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Coffee Break: Working class heroes

May 01, 2017

Ford's use of a moving line reduced a car's assembly time from 12 hours to 93 minutes, but this made the work repetitive for workers like the ones here, who are making flywheels. So Ford paid workers $5 a day, an extraordinary amount at the time.AP, via NPR

May 1 is May Day, a day not just to signify spring and warmer temperatures but also the working class.

In the late 19th century, today was chosen as the date for International Workers' Day - a celebration of laborers and the working classes.

So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that celebrate the working class?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break theme? Submit your topic idea and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

Songs played

Workin' Woman Blues - Valerie June
Salt of the Earth - The Rolling Stones
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Fred Astaire
Working To Work - Field Music
Five O'Clock World - The Vogues
Work Song - Hozier
I've Been Working On The Railroad - Pete Seeger
Factory Girls - Flogging Molly
Maggie's Farm - Bob Dylan
Damn Job - The Replacements
Earn Enough For Us - XTC