Podcast Summary: Behind the Bastards – "It Could Happen Here Weekly 178"

Release Date: April 19, 2025
Host/Author: Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Title: It Could Happen Here Weekly 178
Description: This episode delves into the challenges faced by mentors at Friends of the Children Portland as they navigate the complexities of unionization. Additionally, the podcast addresses global issues such as the devastating earthquake in Myanmar and its broader implications.

1. Introduction to Friends of the Children Portland Unionization Effort [02:57 – 15:36]

Overview:
Mia Wong introduces the episode by highlighting the unique and pressing unionization efforts within Friends of the Children Portland. The discussion primarily involves Robert Evans and Clayton English, both mentors and active union members, who provide firsthand insights into their experiences.

Key Points:

• Role of Mentors:
  Robert explains that Friends of the Children is a national nonprofit where mentors commit to guiding youth from kindergarten until graduation, fostering long-term, individualized support.
  "We are committing to youth when they are typically around kindergarten age level and they're being paired with a mentor and they will have a mentor until they graduate the program." [03:43]

• Challenges Faced:
  High turnover rates due to inadequate pay, lack of benefits, and the emotional toll of the job make sustained mentorship difficult.
  "We're not volunteer based. We are employees, basically social workers for all of the families that we work with." [07:00]

• Impact of Poor Support Systems:
  Mentors often struggle to maintain long-term relationships with youth, leading to trust issues and hindered program outcomes.
  "But within that, like everything good and everything bad that you could imagine. And our job a lot of times is like, we can't solve the things that are affecting these kids, but we can take in some of those negative feelings and that grief, that anger, we can take it in and almost like dissolve it a little bit." [09:08]

• Unionization Motivations:
  The mentors sought to unionize to secure better pay, benefits, and job stability, ensuring they can continue their vital work without personal financial strain.
  "They froze wage increases. So I've had the same, the same wage for the past two years, two and a half years that I've been working here." [25:45]

Notable Quotes:

• Robert Evans on the significance of long-term commitment:
  "I'm going to give so many props to one of our mentors who has stayed for, for 12 years and has graduated their youth." [08:42]

• Clayton English on the emotional sustainability of the role:
  "It could affect us so, so much. And that's where, yeah, the sustainability part of like 12 and a half years in this job, like that is a lot." [10:19]

2. Unionization Process and Strike Details [15:36 – 41:38]

Overview:
The conversation shifts to the specifics of organizing a union, the hurdles encountered, and the ongoing strike initiated by the mentors at Friends of the Children Portland.

Key Points:

• Initiation of Unionization:
  In March 2023, a petition to unionize was launched, catalyzed by post-COVID workforce disruptions and systemic issues like stagnant wages.
  "So we first brought about our petition to unionize in March of 2023." [15:56]

• Bargaining Challenges:
  Negotiations with management have been protracted and marked by bad-faith bargaining tactics, including delays and attempts to undermine the union's efforts.
  "Disputes over compensation and insurance are still our last two articles left." [28:40]

• Unfair Labor Practices (ULP):
  The union has filed for ULP charges due to management's stalling tactics and attempts to regress worker conditions, such as proposing to change salaried positions to hourly.
  "The chairman, Stephen Miller, says ™ handle this look." [32:03]

• Strike Actions and Solidarity:
  The union has organized various strike actions, including informational pickets and community fundraisers, to maintain momentum and solidarity among members.
  "We held informational pickets that had donations... We held like a big strike fundraiser." [37:05]

• Support and Morale Maintenance:
  Emphasis on building strong interpersonal relationships among union members to sustain morale and collective resolve during the strike.
  "Authentic conversations with people... like, like, like this is something that it really, really is." [149:10]

Notable Quotes:

• Clayton English on the emotional burden of the job:
  "Our job is like, we are paid mentors, which is the big difference... we're an emotional sponge for a lot of things." [07:00]

• Robert Evans on the necessity of union support:
  "It's a job that requires like, an unprecedented amount of structural support to keep people there for over a decade is failing to do that." [10:58]

• Harley Quinn Smith on management's antagonism:
  "But the issue with that PR wise is that now the bosses are saying in their... they've been saying eight people... they're like, oh, there's only." [146:02]

3. Global Focus: Myanmar Earthquake and Political Turmoil [41:38 – 97:56]

Overview:
The podcast broadens its scope to address the catastrophic earthquake in Myanmar and the ensuing political chaos, highlighting the military junta's oppressive actions and international responses.

Key Points:

• Earthquake Impact:
  On March 28, 2024, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar, causing unprecedented devastation, particularly in Mandalay and Sagang.
  "It's the biggest earthquake in Myanmar since 1912, and it registered 7.7 on the Richter scale." [53:29]

• Junta's Response:
  The military junta exacerbated the disaster by restricting internet access, blocking international aid, and conducting airstrikes even post-earthquake, contributing to high casualties and ongoing conflict.
  "The military is detested in most of Myanmar... and its failure to even try and track people rescued under rubble won't help this." [59:32]

• Ceasefires and Continued Conflict:
  Despite calls for humanitarian pauses, the junta continued military operations, including bombing efforts and forced conscriptions, undermining relief efforts and escalating violence.
  "The junta began using paramotors to drop bombs on Hangu village in Saigan... which has been a thing that they've started to do recently." [62:15]

• International Involvement:
  Countries like China and Russia continue to support the junta, further complicating international aid and diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region.
  "China is competing with Russia in Myanmar. So both of them are interested in supporting the junta." [64:20]

• Humanitarian Efforts and Mutual Aid:
  In liberated areas, local communities rely on mutual aid structures to provide necessary support amid the junta's blockade of aid and resources.
  "In significant and growing parts of Myanmar, people are relying on each other instead of the government for aid." [64:32]

Notable Quotes:

• Greg Lod on the junta's oppressive tactics:
  "They dropped a bomb on Naikar village in Papua township... killing, at least, 72 people and injuring about a hundred." [60:12]

• Harley Quinn Smith on international aid hurdles:
  "They didn't allow entry to a Taiwanese search and rescue team... it's like, Sama, nada." [64:43]

• James Stout on the dire situation:
  "We've raised nearly $2,000... but that's just one township. All across the country, people are struggling for the basic supplies that they need to save lives." [43:28]

4. Current Developments and Future Outlook [97:56 – 220:30]

Overview:
The podcast concludes with updates on various political and social issues, including the ongoing refugee detention in El Salvador, the militarization of public lands in the U.S., and the rise of anti-autism rhetoric by public figures.

Key Points:

• El Salvador's Detention Camps:
  The Trump administration collaborates with El Salvador's President Bukele to deport U.S. immigrants to detention centers like Sea Cot, where return is nearly impossible, raising serious human rights concerns.
  "They're going to look for any way to like, make this test case work." [94:08]

• National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Breach:
  The NLRB faces a breach where Doge, a malicious actor, infiltrated and stole sensitive data, threatening whistleblowers and exposing union and trade information.
  "This is a big deal because the NLRB has a lot of extremely sensitive data." [208:37]

• Militarization of the Roosevelt Reservation:
  The U.S. Department of Defense assumes control over critical border areas, facilitating increased militarization and weakening protections for indigenous lands, leading to environmental and cultural degradation.
  "They can continue digging through what are literally people's ancestors graveyards." [172:19]

• Rise of Anti-Autism Campaigns:
  Public figures like RFK Jr. launch campaigns that echo historical eugenics rhetoric, promoting harmful stereotypes and policies against individuals with autism.
  "Autism destroys families... it's called autism, a preventable disease, which it is not." [104:34]

• Tariff Talk:
  The episode touches upon ongoing tariff adjustments, particularly the reduction of tariffs on electronics from 145% to 20%, and the potential reinstatement of severe tariffs affecting global trade and technological sectors.
  "It's still a bunch of the parts of this production process that can only be done in Taiwan... it's a big rip to the big rip to the AI people." [163:05]

Notable Quotes:

• Harley Quinn Smith on the severity of deportations:
  "They just kidnap hundreds of people with no criminal records and send them to a foreign gulag." [93:55]

• Greg Lod on the lack of progress in negotiations:
  "We've had our whole proposal on ownership's table for a year and a half now. We had started with bargaining proposal by proposal." [153:29]

• Mia Wong on systemic failures:
  "We just turn away. And we just turn away." [155:33]

Conclusion

"It Could Happen Here Weekly 178" of Behind the Bastards offers a profound exploration of both domestic and international issues, emphasizing the critical nature of union support in vulnerable sectors and shedding light on oppressive global events. Through detailed interviews and comprehensive coverage, the podcast underscores the importance of collective action and informed awareness to combat systemic injustices.

Final Thoughts:
The episode serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating how easily adverse events and oppressive practices can escalate without vigilant and organized efforts. It calls listeners to recognize the signs of systemic failure and the vital role of solidarity in fostering meaningful change.

Resources Mentioned:

• Friends of the Children Portland Union Network Instagram: FriendsPDXUnionNetwork
• Educational Episodes on Myanmar: Available on Behind the Bastards show notes.
• Community Partners International: CommunityPartnersIntl.org
• Free Burma Rangers: FreeBurmaRangers.org
• NLRB Information Breach Report: Referenced in episode [208:37].

Note:
For more detailed information, supporting documents, and direct access to resources, please visit the show’s official website or the episode’s description on your preferred podcast platform.