Working Class History – Details, episodes & analysis

First of a double podcast episode about the South Korean movements of 1987 which overthrew the US-backed military dictatorship and won big improvements for workers. In these episodes we speak with Kim Jin-sook and Hong Seung Ha about their experiences of the June Democratic Struggle, and the Great Workers’ Struggle which immediately followed it.
Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistory
Part 1 covers the June Democratic Struggle, the historical background, and how the movement began. 
Listen to part 2 now by joining us on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/e92-south-korea-110947071

More information

• E53-56: The Gwangju uprising – WCH podcast about the 1980 uprising in Gwangju which preceded these movements.
• E51: Jeon Tae-il and Lee So-sun – WCH podcast about the organising of textile workers and the general historical background to South Korean history in the 20th-century.
• Timeline of South Korean history.
• Webpage for this episode with sources, full show notes, and transcripts.

Acknowledgements

• Thanks to our patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands, Jamison D. Saltsman, Fernando López Ojeda and Jeremy Cusimano.
• Thanks also to the following people and groups for additional assistance with these episodes: Hwang Jeongeun and Steven, of the International Strategy Centre, Kwon Beomchul, Angela Lee, Kap Su Seol, Hwang Yi-ra, and Loren Goldner.
• Learn more about the International Strategy Centre at https://www.goisc.org/home
• Photograph used in episode graphic courtesy 『세계는 서울로, 서울은 세계로: 1984-1988』(2019) (The World to Seoul, Seoul to the World: 1984-1988) by 서울역사아카이브 (Seoul History Archive)/Wikimedia Commons
• Music used in this episode under fair use was “Marching For the Beloved” by Baek Ki-wan, Hwang Seok-young and Kim Jong-ryul.
• This episode was edited by Jesse French.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

Preview of our first Fireside chat. To celebrate our 10th birthday on 30 July 2024, we launched a new series of discussion podcast episodes exclusively for our supporters on patreon. For the time being, as a trial, we are going to be releasing at least one bonus episode for patreon supporters every month.
By doing this, we hope to be able to grow our base of supporters on patreon. If we manage to grow our base of supporters, and increase the amount of support we get each month, then we will be able to devote more resources into producing and releasing more regular free podcast episodes.
To start off with, we will have a series of discussion episodes called Fireside chats. Our first Fireside chat is one where two of our hosts, John and Matt, answer questions from patreon supporters, listeners and readers, about the WCH project, and us.
To listen to the full episode, and help us make more regular podcast episodes freely available for everyone, join us on patreon at https://patreon.com/workingclasshistory
This episode is at https://www.patreon.com/posts/e90-fireside-q-109107564

Acknowledgements

• Thanks to our patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands, Jamison D. Saltsman, Fernando López Ojeda and Jeremy Cusimano.
• Edited by Tyler Hill
• Episode graphic: General strike street scene, Madrid, 2012, courtesy Montecruz/Wikimedia Commons CC SA 2.0. Flame graphic from Vecteezy.
• Our theme tune is Montaigne’s version of the classic labour movement anthem, ‘Bread and Roses’, performed by Montaigne and Nick Harriott, and mixed by Wave Racer. More from Montaigne: website, Instagram, YouTube

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

Podcast episode about the Workmates collective, a rank-and-file initiative on the London Underground using unofficial direct action and workplace assemblies to fight privatisation in the late-1990s/early 2000s.

Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Sign up and get access to exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory

In this episode, we speak to Andy Littlechild, a former London Underground worker and activist with the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union. He explains how the Labour government introduced privatisation to the Underground, how the Workmates mass meetings began, the start of the Workmates delegate council, the 'Job-and-Knock' dispute, and the eventual demise of the 'Public Private Partnership'.

• E82.1 bonus episode: Andy discusses the politics of anarcho-syndicalism and their influence on his organising. He also tells us about a failed attempt by London Underground management to sack him for his workplace activism
• More information about this episode, including sources, images, links, and eventually a transcript on the webpage for this episode: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e82-workmates-collective/Learn more in our exclusive bonus episode, coming soon for our patreon supporters.

Acknowledgements

• Thanks to our patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands, Jamison D. Saltsman and Fernando López Ojeda.
• Episode graphic: reworked image originally by Matt Buck (CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed)
• Edited by Jesse French
• Theme tune is 'Bella Ciao', thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

This episode about the Angry Brigade has been significantly reworked and improved, and has been rereleased as episode 83.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

This episode has been significantly reworked and improved, and has been rereleased as episodes 67-68.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

Podcast episode about strikes by miners in Britain in 1972 and 1974, in conversation with Dave Douglass.
Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Sign up and get access to exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory
Continuing our intermittent series of podcast episodes about the great strike of UK miners from 1984-5, we tell the story of what came beforehand. In this episode, we look at the historical background, and learn about the national wildcat strike in 1969, as well as the huge, nationwide official strikes of 1972 and 1974, which both defeated the Conservative government and eventually brought it down.

• E81.1 bonus episode: more about Dave’s revolutionary politics, day-to-day work in the mines, and discussion of popular images of the 1970s in the UK today. Available exclusively for our patreon supporters.
• More information about this episode, including sources, photographs, links, and eventually a transcript on the webpage for this episode: https://workingclasshistory.com/blog/e81-miners-strikes-1972-4/

Acknowledgements

• Thanks to our patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands, Jamison D. Saltsman and Fernando López Ojeda.
• Episode graphic: © NLA/reportdigital.co.uk.
• Edited by Louise Barry
• Theme tune courtesy of the Easington Colliery Brass Band.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

The fourth and final episode of our podcast series on the Italian resistance to fascism in conversation with anti-fascist partisans themselves.
In this episode, we look at the postwar anti-fascist resistance: from armed partisan rebellions and the so-called ‘Triangle of Death’ to the 1960 anti-Tambroni riots in Genoa, as well as how the resistance is (mis)remembered today.

Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistory

• Get Italian resistance merch

Acknowledgements

• Thanks to our patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands, Jamison D. Saltsman and Fernando López Ojeda.
• Edited by Tyler Hill
• Episode graphic: public domain.
• Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.

Show notes, along with sources, photos, further reading, and a transcript on the webpage for this episode: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e77-80-italian-resistance/

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

Part 3 of our four-part podcast series on the Italian resistance to fascism in conversation with anti-fascist partisans themselves.
In this episode, we look at the question of 'the resistance betrayed': the Togliatti amnesty, what happened to fascists and anti-fascists immediately after the war, and how Italy's fascist movement was allowed to rebuild itself.

Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistory

• Get Italian resistance merch

Acknowledgements

• Thanks to our patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands, Jamison D. Saltsman and Fernando López Ojeda.
• Edited by Tyler Hill
• Episode graphic: public domain.
• Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.

Show notes, along with sources, photos, further reading, and a transcript on the webpage for this episode: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e77-80-italian-resistance/

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

Part 2 of our four-part podcast series on the Italian resistance to fascism in conversation with anti-fascist partisans themselves.
In this episode, we discuss the participation of migrant partisans in the resistance, what the resistance looked like in the cities, the raid of the Jewish ghetto in Rome and, finally, liberation and the execution of Mussolini.

Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistory

• Get Italian resistance merch

Acknowledgements

• Thanks to our patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands, Jamison D. Saltsman and Fernando López Ojeda.
• Edited by Tyler Hill
• Episode graphic: public domain.
• Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.

Show notes, along with sources, photos, further reading, and eventually a transcript on the webpage for this episode: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e77-80-italian-resistance/

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

The first of a four-part podcast series on the Italian resistance to fascism, both during World War Two and immediately after, in conversation with anti-fascist partisans themselves.
In this episode, we look at the rise of fascism, the start of the resistance during World War Two, the partisan formations of the mountains and the participation of women in the resistance.

Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistory

• Get Italian resistance merch

Acknowledgements

• Thanks to our patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands, Jamison D. Saltsman and Fernando López Ojeda.
• Edited by Tyler Hill
• Episode graphic: public domain.
• Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.

Show notes, along with sources, photos, further reading, and eventually a transcript on the webpage for this episode: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e77-80-italian-resistance/




Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.