Re:Work by the UCLA Labor Center

About Re:Work by the UCLA Labor Center

A women-led podcast that spotlights stories of work and activism to humanize and break down economic and racial justice issues. Produced by Veena Hampapur and Saba Waheed.

Publisher

Re:Work by the UCLA Labor Center

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Sept 2013

Latest episode

29 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

89 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Jul 2026

   Autoqueen Trilogy, Part III

   Autoqueen Trilogy, Part Three concludes our miniseries chronicling the life of Mohana Sundari. Mohana is part of a small but growing group of women driving auto rickshaws in Chennai. Even in India, many are unaware that women drivers like Mohana exist. Part One traced her vivid childhood memories, while Part Two followed her into adulthood – through marriage, motherhood, financial struggle, and personal loss. In this final episode, Mohana reflects on navigating a male-dominated profession, and shares how her journey led her to become president of Veera Pengal Munnetra Sangam (VPMS), a union dedicated to empowering women in non-traditional sectors. Listen at reworkradio.org or your preferred podcast platform. *** This episode was produced in partnership with Empowering Communities Through Education (ECTE) and Veera Pengal Munnetra Sangam (VPMS). ECTE is a non-profit organization committed to organizing women workers in the informal sector in Chennai. ECTE played an instrumental role in the formation of VPMS, a women-led union and the first cooperative to be registered within the state’s transportation sector. Building on the success of its women auto drivers' movement, VPMS is expanding its work to support women across other informal and gig economy sectors, creating pathways for long-term social and economic empowerment. Related links Autoqueen Trilogy, Part IAutoqueen Trilogy, Part IIECTE on InstagramVeera Pengal Munnetra Sangam on InstagramRe:Work on InstagramUCLA Labor Center websiteECTE websiteVeera Pengal Munnetra Sangam (VPMS) websiteThe Hindu - Women auto drivers from Chennai who took IIM by storm (video)The Hindu - Breaking barriers: Chennai auto driver wins Kamla Bhasin Award for gender equalityThe Hindu - Meet the ‘Auto Queens’: This Tamil documentary highlights Chennai’s women auto drivers

2. 

   27 May 2026

   Autoqueen Trilogy, Part II

   In the second installment of the Autoqueen Trilogy, we revisit Mohana Sundari, a thirty-nine-year-old woman living in Tamil Nadu in southern India. Mohana is part of a small but growing group of women driving auto rickshaws in the capital city of Chennai. Part One traced Mohana’s vivid childhood memories, and in Part Two her story moves into adulthood — through marriage, motherhood, financial struggle, and personal loss. Through it all, Mohana challenges the limitations placed on women. She continually finds ways to reclaim her power as she works to build a future for herself and her daughter — on her own terms. Listen at reworkradio.org or your preferred podcast platform. Content Advisory: This episode includes references to domestic violence and sexual assault. *** This episode was produced in partnership with Empowering Communities Through Education (ECTE). ECTE leads grassroots, worker-centered initiatives that use education, research, and storytelling to support economic justice and civic transformation in Chennai. At the heart of ECTE’s mission is a commitment to organizing women workers in the informal sector — an often-overlooked majority in India's labor force. While Tamil Nadu is celebrated for having the largest share of women in the formal manufacturing sector, this progress narrative eclipses the lived experiences of the vast majority of women workers laboring in informal and unorganized sectors. ECTE equips these workers with tools to build worker-owned cooperatives, shape impact media, and advocate for inclusive policy change. In partnership with the Alliance for Community Empowerment (ACE), ECTE played an instrumental role in the formation of the Veera Pengal Munnetra Sangam (VPMS) union and cooperative. Beginning in January 2023, ECTE and ACE worked closely with women auto drivers on the ground, helping bring members together, build relationships and trust, and support the organizing process through to the successful formation of the union and cooperative. Related links Autoqueen Trilogy, Part IECTE on InstagramVeera Pengal Munnetra Sangam on InstagramRe:Work on InstagramUCLA Labor Center websiteECTE websiteVeera Pengal Munnetra Sangam (VPMS) websiteThe Hindu - Women auto drivers from Chennai who took IIM by storm (video)The Hindu - Breaking barriers: Chennai auto driver wins Kamla Bhasin Award for gender equalityThe Hindu - Meet the ‘Auto Queens’: This Tamil documentary highlights Chennai’s women auto drivers

3. 

   25 Mar 2026

   Autoqueen Trilogy, Part I

   This episode of Re:Work by the UCLA Labor Center features Mohana Sundari, a thirty-nine-year-old woman living in Tamil Nadu in southern India. Mohana is part of a small but growing group of women driving auto rickshaws in the capital city of Chennai. Many, even in India, are unaware that women drivers like Mohana exist.From an early age, Mohana has questioned and pushed against the limits placed on girls and women, forging her own path. The first installment in a three-part series, this episode explores Mohana’s family background and childhood, and the roots of her fiercely independent spirit. Listen here or on your preferred podcast platform. *** This episode was produced in partnership with Empowering Communities Through Education (ECTE). ECTE leads grassroots, worker-centered initiatives that use education, research, and storytelling to support economic justice and civic transformation in Chennai. At the heart of ECTE’s mission is a commitment to organizing women workers in the informal sector—an often-overlooked majority in India's labor force. While Tamil Nadu is celebrated for having the largest share of women in the formal manufacturing sector, this progress narrative eclipses the lived experiences of the vast majority of women workers laboring in informal and unorganized sectors. ECTE equips these workers with tools to build worker-owned cooperatives, shape impact media, and advocate for inclusive policy change. ECTE has been a strong supporter of the formation of Veera Pengal Munnetra Sangam (VPMS), an all-women trade organization established in Chennai. Through this initiative, ECTE is partnering with workers and the organization's leadership committee, including Mohana Sundari, president of VPMS, to provide vital information, tools, and resources that enable women to explore alternative opportunities, leading to improved wages, living conditions, benefits, and an enhanced quality of life. Related links ECTE on InstagramVeera Pengal Munnetra Sangam on InstagramRe:Work on InstagramUCLA Labor Center websiteVeera Pengal Munnetra Sangam (VPMS) websiteThe Hindu - Women auto drivers from Chennai who took IIM by storm (video)The Hindu - Breaking barriers: Chennai auto driver wins Kamla Bhasin Award for gender equalityThe Hindu - Meet the ‘Auto Queens’: This Tamil documentary highlights Chennai’s women auto drivers

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 29 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

37

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

Contact Re:Work by the UCLA Labor Center

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.