Best CUPE Podcasts (2025)

1
Activists Make History: Holding the Line with Wesley Lesosky, CUPE Air Canada Component President 37:00

Play Pause

8d ago37:00

37:00

Peggy Nash chats with Air Canada flight attendants union leader Wesley Lesosky about the recent strike and the fight for fair pay in the airline industry. In August 2025, Air Canada flight attendants made headlines for striking when the employer left the bargaining table and for refusing to follow back-to-work orders issued by the Carney government…

1
Carney and the Calgary School with Mack Penner 28:13

6d ago28:13

28:13

In the the Summer 2025 issue of Perspectives Journal, University of Calgary post doc and Parkland Institute board member Mack Penner wrote ‘Carney and the Calgary School: or, Passive Revolution and Canada’s Social State in the Neoliberal Era,’ tracing the origins of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s economic thinking to the Calgary School. The Calgary S…

1
MEBAC update, Christmas for the kids. Executive-at-Large election in October 9:42

11d ago9:42

9:42

Children Christmas Party will be a bit different this year. Our venue cancelled on us short notice. MEBAC changes are coming. You have to declare some numbers for Health Spending Account and the new Wellness Account. We have an Exec-at-Lrg position to be elected in October.By Scott Cush

1
NSFW at Work 27:12

29d ago27:12

27:12

What sort of NSFW goes on at work? Are you doing it now? Should you be aware of it? I have examples.By Scott Cush

1
Naomi Klein: The Rise of End-of-the-World Fascism and Resistance from the Global South 29:36

2M ago29:36

29:36

At the 2025 Panamerican Congress in Mexico City, held August 1st to 3rd, hosted by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and her Morena Parliamentary Group, Canadian journalist Naomi Klein gave remarks at the Esperanza Iris theatre. The author of 'The Shock Doctrine,' 'No Logo,' and most recently the memoir 'Doppelganger,' presented remarks to delega…

1
Canada’s Tax Haven Dilemma with Jared Walker 19:54

2M ago19:54

19:54

At this time last year in late July 2024, Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad announced that G20 finance leaders were poised to endorse a joint declaration on international tax cooperation that would hopefully help to clamp down on so-called “tax havens” by encouraging G20 countries to standardize taxes on billionaires. Since then, Canada, a…

1
Carney's Cuts with Angella MacEwen 28:10

2M ago28:10

28:10

Angella MacEwen explains what is at stake with Carney’s chosen course of “cuts, cuts, and more cuts.” Mark Carney’s new liberal government is making it loud and clear that they’re switching things up on economic policy. Following record high public service growth under his predecessor, Carney’s recent call for massive cuts to public services have s…

1
Letter of Understanding 2 - Out of Schedule Rates of Pay 8:25

3M ago8:25

8:25

This episode is about out of scheudle rates of pay.By Scott Cush

1
Activists Make History: Mobilizing a Movement with Sandy Hudson 49:04

3M ago49:04

49:04

Peggy Nash sits down with Sandy Hudson to talk about the roots of Black Lives Matter – Toronto, and her new book Defund. In this episode of Activists Make History, Peggy Nash sits down with Sandy Hudson—organizer, author, and co-founder of Black Lives Matter – Toronto. Reflecting on the movement’s grassroots foundations, Hudson shows the value of C…

1
Class & Climate: Colombia’s Just Transition with Lala Peñaranda and Matt Kirkegaard 45:10

3M ago45:10

45:10

Colombian oil workers and la Unión Sindical Obrera (USO) are leading the charge for a just transition. Here's what Canada can learn from their worker-led climate plan. Lala Peñaranda of Trade Unions for Energy Democracy Matt Kirkegaard of Progressive International present the Colombian Oilworkers' Plan — a bold strategy for a worker-led public path…

1
5 Not so Good Clauses 8:53

3M ago8:53

8:53

1. 4.07 – On-Call employee 2. 5.10 – Inability to Report 3. 5.17 – Overtime Distribution. 4. Pay notes 2 and 4. 5. Letter of Understanding 8. I would open these up for bargain these in a heartbeat.By Scott Cush

1
5 Good Clauses 7:52

3M ago7:52

7:52

1. Section 3 Grievance Procedure 2. 5.02 – Standard Hours of Work 3. 5.18/5.20 – Overtime paid or banked at 2x wage. 4. 6.17 Bereavement Leave 5. 7.05 Vacation EntitlementBy Scott Cush

1
Class & Climate: Winds of Change with Alex Connolly 23:24

3M ago23:24

23:24

The fight for better workplace conditions doesn’t stop at renewable energy. Workers in renewable energy need union representation, collective bargaining and a voice in their workplace for the energy transition to benefit all Canadians. Alex Connolly, a renewable energy worker in Nova Scotia, compares the workplace conditions from his time in the oi…

1
Collisions. The Fleet Operator's Handbook 11:04

4M ago11:04

11:04

What do you do when you have a collision. Listen and I will guide you.By Scott Cush

1
Neoliberalism's Failure and What the Left Must Do 1:36:11

4M ago1:36:11

1:36:11

2025 Ellen Meiksins Wood Lecturer Grace Blakeley sits down with Luke Savage in Toronto, Canada, for a conversation on the failures of neoliberal capitalism, the age of individualism it has produced, and what the left must do if it is to win the working-class. Blakeley and Savage examine how the far-right have taken advantage of the gaps and inequit…

1
Class & Climate: The Sustainability Class with Vijay Kolinjivadi and Aaron Vansintjan 36:37

4M ago36:37

36:37

Does the so-called green consumption of the “sustainability class” really work to help save us from climate catastrophe? Without challenging capitalism, can everyone afford the cost of living, reduce emissions, and achieve climate justice? Aaron Vansintjan and Vijay Kolinjivadi are the authors of The Sustainability Class, published by The New Press…

1
Genuine Democracy in an Age of Hyper-Individualism with Grace Blakeley 37:01

4M ago37:01

37:01

The 2025 Ellen Meiksins Wood Lecture was delivered by Grace Blakeley, illustrating why neoliberal capitalism has overruled democracy and why we must organize to take back democratic power for the working-class. The 2025 Ellen Meiksins Wood Lecture was held on Tuesday, May 20th in partnership with Toronto Metropolitan University’s Faculty of Arts. A…

1
Public Education at the Tipping Point 45:47

4M ago45:47

45:47

Hear from frontline educators at the 2025 Progress Summit on what’s driving the crisis and how we can defend democracy by fighting for strong, inclusive, and well-funded schools. Canada’s public education system is in crisis mode. From chronic underfunding and privatization to attacks on teachers and burnout—these aren’t isolated issues. Across the…

1
Class & Climate: Moving Canada for Climate Action with Blandine Sebileau 27:55

5M ago27:55

27:55

Equiterre's Sustainable Mobility Analyst shows how clean mobility can help working class Canadians save money while making our communities cleaner and healthier. Canada is falling behind its G7 peers. Our public transit systems need major investments to serve ordinary Canadians — by cutting costs associated with personal vehicles — and by limiting …

1
54th AFL Constitutional Convention in Edmonton 1:12:52

5M ago1:12:52

1:12:52

Here is my report on the Convention, the election, and Chris Smalls. For Reference, Cori Longo ran without a rival, and Gil McGown beat Gregg Mady 60/40 split. I also speak about Chris Smalls and I included an echo track of his talk. Chris spoke to us about Amazon and the Labour Union he helped co-found. Whatever you think of him, it was important,…

1
Class & Climate: Union Power with Brandon Dyck - IBEW 17:46

5M ago17:46

17:46

The energy transition runs on union power. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is one of the labour unions that will generate the electricity needed to seize the potential and jobs of a just transition. Brandon Dyck, government affairs coordinator at IBEW, joins the show to discuss how rank and file IBEW members experience cl…

1
Diving into the Agreement - Vacation 7.03-08 20:34

5M ago20:34

20:34

We are talking about vacation. 7.03 - 7.08. Employees don't really take a look at this clause. I wanted to take a moment and dive into it. If there are any errors please correct me. I am always going to defer to the union leadership for their interpretation. Enjoy.By Scott Cush

1
Rory wins the Masters & Completes the Golf Grand Slam 29:45

5M ago29:45

29:45

Sunday was one of the most epic Master's finishes of all time, with Rory McIlroy defeating Justin Rose in a playoff. TJ and Cupe break down this historic win, share their viewing experiences, and discuss the state of professional golf as a whole. Watch the Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tjlaessig Follow TJ on X: https://x.com/tjlaessig F…

1
Class & Climate: Building a Green Workforce with Lindsay Amundsen 16:18

5M ago16:18

16:18

Lindsay Amundsen of Canada's Building Trades Unions explains what a just transition really means for workers—and how union-led training programs are preparing the workforce for the green economy. What does a just transition look like on the ground—for workers, apprentices, and communities? In the second episode of Class & Climate, Lindsay Amundsen,…

1
April 2024 - No Quorum 9:01

6M ago9:01

9:01

Hey lets talk about CUPE Alberta, the CLC, the coming AFL convention, and Tarrifs.By Scott Cush

1
Class & Climate: Green Industrial Policy with Jim Stanford and Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood 37:24

6M ago37:24

37:24

The climate crisis overlaps with the cost-of-living crisis, amid the US tariff threat. As our fossil fuel dependence exposes us to inflation and trade threats from the US, the labour and climate movements are uniting to demand more for working-class Canadians. Jim Stanford, economist and director of the Centre for Future Work and Canadian Centre fo…

1
Severance, Survivor & TV Show Landscape in 2025 30:23

6M ago30:23

30:23

TJ and Cupe talk about the landscape of TV in the year 2025, whether or not Severance is the best show ever, and why Survivor is TJ's all time favorite. Watch the Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tjlaessig Follow TJ on X: https://x.com/tjlaessig Follow TJ on Instagram: https://instragram.com/tj_laessig…

1
Activists Make History: Democracy in Action with Josel Angelica Gerardo 26:01

6M ago26:01

26:01

Josel Gerardo is a young activist and shares how she is driving democratic engagement in the Filipino-Canadian community. In this episode of Activists Make History, Peggy Nash sits down with Josel Angelica Gerardo to explore her journey as a community organizer and advocate for Filipino-Canadian political engagement. From growing up in the Philippi…

1
Congrats and Thankyou's - March Meetings 12:27

6M ago12:27

12:27

I was successful in the election. I was elected to the position of Exec-At-Large which means I am on the executive. Looking forward to the join the team. Greg Mady joined us at the start of the March General Meeting. Convention is this week. Maybe the education workers have a deal? Lots of news. I talk about the AFL and CUPE AB…

1
Win Your March Madness Bracket Using Game Theory 36:38

6M ago36:38

36:38

March has arrived, which means one thing - college basketball will be taking over our TVs! On this episode, TJ and Cupe discuss how you can use the principles of Game Theory to win your March Madness bracket. Watch the Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tjlaessig Follow TJ on X: https://x.com/tjlaessig Follow TJ on Instagram: https://instrag…

1
A Better Way Forward with Liliana Camacho 21:15

7M ago21:15

21:15

Liliana Camacho explains that while rising costs are squeezing businesses, increasing wages and capping rent are not the problem—they’re actually part of the solution. Even Canadian businesses know that low wages and the high cost of housing are two big factors in the cost-of-living crisis, and are hurting customers and business itself. Liliana Cam…

1
Golf is the Greatest Leisure Sport on the Planet 42:37

7M ago42:37

42:37

Cupe and TJ talk all things golf including their reasoning for why golf is one of the best sports in the world. They cover their golf history and why golf has EXPLODED in popularity over the last 10 years. Hint: Netflix and YouTube have a lot to do with it. Watch the Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tjlaessig Follow TJ on X: https://x.com/…

1
Poker for Dummies & Learning to Play GTO 44:21

7M ago44:21

44:21

Poker is the OG skill gambling game. On this episode, TJ and Cupe talk through their journeys in the game of poker, the evolution of poker study over the years, and the poker retreat TJ attended last November. Watch the Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tjlaessig Follow TJ on X: https://x.com/tjlaessig Follow TJ on Instagram: https://instra…

1
USA vs Canada Recap & the Great Game of Hockey 42:14

7M ago42:14

42:14

For a brief moment last week, hockey took the sports world by storm with the 4 Nations tournament, culminating in the USA vs Canada championship game. On this episode of Gamble, TJ and Cupe break down their past experiences with hockey, discuss the success of the 4 Nations tournament, and talk about the future of hockey, its potential to increase i…

1
Activists Make History: Campaigning for Progress with Alexa Gilmour 30:04

7M ago30:04

30:04

The first-time candidate for Parkdale–High Park says progressive campaigning can be the antidote for despair. In this episode of Activists Make History, Peggy Nash sits down with Alexa Gilmour, Ontario NDP candidate for Parkdale–High Park, to learn about her journey as a first-time candidate in the 2025 Ontario election. Alexa shares what inspired …

1
What is wrong with the ASP? A few of my observations. 19:35

7M ago19:35

19:35

This is an audio version of the youtube video on the same topic. The Attendance Suport Program is advertised as a great program that recently was able to reduce the amount of hours to get on the program from 50 a quarter to 36 hours. Why does this matter? It matters because innocent absenteeism is a fancy way of saying we can't get the stuff we wan…

1
Make +EV Decisions & Think Like a SHARP Gambler 40:39

7M ago40:39

40:39

TJ and Cupe break down one of the key terms in the gambling space - Expected Value. TJ explains the concept of EV, shares examples of EV across games like poker, fantasy sports, and NBA Top Shot - and even discusses how you can apply this decision-making framework in your everyday life. Watch the Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tjlaessig …

1
February 2025 - Gathering not a Meeting :( 9:38

7M ago9:38

9:38

Short of quorum. Was everyone buying valentines gifts? Some good things in this episode even though we didn't have a meeting. I talk about Local 829 and CUPE Alberta.By Scott Cush

1
$10,000 Wins & the Early Days of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) 45:19

7M ago45:19

45:19

TJ and Cupe travel back in time to 2012-2017, the early days of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS). They reflect on the landscape of the games at that point in time, share stories of their first $10,000 wins, and discuss the value of being early to new game types, and how you can identify these types of opportunities for yourself. Watch the Show on YouTube…

1
Ballots are in VOTE! 829 Goes under Admin... while bargaining... 14:28

8M ago14:28

14:28

We have an election. You have your ballots in the mail, and I encourage you to vote and mail it in. I and others running are counting on you! Feb 27 is the deadline for being at the box office. If you miss it, you can come to the hall to vote. Also what is going on with Local 829? Medicine Hat News says they are under administration just prior to v…

1
Poker, Fantasy Sports & Intro to Gamble: The Game of Life 37:10

8M ago37:10

37:10

TJ and Cupe premier the first episode of a new podcast, Gamble : The High Stakes Game of Life. The show will cover TJ's life journey and a decades worth of highs and lows in poker, fantasy sports, entrepreneurship, and more with color commentary from side-kick Cupe. On Episode 1, they provide an introduction to the podcast series as a whole, dive i…

1
February 2025 - Let's Run for the Executive 7:38

8M ago7:38

7:38

Elections are happening. Vote for me. Please.By Scott Cush

1
Introducing Gamble: The High Stakes Game of Life 3:34

8M ago3:34

3:34

TJ Laessig is a former corporate grinder turned entrepreneur, with a long history of winning at gambling games from poker, to fantasy sports, to business. Cupe is TJ’s best friend and partner in crime for the past 15 years, along for the ride every step of the way. Tune in to this new podcast series for risk / reward strategies, untold stories, and…

1
Industrial Policy after Neoliberalism with D.T. Cochrane 35:21

8M ago35:21

35:21

For decades, social democrats have championed industrial policy, prioritizing the governance of the economy and market regulation as a way to build a more just and democratic society. But as a new era of neoliberalism — or post-neoliberalism — dawns, economist D.T. Cochrane sees Canada at a crossroads, in urgent need of a renewed vision of industri…

1
Activists Make History: Meeting the Moment with Lana Payne 50:06

8M ago50:06

50:06

Unifor president Lana Payne explains what’s at stake for Canadian workers in response to Donald Trump’s tariff threats and how unions are adapting to meet the moment. In this episode of Activists Make History, a new podcast series from Perspectives Journal, we sit down with Lana Payne, president of Unifor and a trailblazer in Canada’s labour moveme…

1
Support the Postie. They were fighting for the same things you may already have. 23:06

9M ago23:06

23:06

Last epsiode before the new year. Thanks for listening everyone.By Scott Cush

1
Power for the Public with Edgardo Sepulveda 32:38

9M ago32:38

32:38

Earlier this fall, The Alberta Federation of Labour released a new report entitled Power in the Public Interest: Re-regulation and increased public ownership in Alberta’s electricity sector. A headline from a press release of the report reads: “Albertans have overpaid $24 billion for electricity since 2001.” This is long before the interruptions an…

1
December 2024 General Meeting 10:00

10M ago10:00

10:00

No Quorum. Means no meeting but we did have a discussion. Thanks for listening. Just an FYI I got my meetings in and can run for a position.

1
Why Canadians are Stuck Waiting for the Bus with Nate Wallace 27:11

10M ago27:11

27:11

In a joint statement by Environmental Defence Canada released on October 28th at the Transit for Tomorrow Summit in Ottawa, a number of mayors and municipal representatives from cities across Canada, public transit activist groups and transit agencies like the STM in Montreal, declared: “Transit is the most powerful method of tackling traffic conge…

1
Neoliberalism’s Undead with Alex Himelfarb 35:44

10M ago35:44

35:44

Alex Himelfarb argues that neoliberalism – or “capitalism with the gloves off” – has become embedded in the fabric of Canadian government and society, and has not yet died off despite its reckoning. Neoliberalism is not dead, according to former Clerk of the Privy Council and Broadbent Institute research fellow Alex Himelfarb. The ideology that per…