/20)

"We Got to Move It, Move It!" (6/13)

Dropkick Murphys: “Who’ll Stand With Us?” (6/6)

Trump Fires National Portrait Gallery director; Arts Advocates Push Back (5/31)

AFM Defends Springsteen and Swift After Trump Attacks (5/23)

Make Art. Build Power. (5/16)

Shawn Fain: “Telling workers’ stories is revolutionary” (5/9)

Share This Email