Labor unions were a big part of Barack Obama’s victory. What would they like to see from the president elect? Universal healthcare for one and a huge stimulus package might be starting points. There’s also the Employee Free Choice Act, which would make it easier for unions to organize. Perhaps as a measure of how ambitious the effort will be, the anti-union and pro-business Chamber of Commerce said: “This will be Armageddon.” But will Obama be able to turn around the decades long decline in union membership? And will unions have a role in reshaping American society?

Greg Denier, communications director of Change to Win says that there’s been a fundamental shift in the way voters are thinking about the economy and the role of government as outlined in their survey, The American Dream and the 2008 Election. The Reagan era is over. Ed Ott, Executive Director of the New York City Central Labor Council and Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance say that there was an unprecedented response from union members and that Barack Obama represents an opportunity to move forward on the issues of immigration and the right to unionize. The victory is not only symbolic, says Desai, but could really change the tide in how race and immigration are discussed. So workers, union and non, will be watching the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) and the restructuring of the auto industry closely. Not to mention the bailout and Obama’s choice for Labor Secretary.

The Real News asks will recession kill or renew labor unions, and looks at the future of the Employee Free Choice Act with economist John Schmitt.

We also have a report from the Mobile Broadcast News on Austin’s Transit Union, which recently secured a tentative agreement after a three day walkout. Elizabeth Press of Streetfilms brings us a report of a different kind of modern and responsive surface transit, pioneered in Paris "Mobilien."

Finally, jazz saxophonist Dave Glasser says that sound is an extension of yourself, your life, your person. Glasser’s influences are many and he has performed with the Clark Terry Quintet, the Count Basie Orchestra, the Dizzy Gillespie All stars and others. His father, Ira Glasser, was head of the ACLU from 1978 to 2001 and Dave says that there is no better expression of freedom of speech than playing in a jazz band where everybody is listening to each other and to the whole thing. Glasser teaches Jazz at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and his most recent album is Above the Clouds.

Thanks to the SEIU for video in tonight’s show.

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