CWA Hour of Power

Latest Episodes:

Activist Survivors; Breast Cancer Awareness Month; The Gerrymandering Crisis; The Future of Unionism Oct 02, 0025

Show notes

This week’s show opens with Tea With Tay: HUMANS from Tay Akins, reminding us of our shared humanity. We honor Activist Survivors: Champions for Breast Cancer Awareness and highlight Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Mikeya Jones. Guests David Marshall and Britni Cuington join us for a critical discussion, Packed, Cracked, and Silenced: The Gerrymandering Crisis. Reginald Small continues our Union 101 series with The Future of Unionism: Building Power for the Next Generation. Timmia Wiley calls out another Union Buster of the Week, and the hosts close with a deep dive into The History of Tipping and the Fight for a Living Wage for All Marginalized Communities.

Honoring Cristina Jiménez; The Navajo Communications Journey; The History of Tipping Sep 25, 0025

Show notes

This week, Tay Akins opens with Tea With Tay: HUMANS, a celebration of unity across cultures, identities, and labor. We honor activist Cristina Jiménez, co-founder of United We Dream, for her tireless advocacy for immigrant youth. Mikeya Jones highlights the inspiring Memphis Librarians Union Drive, while Reginald Small continues the Union 101 series with Beyond the Bargaining Table: Unions and Social Justice. All hosts are joined by guests Feliz, Terris, and Marty to discuss Equal Pay, Equal Dignity: The Navajo Communications Journey. Timmia Wiley exposes another offender in Union Buster of the Week, and the show closes with a powerful discussion on The History of Tipping and the Fight for a Living Wage for All Marginalized Communities.

Honoring Activist Joseph A. McNeal; National Suicide Prevention Month; The History of Tipping Sep 18, 0025

Show notes

This week, the show honors activist Joseph A. McNeal, a trailblazer in the fight for equality and justice. Tay Akins opens with Tea With Tay: Boys Don’t Cry, challenging harmful stereotypes about masculinity and emotion. Mikeya Jones brings awareness during National Suicide Prevention Month, focusing on mental health in our communities. Reginald Small continues the Union 101 series with Solidarity in Action: Strikes, Boycotts, and Collective Power. All hosts unite for America Speaks: We Need Unions, lifting worker voices nationwide. Timmia Wiley exposes corporate wrongdoing in Union Buster of the Week, followed by a deep dive into The History of Tipping and the Fight for a Living Wage. The episode closes with CWA’s Own Spotlight Moment, celebrating the strength and resilience of union members everywhere.

The Legacy of David Cole; 9/11; AI in Healthcare; and the Importance of Voting in Local ElectionsDavid Cole; 9/11; AI in Healthcare; and the Importance of Voting in Local Elections Sep 11, 0025

Show notes

This week, the show spotlights activist David Cole, exploring his legacy of defending civil liberties and holding power accountable. Tay Akins opens with Tea With Tay: Unlikely Activist, Unstoppable Voice, highlighting the courage it takes to speak truth to power. Mikeya Jones examines 9/11: Human Rights, Health Rights, and Union Lessons, connecting the events of September 11th to ongoing struggles for worker protections and public health. Reginald Small continues Union 101 Part 7: First Contracts, teaching listeners how to transform a union into real bargaining power. All hosts discuss the impact of AI in Healthcare & Health Equity, exploring opportunities and risks in the modern medical system. Timmia Wiley calls out another offender in Union Buster of the Week, and the episode closes with a critical conversation on The Importance of Voting in Local Elections, emphasizing the power of community engagement in shaping policy.

Dust Storms & Rights; Labor Day Awareness; National Guard: A Historical & Human Rights Perspective Sep 04, 0025

Show notes

This week, Tay Akins opens with Tea With Tay: Dust Storms & Rights, exploring the intersection of environmental crises and human rights. Mikeya Jones leads a special Labor Day Awareness segment, honoring workers everywhere and highlighting the contributions that keep our communities and economy moving. Reginald Small continues Union 101 Part 6: Busting Union-Busting, equipping listeners to spot and stop employer tactics that threaten collective power. The hosts discuss the impact of CDC layoffs on public health and workers, while Timmia Wiley delivers another sharp Union Buster of the Week. The episode closes with a deep dive into the National Guard: A Historical & Human Rights Perspective, connecting history, service, and the importance of treating all workers with dignity and respect.

Oliver “Change The Ref” Advocacy Center; Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month; CDC Layoffs Aug 28, 0025

Show notes

This week, the show highlights the activism of Manuel and Patricia Oliver, the parents of Joaquin Oliver’s “Change The Ref” Advocacy Center, connecting social justice and youth advocacy to labor and human rights. Reginald Small leads Union 101 Part 5: The Bigger Picture, exploring why unions matter beyond the workplace and the role of collective power in shaping communities. Mikeya Jones raises awareness for Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, emphasizing prevention and wellness for the youngest members of our society. Reginald and guest Kwami Barnes tackle Homelessness in America, exposing the administration’s attacks on the unhoused in the nation’s capital. Errol and guest Elissa Johnson (FWD.us) examine the hidden cost of mass incarceration in We Can’t Afford It: Mass Incarceration and the Family Tax. Timmia Wiley calls out another corporate offender in Union Buster of the Week, while all hosts discuss the impact of CDC layoffs on public health and worker protections. Tay Akins closes with Tea With Tay: Dust Storms & Rights, connecting environmental crises to civil rights, labor, and community resilience.

Honoring Eugene Mays; National Breastfeeding Awareness Month; CWA 80th National Convention Aug 18, 0025

Show notes

This week’s episode honors the legacy of labor pioneer Eugene “Gene” Mays while equipping listeners with the tools to strengthen union democracy. Reginald Small leads Union 101 Part 3: Dues, Dollars & Democracy, breaking down how member contributions empower collective action. Mikeya Jones highlights National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, emphasizing workplace support for parents and caregivers. The hosts cover the CWA Minority Caucus Convention, celebrating leadership and organizing victories, and revisit the human cost of immigration enforcement in Collateral Grief: When Immigration Raids Hit Home. Timmia Wiley exposes the latest offenders in Union Buster of the Week. The team reflects on the CWA 80th National Convention, with a potential appearance by National President Claude Cummings Jr., and Tay Akins closes with Tea With Tay: Debate Without Hate, sharing insights from the convention floor and the power of civil discourse.

Union 101 Pt 2: Know Your Rights; Derrick Lewis of the NAACP; Collateral Grief; Surviving the Cycle Jul 31, 0025

Show notes

This week’s episode continues the education and empowerment with Union 101 Part 2: Know Your Rights, where Reginald Small walks listeners through essential protections every worker should understand. Mikeya Jones dives into Stronger Together, exploring how social wellness and union power go hand in hand. Errol, Tay, and Mikeya lead an inspiring conversation with Derrick Lewis II of the NAACP, highlighting youth leadership and the rising generation of changemakers. The hosts unpack Collateral Grief, a hard-hitting segment on the emotional and economic toll of immigration raids on working families. Timmia Wiley names names in Union Buster of the Week, exposing another threat to organizing efforts. Surviving the Cycle focuses on breaking patterns that keep workers trapped in systemic inequity, and Tay Akins closes with Tea With Tay: The Privilege to Opt Out, calling out who’s doing the real work—and who benefits from staying silent.

Rick Hansen; Union 101: The Power of US; Real vs. Performative Activism; International Self-Care Day Jul 24, 0025

Show notes

This episode opens by honoring disability rights activist Rick Hansen, whose global wheelchair journey challenged perceptions and championed accessibility for all. Reginald Small leads Union 101: The Power of US, breaking down the basics of union strength and member rights. All hosts tackle Not for Show: Real Activism vs. Performative Activism, calling out surface-level gestures and uplifting those in the trenches. It’s Better in a Union – Our Labor of Love reminds listeners why solidarity still matters. Timmia Wiley returns with another sharp Union Buster of the Week expose. Mikeya Jones highlights International Self-Care Day, tying mental wellness to worker justice, followed by The Fierce Urgency of Labor, where Reginald interviews David Marshall on the state of labor today. Tay Akins closes out with Tea With Tay: The Privilege to Opt Out, a critical look at who carries the weight in the fight for change and who conveniently sits it out.

Sarcoma Awareness Month; The Fierce Urgency of Now; From Workers to Workers North Carolina Jul 17, 0025

Show notes

This week’s episode honors the fearless human rights work of Dzikamai Bere and kicks off with a spotlight on Sarcoma Awareness Month, raising visibility for rare cancer warriors in our communities. The hosts come together for a bold conversation titled The Fierce Urgency of Now, reminding listeners that labor, civil, and human rights cannot wait. We take listeners to North Carolina for From Workers to Workers, featuring guests Aiden Graham and Denise Jackson, who are rebuilding the South through direct action, one conversation and one door at a time. Timmia Wiley calls out corporate misconduct in the Union Buster of the Week segment, naming those profiting from silencing worker voices. Tay Akins closes the show with a powerful “Tea With Tay” segment, The Hell You Create, unpacking how toxic systems are built—and how we fight to dismantle them.

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