This year, the context of Labor Day is one of great challenges. Today, nearly 140 million people in the United States live at or close to the poverty line, according to the Institute for Policy Studies. Women and children represent 73 percent of poor people in the United States, with a majority of them being Black and Brown. Here in Los Angeles, there are at least 60,000 homeless people on the streets every night and homeless encampments are springing up in every city across the United States.

Sojourner Truth Radio: September 2, 2021 – Labor Day Special

Today on Sojourner Truth, our annual Labor Day special. We honor all workers, those who are waged, as well as those who are unwaged.

This year, we uplift the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Labor Coalition, with whom we have partnered over the years for our Labor Day Special. This year will mark their 42nd annual Labor Day event. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coalition is unable to march the streets hand in hand with their union sisters and brothers, community, friends, and supporters. Furthermore, due to these unprecedented times, many union families have been economically affected and are in need of help.

With this in mind, the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Labor Coalition will join other labor unions to do a massive food distribution on Labor Day. On Labor Day, Monday, September 6, 2021, from 9 am to 12 pm, the Coalition will host its very first Labor of Love food distribution event to help feed those who are in need. Their goal is to distribute food to 3,500 families.

Our guests are Ramon Ponce De Leon, Armando Olivas, and Larry Barragan.

Ramon Ponce De Leon is president of ILWU Local 13. He is a third-generation longshoreman and has been in the industry for nearly four decades. Ramon has been dealing with the COVID pandemic amongst his members, who are very important essential workers that operate the Los Angeles-Long Beach Ports. These are the nation’s largest ports that supply food and goods for the United States and the world.

Armando Olivas is Executive Director of Labor Community Services, an affiliation of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. Armando and his team have been instrumental in organizing food distributions throughout Southern California during the COVID pandemic and continue to feed thousands of union and community members. Armando was a guest on last years Labor Day show.

Larry Barragan is a 32-year member of United Steelworkers Union Local 675 and Chairman of the Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor Labor Coalition.