On today's Trades Day episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers President Timothy J. Driscoll discusses the PRO Act, the Faster Labor Contracts Act and why the arbitration provision critics call government overreach is simply a necessary guardrail. He also addresses AI's growing impact on construction design and engineering, what responsible data center siting requires from developers, why the administration's immigration enforcement is a deliberate wedge strategy that has swept up BAC members with valid work authorization in ICE raids and why congressional efforts to expand independent contractor status are moving in exactly the wrong direction for workers.

Visit bacweb.org for more.

Transportation Trades Department President Greg Regan discusses the TTD's concerns about newly confirmed TSA Administrator David Cummins, who has said collective bargaining inhibits airport security workers and plans to expand privatized screening from approximately 20 airports to 200. Regan also addresses a bipartisan bill to fix the Railroad Retirement Board's ability to pay out earned benefits to railroaders who have contributed to one of the world's healthiest pension systems and a September 30 surface transportation funding cliff that would simultaneously cut off roads, bridges, Amtrak, commuter rail and public transit funding — at a moment when Amtrak is posting record ridership and revenue as proof that infrastructure investment works.

Then, Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga traces Ohio's labor history through his own family story — a grandfather who survived the 1940 Willow Grove Mine explosion in Belmont County, a father who served as president of a United Steelworkers local in the 1960s and a debt he said his family owes entirely to the United Mine Workers of America and the United Steelworkers. He covers the 1890 founding of the UMWA in Columbus, William Green's authorship of Ohio's workers' compensation law and the defeat of Senate Bill 5 in 2011 by the same 62-to-38 margin that defeated right-to-work in Ohio in 1958. He closes with what the current organizing surge among young workers means for the movement's future and why getting from a successful union vote to a first contract remains the most urgent labor law reform priority.

Visit ttd.org for more from the Transportation Trades Department and ohioaflcio.org for more from the Ohio AFL-CIO.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond joins for the first Friday with Fred of August as part of the Labor 132 series. He shares the story of his parents' journey from sharecropping in Mississippi to union membership in Chicago, reflects on his proudest moments with the United Steelworkers, including organizing rubber plantation workers in Liberia and surviving strikes at Reynolds and Alcoa, and explains why union popularity is now at its highest point in 70 years.

Visit aflcio.org and explore the AFL-CIO's labor history timeline.

On today's Trades Day episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, C/COBCTC Executive Secretary-Treasurer Dorsey Hager delivers his monthly update covering Intel's continued ramp-up, upcoming public hearings for two major gas-powered energy centers that will supply data center campuses in Fairfield County and Asheville, a new project labor agreement for the $100 million Franklin County early childhood learning center, the state of Ohio's data center conversation at the local government level and what happened when building trades members brought brick walls and concrete finishing to the Ohio State Fair.

Visit columbusconstruction.org for more.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast — part of the Labor 132 series — SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland tells the full story, from the very different founding cultures of SAG and AFTRA in the 1930s through the McCarthy era, Ronald Reagan's complicated labor legacy, the 2008 employer maneuver that finally made the cost of disunity impossible to ignore and what the merged union has built in the 14 years since. He also addresses the AI fight, now the most urgent focus of SAG-AFTRA's resources, and explains why the strength of the merged union is exactly what that fight requires.

Visit sagaftra.org for more.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Massachusetts Laborers' Benefits Fund recovery specialist Jonathan Ashwell discusses how the LEAN program works: cold outreach to members with substance use claims, presentations at every apprenticeship class, a hotline, vetted treatment access that gets members into care quickly and personal in-person follow-up a week after placement. He also addresses the construction industry's suicide crisis, LIUNA General President Brent Booker and General Secretary-Treasurer Michael F. Sabitoni's national push to reduce stigma and why the peer support model — a union brother who has lived the same life reaching out to another — is the most effective tool available.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988. Visit mlbf.org for more.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast — the first episode of Labor 132, presented by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association National Labor Office — Teamsters veterans Bret Caldwell and Brian Rainville discuss the launch of teamsterhistory.org, the history of the Teamsters Archives at George Washington University and an interview project that captured participants from across the full political spectrum, from TDU founder Ken Paff to General President James P. Hoffa, all in their own unedited words. General President O'Brien's decision to let the unflattering material stay in, Rainville said, is what made the whole thing possible.

Visit teamsterhistory.org to explore the interviews and download full transcripts.

The University of Maryland, College Park, laid off more than 80 workers earlier this summer. More than 80% were union members. The university's nearly billion-dollar endowment went untouched. So did the president's $1 million-plus annual salary and the multi-million-dollar coaching contracts for coaches with losing records. And almost immediately after the layoffs were announced, the university lifted its hiring freeze. AFSCME Local 1072 President Todd Holden, union steward Sarah Eppley and laid-off member Sarah Grun describe what happened, why the local filed 40 grievances covering workers laid off while on FMLA, pursuing grievances or active in union organizing and how to sign the AFSCME toolkit letter to the University System of Maryland at afscmemd.org.

Then, BCBS NLO Executive Director Merrilee Logue and BCBS Association Medicare market analyst Duncan Lawson discuss a Medicare Advantage landscape that has become more complicated for union retirees to navigate. For the second consecutive year, more than 2 million Medicare Advantage consumers had their plans terminated and even more saw their benefits reduced. Logue and Lawson explain which plans and regions have been most affected, why Medicare Advantage remains the most popular retiree coverage option despite the changes and what union members approaching 65 need to know to find coverage that fits — including how to work with a broker, check union fund coverage and take advantage of special enrollment periods.

Visit afscmemd.org for more on the AFSCME Local 1072 fight and bcbs.com/MedicareAdvantage for Medicare Advantage resources. Follow @BlueLabor on LinkedIn and X for updates from the BCBS National Labor Office.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Donetta Thomas tells her story of entering the building trades through Hire360, the Chicago workforce development organization that connects women and people of color to union construction careers. She walks through what Hire360's pre-apprenticeship program actually does to prepare people for the trades, what life on a roof in Chicago really looks like and what she would say to any woman or person of color who is sitting on the fence about making the move.

Visit hire360chicago.com to learn more about Hire360 and rooferslocal11.org for more on Roofers Local 11.

First, National Nurses United President Jamie Brown and NNU Assistant Director of Health and Safety Jane Thomason discuss a workplace safety crisis that most Americans never see. Healthcare workers account for approximately 73% of all nonfatal workplace violence injuries in the United States, nurses are five times more likely to be assaulted at work than people in any other industry and the actual rate is dramatically higher because most incidents never get reported. Brown and Thomason make the case for the Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act, which would mandate safe staffing ratios and workplace violence prevention programs at hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding, and address chemical and environmental hazards nurses face daily, including antineoplastic drug exposure, post-COVID disinfectants and wildfire smoke entering hospital facilities through filtration systems not designed to stop it.

Then, IAM Union retired International President Tom Buffenbarger delivers his monthly independent labor voice segment covering three significant stories. Boeing's new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, is meeting directly with machinists, reinstating union advisory channels and committing to keep manufacturing in Puget Sound, representing what Buffenbarger calls the most meaningful cultural shift at the company in years. Tariff uncertainty, rather than tariff levels, is causing profitable companies to lay off manufacturing workers because the planning horizon has disappeared. And the One Big Beautiful Bill is structured to remove an estimated 11 to 12 million people from Medicaid through administrative burden and shift SNAP costs to states in ways that will reduce benefits for children, veterans and working families.

Visit nationalnursesunited.org for more from National Nurses United and goiam.org for more from the IAM Union.

On today's trades day episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, NorCal CIC Policy and Research Analyst Dr. Larissa Petrucci walks through how the study was built using California's publicly available certified payroll data and hundreds of public records requests, why the statistical methodology ensures the findings are genuinely about union contractor status rather than other variables and what building trades councils in other states can do right now to push for the data transparency that made this research possible.

Visit norcalcic.org for more.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, IFPTE President Matt Biggs discusses the Norcross NDAA language and what happens next in the Senate reconciliation fight, why stripping DoD collective bargaining rights harms rather than protects national security, the SAVE Act's voter registration barriers and what the numbers on voter fraud actually show and an organizing surge producing more requests for union representation than IFPTE has organizers to handle.

Visit ifpte.org for more.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, AFSCME Council 65 Labor Representative Jordan Deffenbaugh discusses the Union County case, the active response campaign including petitions, rallies and appeals to the governor and attorney general, a pattern of conduct concerns at the sheriff's office that predate the deputy firings and why he believes this situation could spark a broader organizing surge in Southeast South Dakota, where union density currently sits at approximately 2.7 percent.

Visit afscme65.org for more.

On today's trades day episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Mechanical Insulators LMCT Executive Director Pete Ielmini discusses a Commonwealth Beacon investigation into energy consumption at a Boston hospital and what it means for the broader push to make mechanical insulation energy audits mandatory. He also covers the Hale Building at Brigham and Women's Hospital as a model of what properly designed construction can achieve, the gap in inspection requirements that allows new buildings to be completed without the insulation they were supposed to have and the status of the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act in the Senate with December's end of Congress deadline approaching.

Visit mechanicalinsulatorslmct.com for more.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper joins us fresh from the AFT convention in Washington. She discusses the federation's growth to 1.875 million members, why she calls it the fastest-growing union in the country, the five fightback pillars shaping AFT's strategy, and the convention resolutions on school funding and child labor accountability. She also breaks down what is at stake in Ohio's governor, Senate and Ohio House races this fall and where to find the OFT voter guide.

Visit oft-aft.org for more.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, United Steelworkers Assistant Director of Organizing Mariana Padias tells the full story of the Big River campaign, including the unusual role of Blue Wolf Capital Partners, a pro-union minority equity investor that publicly backed the workers when the owner refused to stay neutral. She also explains why the national average time to a first contract is 480 days, how companies use that window to erode worker support, and what the bipartisan Faster Labor Contracts Act, now before the Senate, would do to change it.

Visit usw.org for more.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, AFM Local 4 President Len DiCosimo discusses the Cleveland Orchestra negotiations, his election to the AFM international board at the 103rd convention in Ottawa and the growing threat artificial intelligence poses to working musicians, composers and lyricists. He calls on the public to support live music and human artistry with their discretionary spending, drawing a direct parallel between choosing AI-generated content over a working musician and choosing a self-checkout line over a cashier.

Visit afmlocal4.com to learn more about AFM Local 4.

American Legion Media and Communications Director Henry Howard opens with a recap of how the Legion marked America's 250th anniversary, including a reenactment of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Lansing, Michigan on July 8, the date Colonel Nixon first read the document publicly in 1776. Howard also covers the conclusion of the USA 250 Challenge, which engaged more than 3,100 American Legion family members over the past year in fitness, wellness and community service, and a historic flag escort by American Legion riders from Pittsburgh to Arlington on July 4. He then previews the August edition of the American Legion magazine, which highlights ten notable American inventions that shaped the world and honors the late Diane Carlson Evans, the Vietnam combat nurse who led the decades-long fight to establish the Vietnam Women's Memorial on the National Mall.

Then, Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans State Director Norm Wernet discusses two developments directly affecting retirees and disabled workers. The first is bipartisan momentum to scrap the Social Security earnings cap following a joint op-ed from Sen. Bernie Moreno and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and what that step would do to address the 2032 Social Security funding cliff. The second is the WISeR program, a pilot AI prior authorization program now running in Ohio and six other states that is delaying and denying Medicare Advantage coverage with a financial incentive built into the algorithm to keep saying no.

Visit legion.org for American Legion updates and retiredamericans.org for the full congressional voting record on retiree issues.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, National COSH Associate Director Katelyn Parady describes what is happening to workers right now and what workers, unions and advocates are doing to fight back. She covers the creative organizing happening at the city, state and supply chain level to address heat in the absence of a federal standard, the preemption laws being used in Texas and Florida to block rather than create protections and National COSH's preparations to call for a national ban on engineered stone as young Latino immigrant fabricators in their 20s and 30s continue to need double lung transplants and lose their lives.

Visit nationalcosh.org for more.

First, Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga joins fresh from the AFL-CIO's 30th Constitutional Convention in Minneapolis, where delegates voted to set a new organizing target of 2 million new union members by 2032 after surpassing the previous goal of 1 million. Burga reports on a broad wave of organizing activity across Ohio spanning healthcare, construction, higher education, hospitality, libraries, museums and the arts, with recent wins including workers at Jeni's Ice Cream, United Academics of Ohio University and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. He also addresses the ongoing challenge of securing first contracts after organizing wins and what Ohio workers should watch for when the General Assembly returns from summer recess and the lame duck session begins after November's elections.

Then, CWA District 4 Administrative Director Frank Mathews discusses a ratified four-year contract for approximately 300 DirecTV customer service workers across Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Minnesota and Colorado, delivering compounded wage increases of 13.4% and preserving health care after workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike in April. Mathews addresses the growing difficulty of protecting health care at the bargaining table, describes a roughly tenfold increase in CWA organizing activity since COVID and details the CWA's new Fighting Oligarchy political education training rolling out across Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan ahead of November's elections.

Visit ohioaflcio.org for Ohio AFL-CIO updates and cwa-union.org for more from CWA District 4.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Bill McCamley, director of the New Mexico Building Trades Wellness Coalition, discusses the wellness coalition model he believes every building trades council in the country should adopt. He shares his own mental health story, explains why peer support from workers with lived experience is the most effective tool available for reaching workers before a crisis becomes fatal, and makes the case for why contractors have a direct financial interest in funding these programs.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988. Visit nmbtwellness.org for more.

CONTENT NOTE: TODAY'S EPISODE CONTAINS FRANK DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, National Nurses United President Jamie Brown and Medicare for All Campaign Director Jasmine Ruddy make the case for why this is the most important moment for health care reform in a generation. They discuss what nurses are seeing on the hospital floor as federal cuts take effect, why Medicare for All is a fundamentally labor issue that would remove health coverage from the bargaining table and eliminate employers' ability to threaten benefits during strikes, and how unions, including the UAW and UE, are active partners in the campaign.

Visit medicare4all.org to join the July 30 day of action or sign up for updates.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, longtime union lawyer Andrew Strom breaks down what happened and why it matters for working people everywhere. He explains what overtime gap pay is in plain terms, why a rule the Department of Labor has had on the books since 1968 was not enough to protect these workers, why the dissenting judge called the result unfair and why being in a union is the most practical protection against exactly this kind of wage theft.

On today's trades day episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, UA Local 43 Plumbers and Steamfitters JATC Training Coordinator Joe Coke and Business Manager Matt Johnson discuss how a partnership with community workforce organization Chattanooga 2.0 and IBEW helped land Chattanooga's share of the initiative, what a direct high school pathway into a registered apprenticeship program looks like in practice and how Local 43's most recent apprentice class drew 200 applications from people aged 17 to 50. With 1,300 members at near full employment, new projects added to the pipeline weekly and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 44,000 plumbers, pipe fitters and steam fitters needed annually nationwide, both guests described the moment as one of the brightest in the Local's 136-year history.

Visit ualocal43.org to learn more.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland discusses a ratified 2026 contract that achieved what the 2023 strike demanded — without another strike. He walks through the contract's two-tiered AI protections covering both digital replicas of real performers and the use of synthetics — AI-generated performances with no human source — and explains the bipartisan No FAKES Act moving through Congress that could give every American a legal right in their own image and voice for the first time. He also discusses the planned merger of the SAG Producers Pension Plan and the AFTRA Retirement Fund, set for early 2028, which will provide retirement benefits to nearly 1,000 SAG-AFTRA members per year who currently earn enough across both plans to qualify but not enough in either one to collect.

Visit sagaftra.org for more.

On today's trades day episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Steffee discusses the Homer City campus, where he believes a 4,200-megawatt natural gas power block is under active construction alongside hyperscale data center plans he projects could generate 3,500 building trades jobs on that site alone. He addresses community concerns about water and electricity prices, makes the case that natural gas is the only near-term solution to the grid reliability crisis and describes a Local that went five years without taking a single apprentice and is now on pace for 175 new ones — with more needed still.

Visit boilermakerslocal154.com to learn more.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen Secretary-Treasurer Brandon Elvey walks through three active fronts in the rail industry. He discusses Union Pacific's third attempt to acquire Norfolk Southern through the Surface Transportation Board, why the BRS and a coalition of rail unions and customer associations oppose it and what a 20 percent membership reduction on Union Pacific already signals about what that railroad looks like for workers. He addresses the AAR's push to reduce grade crossing warning device inspections from monthly to quarterly — a deregulatory move the BRS says contradicts 30 years of safety data. And he describes the Long Island Rail Road strike in which six rail unions working together finally forced an agreement after three years of bargaining under the Railway Labor Act.

Visit brs.org to learn more about the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast — the day before America's 250th anniversary — AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond discusses the Minneapolis convention's 2-million-member organizing goal, why that number is the floor rather than the ceiling and the federation's carefully calibrated position on artificial intelligence: not opposition, but a demand that workers have a seat at the table in every decision that affects their jobs.

He also addresses Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger's veto of collective bargaining legislation after AFL-CIO leaders left a campaign meeting believing they had her full support — and explains the strict endorsement standard the federation has adopted in response heading into the midterms.

Visit aflcio.org for more.

On today's trades day episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Columbus Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Dorsey Hager delivers a monthly update that covers all of it — plus a nurses organizing drive at Children's Hospital, the airport expansion hitting 83 percent union, why women in Local Unions have quadrupled since 2016 and what America's 250th birthday means to a union trades leader who owes everything he has to the labor movement.

Visit columbusconstruction.org for more.

United Labor Agency Executive Director Dave Megenhardt closes out a strong program year with 1,002 job placements at an average wage of $23.58 per hour, climbing to $28.78 for workers who completed vocational training first. He discusses healthcare's continued dominance in Northeast Ohio placements, the gig-like patchwork of hours many entry-level workers still face, the cautious and still-undecided employer posture toward artificial intelligence and why the AFL-CIO's insistence on worker inclusion in AI decisions matters. He also announces the opening of a brand new Ohio Means Jobs center at 1975 East 61st Street in Cleveland — a newly renovated building replacing a Carnegie Avenue location displaced by a highway expansion project — and shares that ULA is actively hiring career transition counselors.

Center for American Progress Senior Fellow David Madland presents new research showing the typical union household holds approximately $460,000 in wealth compared to $220,000 for non-union households — more than double. He breaks down why the gains are largest for Black workers, Hispanic workers and those without a college degree and addresses a new Department of Labor financial disclosure rule targeting large unions alongside the Trump administration's simultaneous retreat from corporate anti-bribery enforcement and the weakening of the DOJ's Public Integrity Division.

Visit ulagency.org for more on the United Labor Agency and americanprogress.org for the full CAP wealth report.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, congressional candidate Brian Poindexter returns to discuss his primary victory, why today's end-of-second-quarter fundraising deadline is the most important date on his campaign calendar and the bipartisan momentum building around Social Security reform. He also makes the case that the Faster Labor Contracts Act is a good start but is incomplete without fixing the chronically underfunded National Labor Relations Board, and discusses his role in securing a project labor agreement for the new Cleveland Browns stadium in Brook Park, expected to create 6,000 unionized construction jobs.

Visit poindexterforcongress.com to learn more about the campaign.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, PASS National President Dave Spero breaks down what is in the plan, what still needs work and what a $12 billion air traffic control system upgrade means for the technicians who will maintain it long-term — including a training gap that is leaving some newly installed equipment in contractor hands because PASS members have not yet been certified on it. He also addresses why flat aviation safety inspector hiring projections over the next decade are incompatible with the emerging reality of unmanned aerial systems regulation.

If you have a background in military electronics, radar or navigational aids, the FAA has an active job advertisement for ATSS technicians right now. Visit passnational.org to learn more.

First, IAM Union retired International President Tom Buffenbarger joins as the independent labor voice to cover three urgent stories. A Washington Post-covered study reveals the United States spends just $4,000 on average training a skilled tradesperson against a needed investment of approximately $50,000 — and calls for a $9 billion infusion into trades training programs now, as AI-driven infrastructure expansion creates a surge in demand for exactly the workers whose apprenticeship programs were gutted, starting with Jack Welch's GE. Buffenbarger also discusses the IAM District 776 Lockheed Martin contract ratification, delivering historic wage increases for 5,000 Fort Worth workers who build the nation's most advanced fighter aircraft. And he weighs in on the Faster Labor Contracts Act passing the House, using Amazon's Staten Island workers — organized in 2022 with no contract four years later — as Exhibit A for why it matters.

Then, SEIU Local 1021 Chapter President Barbra Lynn Hamilton and Union Steward Shelly Martin describe a contract fight at Vacaville Unified School District that was about far more than wages. Workplace violence reports jumped from 67 to 266 in a single year — a figure that remains an undercount because management discouraged filings. A Cal/OSHA investigation is now underway. Paraprofessionals and behavior assistants who support special needs students are going unfilled while the district ends the year 31% over budget and hires more administrators. After 200-plus members showed up to a board meeting with a strike vote, the district found money it had claimed did not exist. A two-year contract has been signed. The fight continues.

Visit goiam.org for IAM Union updates and seiu1021.org for more from SEIU Local 1021.

On today's trades day episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Mechanical Insulators LMCT Executive Director Pete Ielmini joins from Phoenix, where the insulators are holding their national apprenticeship conference and crowning an apprentice of the year tonight. He provides a Federal Mechanical Insulation Act update — the House bill in suspension and Senate Bill 4312 building co-sponsor support with a December deadline in view — and highlights a new bill from Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to fund a comprehensive study of why construction workers are suffering from disproportionately high rates of suicide and substance abuse.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988. Visit mechanicalinsulatorslmct.com for more.

First, North Coast Area Labor Federation President Pat Gallagher joins fresh from the AFL-CIO convention in Minneapolis to share what he saw and heard. The convention set a bold goal of organizing 2 million new union members across affiliated unions over the next five years and featured a demonstration of AI deep fake technology so advanced that delegates could not tell a fabricated video of a real union representative from the genuine article — a sobering preview of what labor and democracy face heading into the fall elections. Gallagher also breaks down two trade policy fights: the Trump administration's Jones Act waiver extension through mid-August and what it means for American maritime dominance, and the steel dumping fight heading into USMCA renegotiation this summer, including the definitional standard — steel melted and poured in the United States — that would close the transshipment loophole once and for all.

Then, Merrilee Logue of the Blue Cross Blue Shield National Labor Office and Lynn Pina of Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions join for a practical summer travel conversation every union member heading abroad needs to hear. From why domestic health plans often fall short outside the United States, to the critical difference between travel insurance and travel medical insurance, to what 24-hour global support, telemedicine access and provider finder tools mean in practice — this is the pre-departure checklist every traveler should run through before leaving the country.

Visit aflcio.org for AFL-CIO updates and follow @BlueLabor on LinkedIn and X for more from the Blue Cross Blue Shield National Labor Office.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, NRDC Senior Advocate Juanita Constible breaks down the state of heat safety policy, the state-by-state campaigns moving forward in Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Mexico and what strong heat standards actually require beyond the basics of water, rest and shade. She also discusses how unions — from the Teamsters' landmark UPS contract win to IBEW, USW and SEIU's legislative advocacy — are among the most effective forces for getting enforceable protections on the books.

For heat safety resources, visit nrdc.org and protectworkersfromheat.org.

On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Carelon Behavioral Health Medical Director Brian Keefe traces the full history of EAPs from their origins in labor-management alcoholism programs to today's proactive whole-person model. He also addresses the fast-growing behavioral addiction crisis around legalized sports gambling and introduces Carelon's Workforce Mental Health Complete — a partnership with Lyra Health that uses AI-assisted matching to connect employees with a compatible licensed provider within a day or two, while also addressing social determinants of health, financial counseling, caregiver support and critical incident response under a single integrated platform.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988. Visit carelonbehavioralhealth.com to learn more.

First, American Legion Media and Communications Director Jeff Stoffer joins for a farewell segment after 26 years at the Legion and a partnership with AWF dating back to 2009. Built around the American Legion magazine's July issue and the nation's 250th anniversary, the conversation covers the Declaration of Independence as a revolutionary document in global governance, two books that make the case for America's founding values as a living force in the country's moral history and a call for better civic education. Jeff also introduces his successor, Henry Howard — 14-year Legion media veteran, Be the One suicide prevention campaign leader and former newspaper editor — who will carry the monthly AWF American Legion segment forward beginning next month.

Then, Alliance for Retired Americans Executive Director Rich Fiesta delivers an urgent warning about the Social Security trust fund's projected 2032 shortfall. If Congress does nothing, more than 70 million Americans — close to 80 million by 2032 — will face an average benefit cut of approximately 22%, or $500 per month. Fiesta explains why wage stagnation since the Reagan era accelerated the timeline by 15 years, what scrapping the $184,000 earnings cap would do to restore solvency and why November's elections are the most critical near-term variable in whether Social Security gets fixed before the cliff arrives.

Visit legion.org for American Legion updates and retiredamericans.org to look up your representatives' voting records on Social Security going back to 2001.

On this episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Tennessee Nuclear Network Director Bill Tindal breaks down why Oak Ridge has become the national center of the nuclear energy resurgence, what trades are needed right now — from electricians and pipefitters to instrumentation technicians — and how a workforce pipeline from high school dual enrollment through community college is being built to match the demand. He also addresses how today's Generation 3 and 4 reactor designs differ from the plants that scared the public in the 1970s and 80s and why US energy demand projections through 2050 make this a generational career opportunity, not a short-term construction cycle.

Visit eteconline.org to learn more about the Tennessee Nuclear Network.

First, UPTE-CWA Local 9119 President Dan Russell discusses the union's landmark organizing win — 2,100 University of California tech workers added to the bargaining unit, making UPTE the largest tech worker bargaining unit in the country at 8,400 members. Russell breaks down the subtle union avoidance strategy that kept those workers out for years, how high-visibility strike action brought them in and why getting organized before a mass AI rollout is now the union's most urgent priority.

Then, Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper delivers one of her most packed monthly updates yet — covering AFT's bold Devices Down, Eyes Up vision for public schools, a bipartisan Ohio voucher accountability bill targeting a program that now exceeds one billion dollars annually with almost no oversight and a wave of five first contract victories, including the first KIPP charter school contract in the country. She also gives a confident update on the Columbus Metropolitan Library organizing election now underway.

Visit upte.org to learn more about UPTE-CWA Local 9119 and oft-aft.org for more on the Ohio Federation of Teachers.

On this episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Local 44 Business Manager Dave Baker discusses the decades of political and funding gridlock that stalled one of the most critical infrastructure projects in the Midwest, what finally broke the impasse and what 6 million projected building trades work hours and 1,200 peak construction jobs mean for iron workers, apprenticeship programs and the Cincinnati trades community.

He also shares his own story — four years working non-union before joining Local 44 in 1997 — and what the union difference has meant for his wages, retirement and family healthcare over 30 years.

Visit ironworkers44.com to learn more about Iron Workers Local 44.

On this episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, union attorney and Brooklyn Law School adjunct professor Andrew Strom breaks down what that ruling means, why the NLRA's four-year enforcement process makes preliminary injunctions the only real deterrent against illegal employer conduct and why the same court that gives employers automatic injunctions against workers who violate non-compete agreements refuses to apply the same logic when employers strip workers of their collective bargaining rights.

Read the full analysis at onlabor.org.

On this episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Iron Workers Local 48 President Trey Martin talks about his congressional campaign in Oklahoma ahead of his Tuesday primary, the platform he is running on and why he believes kitchen table issues — wages, healthcare, public schools, congressional stock trading — cut across party lines in a way that can win in a state with a conservative supermajority.

Follow the campaign at treyforoklahoma.com.

On this episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Teamsters Local 175 Secretary-Treasurer and Staff Attorney Luke Farley walks through exactly what Beverage Market is demanding, why it has no justification, how the community has rallied behind the striking workers and what Teamsters International is doing to put pressure on MillerCoors parent companies, whose West Virginia market share is evaporating heading into the Fourth of July weekend.

Follow the strike and show your support at teamsters175.org.

On this episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, CWA District 4 Administrative Director Frank Mathews discusses the contract win, the CWA Worker Power Agenda built directly from responses by more than 9,000 union members and the legislative conference that sent thousands of CWA members to Capitol Hill with 17 bills and the knowledge to discuss every one of them. He also previews the double overtime legislation unveiled at the conference by Congressman Greg Casar and explains why the No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act and the Raise the Wage Act are long overdue.

Read the full Worker Power Agenda at cwa-union.org.

On this episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, SMART Transportation Division National Safety and Legislative Director Jared Cassity explains exactly how East Palestine happened, why silenced wayside defect detectors were a deliberate railroad policy choice rather than a malfunction and what the legislation does — and does not — address. He also explains why September 30 is the hard deadline and what it means if Congress misses it.

More information on SMART Transportation Division's legislative work is available at smart-union.org.

On this episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, LaborLab founder Bob Funk breaks down a new report produced with the Economic Policy Institute on the scale and structure of the union avoidance industry — from the law firms that drag out contract negotiations for years to the healthcare systems spending millions on union busters while patients wait for beds.

Funk also explains how LaborLab's Persuader reports put legally required information directly in workers' hands during organizing campaigns. If you are facing a union-busting campaign, visit laborlab.us or email contact@laborlab.us.

On this episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Redmond breaks down the new GNI data, the AFL-CIO's annual Executive Paywatch findings, the defeat of a federal provision that would have blocked state AI worker protections for 10 years and what organized labor is bringing to its quadrennial convention in Minneapolis — record organizing rates, court victories and a message of solidarity heading into the midterm election cycle.

Read the AFL-CIO Executive Paywatch report and get convention updates at aflcio.org.

On this episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Hager breaks down the economic case for the exemption, the real numbers behind what data center construction is generating in local tax revenue and jobs and why the governor's decision risks sending the wrong message to developers who have other options. He also delivers an encouraging Intel update, describes record apprenticeship applications across central Ohio's building trades Locals and recaps a fundraiser for Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin.

Visit columbusconstruction.org for more on the Columbus Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council.

On this episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Burga breaks down what he heard from union leaders in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Akron, Marietta, Columbus and Toledo, why Democratic primary turnout reached its highest midterm level since 2006 and what the Ohio AFL-CIO is doing to educate members and mobilize votes between now and Election Day. He also raises a sharp warning about Republican plans to place voter ID in the Ohio constitution — despite it already being state law — and previews what is on the agenda at the AFL-CIO national convention in Minneapolis.

Visit ohioaflcio.org for more information on the Ohio AFL-CIO's election work.

On this episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Taylor walks us through her path from Dunkin Donuts to the union hall, the Hire360 pre-apprenticeship program that opened the door, and what her first months have looked like on a large-scale solar installation with Power Circle Construction. She also speaks directly to women who are curious about the trades but unsure whether there is a place for them.

If you have ever thought about making the jump into a skilled trades career, this one is for you. Visit hire360chicago.com to learn more about the program that made Taylor's transition possible.

In this episode, we sit down with Karen Suarez-Flint, Secretary-Treasurer of the Chicago Federation of Musicians Local 10-208, to expose the systemic extraction of wealth from the working musicians who hold the entire industry up.

What We Discuss in This Episode:

• The Live Nation Antitrust Verdict: What the April 2026 ruling actually means, why the federal settlement was "pathetic," and how 34 state attorneys general are fighting back.
• The 100-Mile Lockout: How Live Nation's aggressive "radius clauses" are quietly crushing independent venues in cities like Chicago.
• Streaming Economics 101: Why Spotify's $19B revenue translates to a $0.003 per-stream rate for artists—and how algorithms are gamed to suppress music unless artists accept even less.
• The American Music Fairness Act: Why the U.S. shares a bizarre radio royalty policy with Iran, China, and North Korea, and how this bipartisan bill could change everything.

Take Action: Love live music? Don't let your local music ecosystem run out of time. Listen to the episode, share it, and contact your representatives to demand support for the American Music Fairness Act.

• Learn more about the Chicago Federation of Musicians: cfm10208.com
• Subscribe to America's Work Force Union Podcast for more insights on building worker power across America!

In this episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed "Flash" Ferenc sits down with John Lepley, Director of Education and Membership Development at the United Steelworkers (USW). Marking both Mental Health Awareness Month and the USW's 84th anniversary, John highlights a vital shift in the labor movement: treating mental health as a core collective bargaining issue.

What We Discuss in This Episode:

• The Power of Peer Support: Inside the USW’s voluntary mental health curriculum, developed alongside CUNY psychology professor Waleed Sami, which teaches members to spot warning signs and connect colleagues with professional care.
• Healthcare Workers in Crisis: How chronic understaffing, isolation, and workplace violence are compounding the mental health crisis for nurses and healthcare professionals—and how the union is fighting back.
• Bargaining for Well-being: Why scheduling, staffing ratios, and the boundary between work and home life are fundamental mental health policies that belong in every union contract.
• Leadership from the Top: The critical role General President Roxanne Brown played in championing this program from its early pilot stages to a nationwide union initiative.

Important Resources:

• If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.
• Learn more about the United Steelworkers and their initiatives at usw.org.
• Subscribe to the America's Work Force Union Podcast for daily insights from the leaders building worker power across America!

On today's episode of the America's Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed "Flash" Ferenc welcomes back Pete Ielmini, Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT), for his monthly update. Pete reveals the latest behind-the-scenes push on Capitol Hill and details why the future of American energy security relies on skilled union labor.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

• Bipartisan Momentum on Capitol Hill: An inside look at Senate Bill 4312 (S.4312), the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act of 2026. Sponsored by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Steve Daines, this bill aims to mandate insulation upgrades across 350,000 federal buildings to save taxpayer dollars.
• The Power of Thermal Imaging: How the LMCT is utilizing live thermal camera demonstrations at trade shows to make energy waste instantly visible to architects, engineers, and facility managers.
• The Data Center Cooling Demand: Why modern data centers—which require constant cooling between 55 to 60 degrees—are creating a massive pipeline of work for mechanical insulators.
• The Nuclear Energy Revival: Pete makes a direct case for nuclear power as the cleanest, most efficient solution to America's energy deficit, highlighting Microsoft's reactivation of Three Mile Island and the rise of small modular reactors.

Learn More: To find out more about the legislation and the economic impact of mechanical insulation, visit mechanicalinsulatorslmct.com.

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we welcome back our independent labor voice, Tom Buffenbarger (Retired International President of the IAM Union). With over 50 years of labor experience, Buffenbarger delivers a masterclass on the current geopolitical and legislative battles directly affecting American workers.

What’s inside today’s episode:

• The China EV Domino Effect: How decades of short-term corporate decisions—starting with early aerospace offshoring—handed China 70% of the global EV market, creating a massive economic and national security vulnerability.
• The Apple Store Retaliation: The inside story of the IAM’s hard-fought victory at a Baltimore Apple store, the subsequent union-busting tactics, and the alarming trend of closing unionized storefronts.
• A Turning Point for Labor Law: Why the Faster Labor Contracts Act is gaining sudden momentum. With a House discharge petition clearing the crucial 218-signature threshold, find out how this bipartisan bill could force binding arbitration and end endless employer delay tactics.
• OSHA Under Fire: A stark warning about proposed 20% to 25% budget cuts to the Department of Labor for FY2027, and what it means for worker safety on the job.

Every victory at the bargaining table starts with workers standing together. Don't miss an episode of the stories building worker power across America.

• Website: https://awf.labortools.com/

Subscribe: Follow us on your favorite podcast app to get new episodes daily.

In this episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we sit down with Joseph Sharpe Jr. (Director of the National Veterans Employment and Education Commission at the American Legion) and Policy Associate Steve Betsch to break down the Reducing Arbitrary Barriers to Apprenticeship Act of 2026 (S.3993). This bipartisan Senate legislation, introduced by Senators Tim Sheehy and Elissa Slotkin, aims to eliminate this arbitrary step-down and bring true parity to veteran benefits.

What We Discuss in This Episode:

• The GI Bill’s Modern Flaw: Why the historical assumption that rising apprentice wages offset housing cuts no longer matches today's cost-of-living realities.
• Personal Stakes: Steve Betsch shares his journey from a Navy submarine to graduating debt-free, illustrating how critical these benefits are to financial survival during transitions.
• National Security & The Workforce: How bridging this benefit gap can help recruit veterans to fill the nation's 600,000 vacant skilled trades jobs and rebuild critical infrastructure like American shipbuilding.
• A Call to Action for Labor Leaders: How union locals can throw their weight behind S.3993 to get this legislation across the finish line.

Take Action: Union leaders and members are encouraged to contact the offices of Senator Tim Sheehy or Senator Elissa Slotkin to submit a formal letter of support for S.3993.

Learn more about the American Legion's advocacy work at legion.org.

On this special Memorial Day episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed "Flash" Ferenc sits down with Mike Hazard, a Navy veteran and the Executive Director of the United Association’s Veterans in Piping (VIP) program.

Hazard shares the incredible 18-year track record of the UA VIP program—a DoD SkillBridge initiative that has placed more than 3,700 graduates into guaranteed, high-paying career tracks within the pipe trades. But the conversation doesn't stop at career placement. Hazard dives deep into an urgent, deeply personal mission: tackling the mental health crisis in the construction industry.

• The 10% Bottleneck: Why timeline constraints mean only a fraction of the 200,000 annually transitioning service members can access elite programs like VIP, and how partnerships with Helmets to Hardhats provide a vital safety net.
• The Staggering Statistics: Why construction workers are six times more likely to die by suicide than by a job site accident—and how the UA is fighting back by embedding dedicated suicide prevention workshops directly into standard OSHA 30 training.
• The Power of Peer Support: The specific, lifesaving training that teaches workers to bypass vague language and ask the direct question: "Are you thinking about suicide?"
• A Sovereign Memorial Day Message: A veteran’s reflection on how to honor families who have lost loved ones in uniform—and why listening to their stories with both ears is our ultimate obligation.

• Learn more about the UA VIP Program: uavip.org
• Explore Veteran Trade Paths: unionvets.org
• Get Support Now: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It is free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Want more stories from the frontline of the labor movement? Subscribe to the America's Work Force Union Podcast to get the latest interviews with the leaders and organizers building worker power across America.

In this episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we examine the dual realities of modern union power: the defensive structural protections of our public infrastructure and the offensive strategy of electoral politics.

Jacqueline Simon, Policy Director of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), joins the show to deliver a sobering report on the state of the federal workforce. Since January 2025, a sweeping execution of executive orders has fundamentally altered public services.

• The 300,000 Job Elimination: Why abolishing permanent positions permanently reduces federal capacity and sets agencies up to fail.
• The National Security Loophole: How a million workers had their collective bargaining rights stripped in what the administration's own paperwork admits was a retaliatory strike against the union.
• Designed to Fail: The systematic gutting of Social Security field offices, 30,000 lost positions at VA healthcare, and the looming threat of TSA privatization.

Shifting to the offensive, Davida Russell, Secretary-Treasurer of the North Coast Area Labor Federation and Ohio CLUW State President, discusses her historic Democratic primary victory for the Ohio House, capturing nearly 75 percent of the vote.

• The Pivot to Power: Why working people are tired of empty campaign promises and are increasingly running their own members for office.
• Unstoppable Women Conference: A preview of the biennial gathering on June 5-6 in Independence, Ohio, featuring panels with Stacey Abrams, Amy Acton, Nina Turner, and trailblazing labor leaders.
• Real-World Realities: Addressing the financial and emotional exhaustion of the working class and channeling 60-year-high union favorability into direct legislative action.

• Learn more about AFGE’s legal challenges: afge.org
• AFL-CIO Website: aflcio.org 

Subscribe to the America's Work Force Union Podcast for daily insight into worker power: awf.labortools.com

In today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed "Flash" Ferenc sits down with Jon Schleuss, President of the NewsGuild-CWA, fresh off his historic election to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) executive committee in Paris. Representing journalists across 100 countries, Schleuss gives us a sobering look at global threats to press freedom—from media consolidation to algorithmic exploitation—and explains how he’s exporting the American organizing playbook to a global stage.

We dive deep into the front lines of the labor movement, including:

• The War on "AI Slop": Why outlets like Ziff Davis and Cal Matters have signed contracts protecting human journalists, while The New York Times and ProPublica continue to resist critical guardrails.
• CWA Has LA's Back: How the union is providing a financial runway ($500/week strike benefits and healthcare) to laid-off Los Angeles journalists fighting alleged anti-union discrimination as they launch an independent newsroom at ourpapernow.org.
• The Publishing House Surge: Inside the massive organizing wins drawing in over 730 workers at Hachette Books and the University of Chicago Press.

Discover more about worker power: Visit newsguild.org to learn more about the campaigns mentioned in this episode.

Subscribe to the America's Work Force Union Podcast for daily insights, interviews, and updates from the front lines of the American labor movement.

Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) and Secretary-Treasurer of the Ohio AFL-CIO, joins the show to unpack three simultaneous attacks on Ohio workers and the democratic process:

• The Midnight Pension Raid: How a 1 a.m. budget amendment stripped elected educators of control over the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) board, and the legal battle (plus House Bill 719) fighting to reverse it.

• HB 698 & Higher Ed Restrictions: How this compliance mechanism is weaponizing state funding to restrict collective bargaining and aggressively police DEI roles.

• Union Busting in the Stacks: A look at the Columbus Metropolitan Library administration's aggressive anti-union campaign ahead of a critical mid-June election—and details on the June 7 community rally at Franklin Park.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we sit down with Merrilee Logue, Executive Director of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield's National Labor Office, and Arin McClune, Clinical Quality Senior Program Manager with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association National, to tackle the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in America: maternal mental health disorders.

• The Stark Reality: Up to 20% of women experience these disorders, yet fewer than 20% are ever screened.

• The Racial Equity Gap: Why women of color are twice as likely to suffer from maternal mental health challenges but only half as likely to receive care.

• The Union Solution: With 68% of mothers with young children in the workforce, find out how labor leaders can advocate for remote work, flexible scheduling, and integrated mental health benefits to build a culture of solidarity and support.

Go Behind the Scenes of the Labor Movement: Every victory starts with workers standing together. Subscribe to the America's Work Force Union Podcast to get the latest interviews with the leaders, organizers, and advocates building true worker power.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

In this episode, we visited with IAFF Local 1120 President Jeremy Gillam from the Bucyrus City Fire Department in Ohio. Gillam shares the harsh reality of leading an 18-member department stretched to its absolute limit, forcing first responders to fight not just fires but also city council budget cuts.

• The Staffing Crisis: Due to severe staffing shortages, Gillam was nearly unable to make the interview because he was called to active duty. Since taking over full EMS responsibilities for the city and four surrounding townships in 2021, the number of on-duty first responders in the area has dropped from 11 to just 5 or 6 per shift.
• Math vs. Myth on Overtime: While the city council complains about a swelling $600,000 overtime budget, Gillam explains that hiring six additional firefighters would erase the overtime burden, improve safety, and cost the city virtually nothing extra. The union even offered a 0% wage increase to restore their sixth overnight firefighter.
• Vote of No Confidence: Local 1120 members recently stood shoulder-to-shoulder at a city council meeting to deliver a unanimous vote of no confidence against their Fire Chief. Gillam reveals how the chief actively negotiated against his own members at the bargaining table and failed to maintain up-to-date standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Disaster Preparedness Realities: Reflecting on the East Palestine train derailment, Gillam warns that smaller towns like Bucyrus—which see constant hazardous train traffic—are fundamentally unequipped to handle a national-scale chemical disaster with current staffing levels.

Get Involved: Connect with the department and support local first responders by visiting IAFF Local 1120 on Facebook or Instagram. Taxpayers are always welcome to open the door, take a tour, and see what it takes to protect the community day in and day out.

More than 22 million American workers face hazardous noise levels on the job, yet fewer than 16% of adults with hearing loss use hearing aids. MacDonald and Renna break down the severe economic, physical and psychological toll this takes on union tradespeople, noting that untreated hearing loss often results in an annual wage gap of roughly $12,000.

Key topics discussed include:

• The Career Toll: Why workers quietly pass on union leadership roles and trustee posts to avoid exposing their hearing limitations.

• The Safety Risk: How operating in high-noise environments causes physical fatigue and drives workers' compensation claims up to 33% higher annually.

• The Mental Health Connection: Recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month by exploring the link between untreated hearing loss, social isolation and cognitive decline.

• Eroding the Stigma: How modern, Bluetooth-enabled discrete tech is changing the perception of hearing aids for younger workers.

To learn more about implementing dedicated hearing benefits for your union members or health plan, visit birdsonghearing.com.

Jeff Stoffer, Director of the American Legion Media and Communications Division, discusses June’s American Legion Magazine, including a story about a staggering GAO report:

• The Software Mess: How the VA spent $21B on software it can’t track, and the legislation (H.R.6654) designed to force accountability.
• Data at Risk: Why a 1974 privacy law isn't enough to protect veteran health data in 2026.
• A Presidential Tribute: A preview of the July 4 grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, ND.

Rich Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, brings fresh data from a survey of 1,000 likely voters age 60-plus:

• Midterm Momentum: Why seniors in 39 key swing districts are shifting toward Democrats by 3-4 points.
• The 2032 Cliff: A deep dive into the looming 25 percent benefit cut and the fight to scrap the $184,500 earnings cap.
• The Voting Record: How to use the Alliance's database to see where your representative actually stands on labor and retirement.

Take Action: Knowledge is power at the ballot box. Visit legion.org and retiredamericans.org to track the legislation discussed today.

Subscribe & Follow: Don’t miss an update on the labor movement. Subscribe to AWF on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite player.

We dive into how a "bombshell" management demand for 60-hour workweeks at Signature Theatre sparked a movement that changed NLRB case law, and why the union is now expanding into iconic rock-and-roll venues like the 9:30 Club.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Signature Spark: How one disastrous management decision led to a 100% card-signing drive in six weeks.
• A Shifting Market: Why younger workers are prioritizing "predictable lives" over just higher wages.

The Turning Tide: What it means when non-union venue managers start calling the union because they can't keep staff.

We’re joined by Frank Mathews, Administrative Director of CWA District 4, to discuss the fallout of the Ohio and Indiana primaries. While labor-backed candidates like Ironworker Brian Poindexter are securing major wins, a new threat is looming: a movement to repeal Ohio’s property tax. Mathews breaks down why this proposal is a "trap" that would blow a $21 billion hole in public services, devastating schools, roads, and fire departments.

Yvonne Wheeler, President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, joins us to discuss a city pushed to the brink. Following the January 2025 wildfires and large-scale immigration enforcement operations, Wheeler explains how the LA Fed organized the largest nonviolent direct action training in U.S. history. We discuss the creation of the Peacekeepers, the May Day 2026 mobilization, and why the labor movement is the only force capable of holding the line during a crisis.

Despite a study revealing the department has 0% capability of meeting national safety standards for fires at nursing homes and apartment complexes, the union's push for Proposition B faced a wall of political opposition. Colburn breaks down the "not for self, but for others" mission and the frustrating reality of a city that prioritizes multi-million dollar walking trails over basic fire apparatus staffing.

Key highlights from this episode:

• The 10% Standard: Why Round Rock currently fails to meet the "two-in, two-out" safety rule for residential fires.
• The $5.6 Million Disconnect: A look at city spending priorities and why walking trails are being built while fire response times lag.
• An Unexpected Rivalry: The story behind the local police union’s reversal on Proposition B—despite the plan quietly funding 30 new police positions.

The Post-Election Path: What comes next for IAFF Local 3082 after the unofficial May 2nd results.

In today’s episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed "Flash" Ferenc navigates the two-sided reality of the 2026 labor landscape: an industry in crisis and a workforce in ascent.

Mary Cavallaro, Chief Broadcast Officer for SAG-AFTRA, delivers an unflinching look at the wave of layoffs sweeping through Nexstar and the shocking closure of the 100-year-old CBS News Radio.

• The AI Threat: How "voice cloning" and generative AI are targeting the identities of correspondents and DJs.
• The Severance Standard: Why union contracts are the only thing standing between a worker and a financial crisis during consolidation.
• A Message to Non-Union Workers: Why SAG-AFTRA is opening its doors to those without a contract.

Margaret Poydock, Senior Policy Analyst at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), joins us to reveal the blockbuster 2025 union membership data. Despite a hostile federal environment, the numbers are the highest they’ve been since 2009.

• The Southern Surprise: Why nearly half of all new union growth is happening in the South.
• Gen Z & Millennials: Breaking down the 72% favorability rate among young workers who are "done" with the status quo.
• The Representation Gap: 50 million workers want a union but can’t get one—how states are bypassing federal gridlock to fix it.

Links & Resources:

• Learn more about SAG-AFTRA: sagaftra.org
• Read the full EPI report: epi.org

Subscribe for more: awf.labortools.com

But grassroots growth is being met by a "legal ghost" in the courts. In our second segment, labor lawyer Andrew Strom joins us for a post-mortem on the Bobby Reed case. After 13 years of litigation and two victories before the NLRB, the D.C. Circuit Court used a 73-year-old legal doctrine to strip Reed—a 34-year utility veteran—of his federal protections. His "crime"? Testifying before the Texas State Senate about workplace fires without explicitly mentioning a labor dispute. Strom explains how this ruling turns civic participation into a minefield for private-sector workers and why the current Supreme Court makes a rescue unlikely.

Featured Guests:

• Jennifer Sherer: Deputy Director, EARN (Economic Policy Institute)

• Andrew Strom: Labor Lawyer, Brooklyn Law School professor and OnLabor contributor

Inside the Episode:

• The data behind the 463,000-worker union surge

• The "Jefferson Standard" and the death of worker free speech

• Bobby Reed and his 13-year fight for justice

In this powerful episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we sit down with Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council.

Timed with Mental Health Awareness Month, LaBarbera discusses the launch of a first-of-its-kind, vertically integrated peer support network. Developed in partnership with Cornell University, this program is designed to confront a stark reality: while 1,000 workers die annually from job-site injuries, over 5,000 are lost to suicide.

• The 5:1 Crisis: Why death by suicide has become a genuine epidemic in the trades and the unique stressors—from physical pain to "stoic" culture—that drive the risk.
• The Cornell Framework: How a curriculum designed by labor educators and clinicians is training union members to identify and respond to crises in real-time.
• Vertical Integration: Why this program is different—allowing a peer supporter from any trade to assist any worker on a job site, regardless of their union affiliation.
• Industry Solidarity: How the program secured funding from the New York Building Congress Foundation and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure no cost to the workers.
• "It’s Not Weak to Speak": The human stories behind the initiative, including the tradesman who saved a life on-site by simply being present.

"No one ever died by suicide because someone asked if they were okay. People die because no one asked."

• NYC Building Trades: nycbuildingtrades.org
• Get Help Now: If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

More AWF: Subscribe for more stories from the front lines of the labor movement at awfpodcast.com.

Fresh off an intense election night, Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga delivers a comprehensive, morning-after analysis of the state's primary results. With approximately three-quarters of labor’s 160 endorsed candidates and issues winning their races—including a massive primary victory by union ironworker Brian Poindexter in Congressional District 7—organized labor has built a solid foundation for the fall. Burga outlines the historic, high-profile November matchups, including Amy Acton vs. Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor and Sherrod Brown vs. John Husted for U.S. Senate, and explains how labor’s boots-on-the-ground network will combat big money and gerrymandered maps.

Dave Megenhardt, Executive Director of the United Labor Agency (ULA), joins the show to discuss a massive new survey of 4,000 clients that yielded a staggering 96% approval rating for the agency's services. He pulls back the curtain on how his team builds trust with workers during stressful career transitions and breaks down a local job market that has been "scrambled" by artificial intelligence and an increase in unstable, part-time healthcare roles. Megenhardt also previews a major upcoming logistics shift: the relocation of the Ohio Means Jobs downtown Cleveland office to a new facility in Midtown.

• The Trust Factor: How treating job seekers with dignity earned the United Labor Agency a 96% client favorability rating at scale.

• The Stealth Hiring Slowdown: Why companies are quietly holding back on headcount decisions as they evaluate how AI can reduce labor costs.

• The "Gigification" of Healthcare: The growing disconnect between open entry-level healthcare jobs and quality, full-time careers with benefits.

• Labor's Primary Momentum: A data breakdown of the primary election where labor-backed candidates won 75% of their races across Ohio.

• The Path to November: What Democrats need to flip just five seats to break the Republican legislative supermajority in the Ohio House.

• Ohio Means Jobs Relocation: Details on the July 1 move of the downtown Cleveland office to 61st and the Opportunity Corridor due to the Innerbelt Rebuild project.

• Tim Burga is the President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, representing hundreds of thousands of union members and leading the federation’s political, legislative, and mobilization ground game.

• Dave Megenhardt is the Executive Director of the United Labor Agency, leading regional workforce development strategies and connecting job seekers with employers offering "good jobs" across Northeast Ohio.

• Support workforce development or register for the annual ULA golf outing on June 25: ulagency.org

• View labor's full list of endorsements and election updates: ohioaflcio.org

Subscribe & Review: Never miss an update on the fights that matter to working-class Americans. Hit the Follow button and leave us a review on Podbean!

In this episode, Travis Eri, Business Manager of IBEW Local 125, joins America’s Work Force Union Podcast for a candid look at the state of union electrical work across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. While data center growth and wildfire-hardening projects are keeping crews busy, a sudden winter slowdown and federal offshore wind lease cancellations have put a real-world strain on local apprentices.

Eri reveals why the current infrastructure system is broken, highlighting a single 500kV transmission line project that took an astonishing 20 years to permit. If America wants to meet its climate goals, that pace has to change.

• Climate Jobs Oregon: Inside the newly launched nonprofit co-founded by IBEW Local 125 and the Oregon building trades to ensure clean energy projects are built with union labor from day one.

• The Permitting Crisis: Why bureaucratic delays are the single biggest bottleneck to upgrading our power grid and meeting data center demands.

• The West Coast Realignment: How the cancellation of offshore wind leases impacted the union pipeline and what it means for the IBEW’s national growth goals.

• An All-of-the-Above Energy Strategy: Why expanding capacity matters more than just swapping power sources in the Pacific Northwest.

About the Guest: Travis Eri has served as the Business Manager for IBEW Local 125 for 21 years. A former utility lineman who traded an aviation degree for a pair of climbing hooks, Eri now oversees a four-state jurisdiction representing 4,500 members.

• Learn more about IBEW Local 125: ibew125.com

• Subscribe & Review: Never miss an episode of AWF. Hit that follow button and leave us a review on Podbean!

In this high-stakes episode, Yolanda Jacobs, President of AFGE Local 2883, pulls back the curtain on the "systematic dismantling" of the CDC. From the elimination of the agency’s EEO office to the mass terminations that left critical health programs in the dark, Jacobs details a workforce in "the gutter" and an institution operating without a permanent director or a recognized union contract.

We dive deep into the specific human and operational costs of the 2025–2026 restructuring, including:

• The Accommodation Crisis: How the elimination of the EEO office on April 1, 2025, has left veterans with PTSD and disabled workers hired under Schedule A facing AWOL charges and removal proposals.
• The 15-Minute Cutoff: A look at the "indiscriminate" layoffs in February and April 2025, where scientists were cut off from their research files with just minutes of notice, erasing years of progress in chronic disease prevention.
• Contract "Reneging": Why management has stopped honoring the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), forcing the union to vacate its space and triggering national-level litigation.
• The Financial Irony: How the denial of reasonable accommodations has triggered over 200 EEO complaints, generating millions in legal fees that contradict the administration's "efficiency" mandate.

This isn’t just a labor story—it’s a warning about the stability of the nation’s public health infrastructure.

Learn More & Take Action:

• Stay updated on federal worker rights: afge.org
• Subscribe to the America’s Work Force Union Podcast for daily labor insights.

Segment 1:

The Central Ohio Surge with Dorsey Hager

Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, discusses a record-breaking apprenticeship outreach event that drew nearly 1,000 people—including 100 non-union workers—lining up for careers in the trades. We also dive into the data center boom, accounting for 40% of regional man-hours, and the critical May 5 Ohio Primary races, where labor-friendly candidates are on the ballot.

Segment 2:

A National Warning with Fred Redmond

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond joins us to break down the 2026 "Death on the Job" report. With 15 workers dying daily in the U.S., Redmond issues a frank assessment of how current federal OSHA rollbacks are putting lives at risk. We also get an update on new United Steelworkers General President Roxanne Brown’s early leadership as she navigates high-stakes lockouts at NIPSCO and BP Whiting.

In this episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed “Flash” Ferenc sits down with Brian Andersen, Business Manager of IBEW Local 601. Together, they dive into the critical state of the trades in 2026, focusing on how Local 601 is meeting the demands of massive regional projects—from semiconductor plant expansions to the continued rollout of renewable energy infrastructure.

Key Highlights of Today’s Show:

• The 2026 Project Pipeline: A look at the current and upcoming project labor agreements (PLAs) driving work in the Champaign-Urbana and Bloomington areas.
• Recruitment & Retention: How Local 601 is attracting the next generation of "Gold Card" members through industry-leading benefits and wages.
• The Technology Gap: Why IBEW’s evolving apprenticeship curriculum is essential for navigating the complexities of 21st-century electrical systems.
• The Union Advantage: Brian breaks down why the "Safety First" culture of IBEW results in better outcomes for both the worker and the contractor.

For more information on IBEW Local 601, visit: https://ibew601.org

Andy Jacob, Chief of Staff for SEIU Local 105, joins us to pull back the curtain on Colorado’s Labor Peace Act. Despite a Democratic trifecta, Colorado's union density sits at a staggering 5.9%. Jacob explains:

• Why Colorado workers are forced to win a second election with a nearly impossible 75 percent threshold just to collect dues.

• The reality of the Worker Protection Act and why Gov. Jared Polis continues to stand in the way.

• How the "donor class" is creating a rift in the Democratic Party’s pro-labor rhetoric.

Retired IAM Union International President Tom Buffenbarger sounds the alarm on two national crises:

• The Lake City Strike: Why IAM Local 778 members are striking against Olin Corporation while producing ammunition for active military operations.

• The Airline Merger Threat: The devastating math behind a potential United-American Airlines merger, which could eliminate 25 percent of jobs and put half of all U.S. flights under one corporate roof.

• The Spirit Bailout: Why a $500 million federal "fix" might be a recipe for another industry collapse.

In this episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we dive into the heart of the labor struggle at the BP Whiting refinery. USW Local 7-1 President Eric Schultz joins us to pull back the curtain on the lockout of over 800 union members at the nation's largest inland refinery.

Schultz details how BP transitioned from "surface bargaining" to a full-scale lockout, hiring out-of-state replacement workers at a staggering $127 per hour while running the 100-year-old facility at dangerously low capacity. We discuss:

• The Exxon Playbook: How BP’s lead negotiator is using tactics honed during the infamous Beaumont lockout.
• The AI Threat: Why BP is demanding workers waive bargaining rights over Artificial Intelligence and employee tracking.
• Safety Risks: The terrifying reality of operating a century-old refinery with undertrained personnel.
• Community Solidarity: How the town of Whiting is rallying to support the picket lines.

Stand with the workers: Visit supportoilworkers.com to learn how you can help.

Key Discussion Points:

• The Buyback Betrayal: How Home Depot could have given every employee a $15,000 annual bonus with the money they spent on stock buybacks.

• Public Subsidies for Poverty Wages: Why taxpayers are effectively picking up the tab for corporate executives’ ultra-wealth.

• The Policy Solution: Success stories from Portland’s CEO pay-ratio tax and the movement to bring it to LA and San Francisco.

Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department (AFL-CIO), returns for his monthly update on the legislative battles in D.C. From "clumsy" bill drafting to the ongoing struggle for TSA dignity, transportation workers are facing a multi-front war.

Key Discussion Points:

• The Overtime Tax Flaw: Why workers covered by the Railway Labor Act are currently excluded from a $25,000 overtime tax deduction—and the coalition of 24 unions fighting to fix it.

• Second-Class Federal Employees: The urgent need for the TSA Workforce Rights Act to give TSOs the same Title 5 protections as their DHS colleagues.

• The Jones Act Smoke Screen: Why the administration’s Jones Act waiver is "political theater" that won't actually lower your gas prices.

Every victory at the bargaining table starts with workers standing together. Subscribe to the America’s Work Force Union Podcast for daily interviews with the leaders and organizers building worker power across America.

In this episode, we sit down with David Hyde (UCW-GSU Chapter Chair) and Rachel Schrauben Yeates (Kennesaw State University Member-Leader) from UCW-CWA Local 3821. They reveal the staggering data behind the mandate—including a 100 percent increase in retirements at Georgia Tech—and discuss the irony of a Board of Regents that joins meetings via video call while denying those same remote options to their workforce.

We dive deep into:

• How a "Right-to-Work" state organizes without collective bargaining rights.

• The "Defend Remote Work" campaign and the push for a $41,000 living wage.

• The upcoming legislative strategy to legalize public sector bargaining in Georgia.

• Why the RTO mandate is driving a "brain drain" across Atlanta’s major universities.

Fresh off the NABTU Legislative Conference, Ielmini pulls back the curtain on the "ground game" in D.C., explaining how in-person visits with senators like Steve Daines (R-MT) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) changed the momentum for this energy-saving bill.

In this episode, we also break down the "Four Pillars" of labor currently facing coordinated attacks in Congress:

• Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage: Why it’s a consumer protection, not just a union benefit.

• Registered Apprenticeships: The fight to maintain elite training standards against low-road competition.

• Housing Project Definitions: How anti-union interests are trying to "redefine" their way out of fair wages.

• Project Labor Agreements (PLAs): Why these agreements are the gold standard for staying on time and under budget.

Ielmini also looks toward the future of work, discussing the massive manhour opportunities in data center construction and the emerging wave of energy generation infrastructure.

Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, joins us to celebrate a historic run of library victories.

• The Pay Gap: How newly unionized libraries like Worthington have already surpassed regional pay standards, with some workers seeing 9 percent raises.

• The CML Fight: An update on the Columbus Metropolitan Library union election and why management-led delays are a hurdle for workers.

• Education Reform: A look at the new national higher education blueprint and first-ever contracts at Menlo Park Academy and CCAD.

In our second segment, we pivot to the entertainment industry with Kerri Wood Einertson, Executive Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for SAG-AFTRA.

• Tax Credit Victory: How California doubled its film and TV tax credit to $750 million, and why expanding to animation and competition shows is a game-changer.

• The LA Rollback: A look at Mayor Karen Bass’s executive order to reduce filming fees at iconic locations like the Griffith Observatory.

• The Federal Push: Why SAG-AFTRA is moving toward a stackable federal incentive to ensure American productions can compete with international subsidies and keep 50,000+ background performers working.

Subscribe to AWF: Never miss an episode where we go behind the scenes of the labor movement. Visit us online: awf.labortools.com

As thousands of building trades leaders descend on the nation’s capital, the mission is clear: ensure the workers who build the future aren't left behind by it.

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed “Flash” Ferenc sits down with Sean McGarvey, President of the North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU), for an unfiltered look at the state of the industry in 2026.

McGarvey discusses the critical intersection of labor and technology, including:

• The OpenAI Partnership: A deep dive into the $500 billion infrastructure commitment and how it places union crafts at the center of the AI revolution.

• A "Rite of Spring" in D.C.: The goals of the 2026 NABTU Legislative Conference and why bipartisan engagement remains the union's strongest tool.

• The Apprenticeship Boom: Why 300,000+ workers are currently in the pipeline and how NABTU added 47,000 net new members in 2025 alone.

• Infrastructure at a Crossroads: A candid look at why projects funded by the CHIPS Act and IRA are stalling—and how the building trades are fighting back in the courts.

• The Missing Federal Plan: Why McGarvey is demanding a long-range, bipartisan strategy to support and transition workers displaced by artificial intelligence.

"The physical work of building, maintaining, and powering AI infrastructure cannot be automated away... but the transition for the broader workforce needs a plan from the government, and it needs it now." — Sean McGarvey

• Website: awf.labortools.com

• Follow us: Be sure to subscribe for daily interviews with the leaders and activists building worker power across America.

Hedges shares a moving personal story about navigating a fragmented system to save her own mother’s life, illustrating why BCBS is building a new interoperability hub to give physicians a real-time view of a patient's history. We also dive into the impact of electronic prior authorization, which has already shown the potential to resolve 84 percent of cases instantaneously and improve provider efficiency by up to 230 percent. Finally, the pair discusses the responsible deployment of Artificial Intelligence and the continued expansion of telehealth and behavioral health services for workers facing shift-work barriers.

Segment 2: Steel Benchmarks, Trade Enforcement, and the Ohio Primary In our second segment, Pat Gallagher, President of the North Coast Area Labor Federation, breaks down the economic signals heading into a pivotal bargaining season for the United Steelworkers. With hot-rolled coil trading above $1,000 per ton, the industry is entering a strong financial position just as contracts with Cleveland-Cliffs and U.S. Steel are set to expire on September 1.

Gallagher also addresses the complexities of trade enforcement and the upcoming USMCA renegotiations, highlighting how "trade cheating"—such as routing Chinese steel through third countries—undercuts American workers. Looking toward the May 5 Ohio primary, Gallagher emphasizes the importance of electing labor voices to the statehouse, backing a slate of union candidates including Davida Russell (AFSCME), Scott Demaro (OHEA), and Brian Poindexter (Ironworkers).

Subscribe to the America’s Work Force Union Podcast for more interviews with the leaders and organizers building worker power across America.

We also tackle a growing domestic challenge: the staffing crunch facing volunteer honor guards. With over 500,000 veterans passing away annually, Stoffer discusses the urgent need for volunteers to ensure every veteran receives their final salute. Finally, we take a look back at "Doom 34," the record-breaking 35-hour B-52 mission that signaled the start of Operation Desert Storm.

Segment 2: The Fight for Medicare & Social Security Rich Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, brings a warning regarding the WISeR pilot program. This initiative is quietly introducing AI-driven prior authorization into traditional Medicare across six states, leading to early reports of care delays and denials. Fiesta explains why this administrative shift—done without a vote in Congress—is a threat to the fee-for-service model seniors rely on.

Fiesta also provides updates on:

• Social Security Data Security: The ongoing legal battle over the handling of sensitive beneficiary information.

• Tax Confusion: Clarifying the reality of Social Security tax credits versus permanent tax elimination.

• Legislative Action: The push by Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Greg Landsman to halt the WISeR pilot before it expands nationwide.

Show Links & Resources:

• Learn more about the American Legion: Legion.org

• Advocate for retirees: RetiredAmericans.org

• Subscribe to the AWF Union Podcast for more labor news and veteran advocacy.

Today on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we’re joined by Brian Poindexter, a member of Ironworkers Local 17 and a five-term Brook Park City Councilman currently running for Congress in Ohio’s 7th District.

Poindexter shares his "old-school" approach to a modern campaign, focusing on door-knocking and direct voter contact over expensive media scripts. We dive into the core of his platform: wages, healthcare and retirement security—issues that impact every working family regardless of party registration.

Key highlights from this episode include:

• The Path to the Middle Class: How a union apprenticeship at age 27 changed Poindexter's life and why he wants to expand that ladder for all workers.

• A Record of Action: His work in Brook Park opposing so-called “Right-to-Work” and using technology to increase civic transparency.

• The 7th District Map: Why Poindexter believes political operatives are wrong about Ohio’s 7th and how a pro-worker message can win in suburban and rural communities alike.

• Major Endorsements: The momentum behind his campaign, including support from the Ohio AFL-CIO, UAW, IAM, Sen. Bernie Sanders and more.

• The Brook Park Stadium: His perspective on the economic impact and the thousands of union construction jobs tied to the project.

Whether you're in the trades or want a government that prioritizes work over wealth, this conversation is a masterclass in grassroots labor politics.

Learn more at: https://poindexterforcongress.com/

Segment 2: Do You Have Free Speech at Work? with Andrew Strom Most Americans assume the First Amendment follows them into the office, but labor lawyer Andrew Strom reveals a blunt reality: for most private-sector workers, that promise stops at the time clock. Andrew explains the legal gap between public and private employment and why "at-will" work leaves many employees vulnerable to discipline for their personal opinions. We dive into the "just-cause" shield found in union contracts, the rise of social media risks, and why state laws like Connecticut’s offer a blueprint for protecting worker expression without disrupting business operations.

On this episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed “Flash” Ferenc sits down with Austin Keyser, International Vice President for the IBEW 4th District. Keyser provides an insider’s look at the high-stakes battle to pass the Act and why it was about much more than just a "bailout."

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Breaking Point: Why the shift in the trucking and industrial sectors created "orphaned" pension obligations.

• The Firewall Effect: How the Butch Lewis Act prevented a downward spiral that would have bankrupted the PBGC and healthy pension plans alike.

• Restoring Dignity: The story of retirees who saw their previous benefit cuts reversed and were made whole again.

• The Legislative Fight: The role of former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and the coordinated union pressure that finally broke years of Washington gridlock.

• The Future of Retirement: Why the Butch Lewis Act provides a blueprint for expanding and strengthening defined benefit plans for the next generation of workers.

More Information: To stay updated on the latest in the labor movement, visit awfpodcast.com. Subscribe for daily interviews with the leaders and activists building worker power across America.

In today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Guenther joins us to pull back the curtain on how Local 3000 became a regional powerhouse. From her roots as the daughter of a seasonal worker to leading one of the most influential locals in the Pacific Northwest, Faye shares the hard-won lessons of organizing in the modern era.

We dive deep into:

• The Power of the Purse: How a $33 million strike fund changes the math at the bargaining table and prevents workers from being "starved out."

• The "First Contract" Reality Check: Why winning an election is only the beginning, and why preparing for a strike starts on day one.

• Antitrust Muscle: The inside story of how the union helped block a massive grocery merger to protect communities and jobs.

• Building Density: Why organizing the "grocery footprint" of retail and tech giants is the next major frontier for labor.

Faye’s message is clear: Law follows power, not the other way around. Tune in to hear how UFCW 3000 is rebuilding that power from the shop floor up.

Epstein explains how these wage-and-hour issues are inextricably linked to chronic understaffing and patient safety. She discusses the decision to involve the D.C. Attorney General, the challenges of working in high-acuity units and how the union provides the structure necessary to hold massive hospital systems accountable. From workplace violence protections to the impact of AI on nursing, this episode covers the frontline fight for respect, safety and fair pay in the nation's capital.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Infrastructure Gap: Why scaling back federal investment is a "quality of life" threat for American communities.

• The Misclassification Epidemic: How "low-road" employers are using the independent contractor loophole to strip benefits from 2 million workers.

• Technology vs. Craftsmanship: From laser screeds to AI, how the BAC is ensuring technology empowers workers rather than replacing them.

• A Legacy of Inclusion: Why the union's immigrant roots are the key to its future growth.

Don't miss this essential look at how one of America's most storied unions is adapting to a high-tech, high-stakes economy.

Lorena Gonzalez, President of the California Federation of Labor Unions, joins us to explain why California is the nation's primary testing ground for worker-friendly legislation. Gonzalez breaks down:

• The Enforcement Gap: Why strong labor laws don't matter without accountability for wage theft and safety violations.

• Organizing at Scale: How the federation added 100,000 members last year through initiatives like the UnionizeCalifornia.org portal.

• The AI Frontline: Setting guardrails on technology to prevent surveillance and the "deskilling" of the workforce.

Tim Burga, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, provides a status report on the labor-to-labor outreach program as Ohio heads into a high-stakes primary. Burga discusses:

• The Path to Power: Supporting union members running for office and cutting through "big money" with direct, workplace leafleting and door-to-door canvassing.

• Political Energy: Why affordability and federal labor attacks are driving record-breaking engagement among Ohio union households.

• Workers Memorial Day: A look back at the 1940 Willow Grove mine disaster and why the fight for on-the-job safety remains a personal and professional priority for the federation.

Every victory at the bargaining table starts with workers standing together. Subscribe to the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to stay informed on the leaders and organizers building real power across America.

Learn more at: awf.labortools.com

Liz Looper spent years in the cycle of low-wage work, juggling the pressures of motherhood and constant financial uncertainty. She knew she needed a change, but like many, she didn’t realize the door to the skilled trades was wide open for her.

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Looper joins us to share her inspiring transition into a first-year apprenticeship with Painters District Council 30 (PDC 30) and the North Central Illinois Finishing Trades Institute (NCIFTI).

What we discuss in this episode:

• The Turning Point: How a simple social media post and support from Goodwill led Liz to a life-changing pre-apprenticeship program.

• Breaking Barriers: Liz’s experience entering a male-dominated field and finding a community of women already thriving in the trades.

• The Union Advantage: Why the "full package"—including livable wages, retirement security, and essential benefits like pregnancy leave—makes the IUPAT a game-changer for families.

• A Message to Others: Why it is never too late to start a career that provides a path to the middle class, regardless of your age or background.

Liz’s story is a powerful testament to the fact that with persistence, the right training, and union support, a stable and purposeful career is within reach.

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we sit down with Jon Harvey, President of the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters (OAPFF). While new state grants were recently announced, Harvey warns that a "check-the-box" approach to safety isn't enough. From the dangerous training gaps in rural counties to the need for a unified command structure that actually works in real-time, this is a raw look at the life-or-death stakes of hazardous materials response.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Rural/Urban Divide: Why today’s new legislative push for statewide ambulance coverage is only the first step in fixing a broken system.

• The "Pause" That Saves Lives: Why hazmat scenes require a different mindset than standard fire calls—and why "rushing in" can be a fatal mistake.

• Legislative Inertia: Why critical safety bills like the Michael Louis Palumbo Jr. Act take years to pass while risks grow every day.

• Recruitment Crisis: How the physical and emotional toll of the job is changing the face of the fire service in 2026.

Don’t miss this critical update on the safety of our communities and the men and women who protect them.

On this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we tackle two defining fronts of the modern labor movement: the massive industrial build-out of digital infrastructure and the nationwide mobilization for affordability and representation.

Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, joins us to discuss the staggering scale of data center construction in the region.

• The Numbers: Why 20 million labor hours are just the beginning for the building trades.

• The Career Path: How IBEW Local 1105 and others are scaling apprenticeship programs to create six-figure careers without a college degree.

• The Community Impact: Addressing local concerns and why data centers are a long-term win for the middle class.

Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO, joins the program to discuss why workers are taking to the streets to demand relief from the rising cost of living.

• The Mobilization: Insights from the "No Kings Day" rallies and the disconnect between Washington policy and kitchen-table math.

• Voter Education: Why the AFL-CIO is treating the ballot box as a workplace safety and standards issue.

• A Historic Milestone: A look at Roxanne Brown’s rise to become the 10th International President of the United Steelworkers.

Whirlpool’s latest job cuts in Amana, Iowa, are more than just business adjustments—they are a wake-up call for the American labor movement. In this episode, we sit down with IAM Union leaders and a 30-year plant veteran to discuss the steady erosion of one of Iowa’s most vital manufacturing hubs.

From a peak of 3,000 workers to well under 1,000 today, we explore how attrition, line removals and offshoring are hollowing out the community of Amana.

Inside this episode:

• The Reality of the Cuts: How 350+ recent layoffs are affecting local families and suppliers.
• The "Warehouse" Strategy: Why union leaders fear the plant is being transitioned away from production.
• Tax Incentives vs. Offshoring: A hard look at the $70 million in public support Whirlpool received while expanding production in Mexico.
• The Call for Accountability: What the IAM Union is doing to demand answers from elected officials.

Guests:

• Sam Cicinelli – IAM Union Midwest Territory General Vice President
• Todd “Kerry” Waddell – IAM Union District 6 Assisting Business Representative
• Sandy Freytag – IAM Union Member & 32-year Whirlpool Veteran

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald joins us to pull back the curtain on the mounting crises facing federal employees. From the IRS to the border, federal agencies are battling a "perfect storm" of staffing freezes, buyout programs, and the recurring threat of government shutdowns.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The IRS Staffing Gap: Why the loss of 20,000 employees threatens tax fairness for every American.

• The Right to Organize: How NTEU is fighting back against legal attacks on collective bargaining and union contracts.

• Public Safety at Risk: The direct link between federal budget cuts and the integrity of our food safety, consumer protection, and border security.

• The Protect America’s Workforce Act: A look at the legislative push to safeguard worker rights in the federal sector.

Don’t miss this deep dive into why the fight for federal worker rights is actually a fight for the public services we all rely on.

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Executive Director James Johnson joins host Ed “Flash” Ferenc to pull back the curtain on the commercial fishing industry. Johnson explains why this Seattle-based organization is the oldest and only independent fishermen's union in the U.S. and how they’ve secured better pay and safer vessels for their members.

Topics Discussed:

• The Nordic Roots: How 19th-century Scandinavian fishermen built the foundation for Seattle’s fishing hub.

• Survival at Sea: The rigorous maritime training and safety standards that keep union members alive in a hazardous trade.

• Labor as Stewardship: Why protecting North Pacific fish stocks is a primary labor issue, not a secondary environmental one.

• The Market Threat: Why wild-caught seafood matters and the impact of climate change and Russian hatcheries on the local ecosystem.

First, we’re joined by Jeffrey Bennett, General Counsel for SAG-AFTRA. As AI "cloning" technology accelerates, the threat to performers and broadcasters is no longer science fiction—it’s a daily reality. Bennett breaks down:

• The NO FAKES Act: Why we need a federal "takedown" system for unauthorized digital replicas.

• Consent vs. Exploitation: The thin line between innovative tech and labor rights violations.

• 21st-Century Enforcement: Why 20th-century laws are failing to protect workers in the age of viral synthetic media.

Later, we shift focus to the kitchen table. Merrilee Logue (National Labor Office) and Sarah Duggan Goldstein (BCBS Association) discuss why "Food Is Medicine" is the next big shift in union benefits. We dive into:

• Medically Tailored Support: The difference between "supportive groceries" and meals specifically designed for chronic disease management.

• Prescription Produce: How doctors are now "prescribing" healthy food to help union members stay healthy and avoid costly hospital stays.

• The Union Advantage: How local leaders can help members navigate these new, often underutilized benefits.

Segment 1: The Human Cost of the TSA Shutdown

We’re joined by Johnny Jones, Secretary-Treasurer of AFGE TSA Council 100. Jones pulls back the curtain on the severe financial and emotional strain placed on TSA officers during shutdown-related pay disruptions. From missed mortgages to the deteriorating morale at our nation's checkpoints, we discuss why restoring back pay isn't enough and how the union is fighting to protect collective bargaining rights in a climate of political dysfunction.

Segment 2: Leading from the Front in Ohio

In honor of Women’s History Month, we welcome back Davida Russell, Secretary-Treasurer of the North Coast Area Labor Federation. Russell discusses the growing trend of union members running for public office and the unique challenges they face in today’s digital political landscape. She offers a "field guide" for activists, emphasizing why worker-centered candidates must stay grounded in service to cut through the noise of modern campaigning.

Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to stay updated on the latest victories and challenges within the labor movement.

On today’s episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we’re joined by Pete Ielmini, Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT). Ielmini breaks down why the AI-driven data center boom is about much more than just faster processors—it’s a massive long-term driver for union construction.

We dive deep into:

• The "Chilled" Reality: Why AI servers require precision insulation to prevent moisture damage and catastrophic system failures.

• The Power Surge: How the demand for data is forcing a massive expansion of our power infrastructure, creating a "linked" construction cycle for the trades.

• Beyond the Boom: Why the industry is focused on long-term retention and high-quality apprenticeships to ensure this isn't just a "surge," but a career.

• Recruitment vs. Reality: Why the mechanical insulation trade is the perfect path for those who want a high-skill, high-wage career that can’t be automated.

Don’t just browse the cloud—learn who’s building it.

• Segment 1: 10 Years of Silica Progress Lily Calderon, Health and Safety Director for the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC), joins us to mark the 10th anniversary of the OSHA silica rule. We discuss how the BAC turned a hidden hazard into a regulated standard, the importance of engineering controls like HEPA vacuums, and why "Table 1" guidance needs an update to reflect modern jobsite technology.

• Segment 2: Defense Capacity & The Skilled Labor Gap Retired IAM Union International President Tom Buffenbarger breaks down why massive defense budgets won’t fix production shortages without a skilled workforce. We explore the erosion of the industrial base, the critical need for apprenticeships in precision machining, and how artificial intelligence is reshaping aerospace manufacturing and strategic planning.

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we host a powerhouse panel from the Iron Workers Union and the Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT). Joining us are International President Kevin Bryenton, Director of Safety and Health Wayne Creasap, and IMPACT CEO Aaron Bast.

Together, they bridge the gap between the "old school" traditions of the 1980s and the high-tech, proactive safety standards of 2026.

Key topics discussed in this episode:

• The Evolution of Access: How mobile elevated work platforms changed the game for industrial jobsites and reduced high-risk climbing.

• Going "OSHA Plus": Why union contractors are now pushing beyond federal minimums to create stricter, safer internal tie-off policies.

• The Apprenticeship Blueprint: How the culture of "Safety, then Quality, then Production" is being baked into the next generation of Ironworkers.

• The Invisible Hazard: A candid look at the construction industry’s mental health crisis and why suicide prevention and substance misuse support are now core safety pillars.

• Proactive Prevention: Moving from "lagging indicators" (accidents that happened) to "upstream" planning to prevent hand injuries and falls before they occur.

Whether you're on the column or in the corner office, this episode is a masterclass in how labor-management partnerships are building a safer, more sustainable future for the trades.

In Segment 1, Tera Clizbe, the first female chair of the Blue Cross Blue Shield National Labor Office Executive Board, discusses the evolution of labor-focused healthcare. She breaks down why strong benefits only matter if members can navigate the system, the rising urgency of mental health support, and how labor solidarity drives disaster response in hard-hit communities.

In Segment 2, Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department (TTD), AFL-CIO, joins us to discuss the legislative battles surrounding the Jones Act and aviation safety. Regan explains why suspending maritime standards won't fix fuel prices and calls for stronger safety reforms following the 2025 Potomac River midair collision. Plus, an update on protecting the Railroad Retirement Board's administrative capacity.

Segment 1: Jeff Stoffer (American Legion) Jeff Stoffer, Director of the American Legion’s Media and Communications Division, joins the show to discuss the April edition of The American Legion Magazine. We dive into the policy gaps in the GI Bill that make it harder for veterans to pursue union apprenticeships compared to traditional college degrees. We also explore the human side of reintegration and why the skilled trades offer a sense of mission that many veterans crave.

Segment 2: Rich Fiesta (Alliance for Retired Americans) Alliance for Retired Americans Executive Director Rich Fiesta discusses the dual threat of Social Security data security and sophisticated online fraud. From potential data mishandling at the SSA to AI-generated voice scams on social media, Fiesta breaks down how the Alliance is fighting for better accountability and providing retirees with the tools to "Stop the Scam."

What we discuss in this episode:

• The decline in GI Bill housing support for apprenticeship participants

• Why the skilled trades are a natural fit for military veterans

• The legal battle for Social Security data transparency

• How AI is making senior scams harder to detect

• The American Legion’s and the Alliance’s 2026 legislative priorities

On today’s episode, host Ed "Flash" Ferenc sits down with Gay Henson, a leader whose career bridges the gap between scientific precision and labor activism. From her start in applied health physics at the Tennessee Valley Authority to her current role as Secretary-Treasurer of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), Henson shares why "institutional memory" is the most valuable asset in public service.

In this episode, we discuss:

• From the Lab to the Local: How a background in radiation protection and nuclear safety shaped a leadership style rooted in accountability and safety.

• The Crisis of Expertise: Why the loss of scientists and engineers at agencies like NASA represents a threat to national innovation, public safety and long-term research.

• Defending the Contract: The strategies the IFPTE is using to protect collective bargaining rights and financial stability for federal workers.

• Leading Without Permission: Henson’s message for Women’s History Month on why women must lead with conviction, persistence and a refusal to accept imposed limits.

• The Power of Solidarity: Why unions remain the best vehicle for a collective voice in technical, professional and scientific workplaces.

Go Behind the Scenes of the Labor Movement Every victory starts with workers standing together. Subscribe to the America’s Work Force Union Podcast for daily interviews with the leaders and organizers building worker power across America.

Host Ed "Flash" Ferenc welcomes Melissa Cropper back to the show for a deep dive into the 2026 legislative landscape in Columbus. As Ohio lawmakers propose new ways to centralize control over K-12 and higher education, Cropper explains why these moves threaten the very foundation of local public schools.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

• The Funding Penalty (HB 671): Why a new proposal to withhold funds from districts that challenge the state in court is being viewed as an attack on local control.

• Higher Ed Under Pressure: A look at how colleges are being forced into "compliance certification" or risking their state support.

• The "Success Sequence" (SB 156): Why the OFT is opposing state-directed classroom messages that oversimplify the root causes of poverty.

• Organizing Momentum: Celebrating the first-contract victory for Delaware Public Library workers and an update on the resilient fight for workers’ rights at KIPP and Menlo charter schools.

• The Labor Perspective: Why real student success requires fully funded schools, family-sustaining wages and a seat at the table for educators.

Go Behind the Scenes of the Labor Movement. From the statehouse to the schoolhouse, hear how activists are fighting for a stronger future. Subscribe to the America’s Work Force Union Podcast for daily interviews with the leaders building worker power across America.

On today’s episode, host Ed "Flash" Ferenc sits down with Paul Goodrich, a member of Ironworkers Local 63 in Chicago. With experience as an ironworker, foreman, and teacher, Goodrich offers a deep dive into a trade that literally provides the "final look" of the Chicago skyline.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Art of the Finish: How Local 63 specializes in architectural and ornamental ironwork, from curtain wall systems to glass installations.

• Adapting to Innovation: How technology is changing man-hours on the job and why unions must organize aggressively around new construction methods.

• Teaching the Movement: Why Goodrich believes every apprentice needs to understand Chicago’s labor history—from the Haymarket era to modern collective action.

• Recovery and Resilience: A personal look at how union health benefits and peer support are helping trades workers navigate substance use and mental health challenges.

• The Union Foundation: Why the path to dignity, respect, and economic stability still runs through a union contract.

Go Behind the Scenes of the Labor Movement. Every victory at the bargaining table starts with workers standing together. Subscribe to the America’s Work Force Union Podcast for daily interviews with the leaders and organizers building worker power across America.

Segment 1: Broadband Justice & Inclusive Leadership Frank Mathews, Administrative Director for CWA District 4, joins the show to discuss the union’s multi-front battle for broadband expansion. He highlights why high-speed internet is a 21st-century civil right and explains how CWA is cultivating a new generation of diverse leaders to meet these challenges. Mathews also shares a personal call to action for a fellow union brother’s family in need of a kidney donor.

Segment 2: Putting Workers First in the AI Revolution Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga breaks down the "Workers First" initiative on Artificial Intelligence. As the Ohio Statehouse begins debating AI legislation, Burga outlines the essential guardrails needed to prevent job displacement and algorithmic bias. From the rise of data centers in Ohio to the protection of collective bargaining in an automated age, learn why labor must have a seat at the table before the software is coded.

Listen in to hear about:

• The connection between inclusive leadership and union power.

• How CWA is mobilizing for Elias Manolis’s life-saving transplant.

• The "Workers First" framework for AI regulation in Ohio.

• Why data centers are a double-edged sword for local communities.

Segment 2: Labor Lawyer Andrew Strom on Flowers Foods v. Brock In the second half, labor lawyer Andrew Strom joins the program to break down a pivotal case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court. Flowers Foods v. Brock centers on "last-mile" delivery drivers and the "transportation worker exemption" from forced arbitration. Strom explains how the outcome of this case could determine whether millions of workers maintain their right to a day in court or are pushed into private, confidential arbitration systems.

In this episode, we cover:

• How industrial safety failures in non-union shops fuel labor activism.
• The role of UAW Women’s Committees in bargaining for dignity and inclusion.
• Why "member-to-member" politics is the backbone of union strength.
• The legal strategy behind corporate forced arbitration clauses.
• Why the "last mile" of the supply chain is the new front line for interstate commerce law.

Stay Connected: Subscribe to the America’s Work Force Union Podcast for daily interviews with the leaders, organizers, and activists building worker power across America. Website: https://awf.labortools.com/

As the first woman to lead North America’s largest industrial union, Brown shares her journey from an immigrant household in Jamaica to the halls of power in Washington, D.C. She discusses the unique challenges facing the industrial trades in 2026, including a massive bargaining year across the oil, steel and paper sectors.

Brown also breaks down the USW’s strategy for combating digital misinformation, the importance of "kitchen-table" messaging and why the union is doubling down on leadership development to ensure the next generation of workers is ready to fight for the middle class.

• A Historic Legacy: Brown reflects on her path to the presidency and her "member-first" leadership philosophy.
• 2026 Bargaining Blitz: Insights into upcoming negotiations in oil, aluminum, tires, and steel.
• The Trusted Messenger: Why local union leaders are the most effective voices in the fight against misinformation.

Policy & Organizing: The USW’s stance on the upcoming USMCA renegotiations and domestic job protection.

Haley pulls back the curtain on the "hiring gauntlet"—from the grueling physical combat challenge to the mental pressure of the fire academy. We also dive into a critical conversation on how union-management collaboration solved high-stakes policy gaps regarding pregnancy and light duty, proving that inclusivity doesn't mean lowering standards—it means strengthening the line.

Listen now to hear:

• The reality of the 1.5-mile run and ladder climb.
• How a union household upbringing shaped her career path.
• The "hidden" recruitment barriers for women in the trades and public safety.

Siegel provides an inside look at Illinois’ Hire360 pre-apprenticeship model—a game-changing pipeline that is bridging the gap between curiosity and a career in the union trades. We dive into the practical realities of workforce development, from teaching math to adults to the surging demand for skilled labor driven by Illinois’ clean energy policies.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Hire360 Advantage: How pre-apprenticeship reduces risk for both workers and the industry.

• The Clean Energy Shift: Why solar, wind, and data centers are reshaping the IBEW’s workload.

• Retention vs. Recruitment: Siegel’s blunt assessment of why we are losing tradeswomen and what must change (childcare, leave, and culture).

• Nuclear & Data Centers: A nuanced look at Illinois’ energy mix and the community impact of rapid infrastructure build-outs.

Go Behind the Scenes of the Labor Movement: Every victory starts with workers standing together. Subscribe to the AWF Union Podcast for daily interviews with the leaders building worker power across America. Visit us at awf.labortools.com.

In this episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we tackle two of the most significant shifts facing the American worker today: the healthcare staffing crisis and the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence.

National Nurses United (NNU) with Mary Turner, NNU President Mary Turner discusses the "Red Alert Hospital Tour." As corporate health systems prioritize profits over patients, Turner explains why nurses are taking the fight to the streets to prevent hospital closures and enforce safe staffing ratios.

• The "Moral Injury" of Nursing: Why clinical standards are non-negotiable.

• Red Alert Tour: Building community power to save local healthcare anchors.

United Labor Agency (ULA) with Dave Megenhardt, Executive Director Dave Megenhardt joins us to discuss the "Workers First Summit" and the labor movement's response to AI. With the potential to compress decades of disruption into years, Megenhardt explains how unions are bargaining for guardrails.

• The Job Chain Threat: How AI affects manufacturing, trucking, and logistics simultaneously.

• Policy & Protection: Why worker voice must be built into AI deployment.

Support the Show: Every victory at the bargaining table starts with workers standing together. Subscribe for the latest interviews with the leaders building worker power across America.

Links:

• Website: https://awf.labortools.com

Segment 1: Central Ohio’s Construction Revolution Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, joins the show to discuss the "stacking" of megaprojects in the region.

• Intel Update: Why the duration of the Licking County build matters more than the peak headcount.

• The Power Demand: How "behind-the-meter" power and the $850M Bluegrass Power Station are creating a secondary wave of union jobs.

• Data Center Ecosystems: Moving beyond the initial build to long-term maintenance and modernization.

Segment 2: Organizing, Action, and Union Pipelines Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO, checks in to discuss the national landscape for workers in 2026.

• USW History: The significance of Roxanne Brown taking the helm as the 10th International President of the United Steelworkers.

• The Worker-Candidate Surge: How union members are translating shop-floor leadership into successful campaigns for public office.

• Coalition Power: Why labor is aligning with community partners to protect voting access and economic fairness.

GET INVOLVED: Every victory starts with workers standing together. Subscribe to the AWF Union Podcast for daily interviews with the leaders building worker power across America.

Visit us at: awf.labortools.com Follow the movement: #UnionStrong #BuildingTrades #AFLCIO #Labor2026 #IntelOhio #WorkerPower

Diana didn’t follow a family pipeline into the trades—she found her way through a newspaper ad in 1995 after realizing college wasn't delivering the stability she needed. Now, she’s leading the charge to ensure the next generation of women doesn't just enter the trade, but stays there.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Retention Gap: Why recruitment is only half the battle and how childcare remains a structural barrier to women in construction.

• The ERiCA Grant: How California is finally putting real resources toward childcare support for apprentices.

• Apprenticeship Readiness: The role of MC3 and WINTER programs in preparing women for the physical and cultural realities of the jobsite.

• The Union Advantage: Why collective bargaining is the only way to guarantee equal pay, pensions, and a path to leadership.

Listen in to hear how IBEW Local 11 is moving the needle on workforce capacity and true equity on the jobsite.

Joining the America’s Work Force Union Podcast is Krissy Webber, Business Manager of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers Local 97 in Illinois. As one of the few women leading a construction local, Webber offers a blunt assessment of why the industry must evolve to meet modern labor demands.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Union Advantage: Why equal pay, healthcare, and pensions starting on "Day 1" make roofing a middle-class stabilizer.

• The Retention Gap: Why the "4:00 AM reality" of construction start times makes childcare the #1 barrier for women in the trades.

• Leadership Representation: Why having women in less than 1% of management roles stalls recruitment momentum.

• Career Transitions: Webber’s shift from the burnout of retail management to the security of a union career.

Webber’s message to women is simple: The trades are a present workforce necessity, not a future goal. Get involved, find your allies, and start building your retirement today.

Our guest, Carol Kim, Business Manager of the San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council, shares the "San Diego Story"—a blueprint for how labor can reverse anti-union legislation to build a massive, stable pipeline of work.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Long Game in San Diego: Carol details the strategic campaign to "flip" the city council and pass a ballot measure with 58% voter support to overturn the region’s long-standing ban on Project Labor Agreements (PLAs).

• The $1B Pipeline: How a citywide PLA covering the capital improvements program is creating economic stability for more than 30,000 union workers and expanding apprenticeship slots.

• Women in the Trades: A candid assessment of why women’s participation has climbed from 2.5% to nearly 10% in the region and the cultural shifts still required to reach equity.

• Childcare as Workforce Development: Why California’s ERICA program (Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeships) is a game-changer for retaining women who are primary caregivers.

• From Teacher to Labor Leader: Carol reflects on how her background in education and HIV prevention shaped her approach to organizing and why she views labor as the most effective tool for fighting structural poverty.

What You’ll Learn: Why the nature of construction makes citywide PLAs essential for worker stability, and how intentional mentorship is transforming the face of the San Diego job site.

For more information on the San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council, visit sdbuildingtrades.com.

In this wide-ranging episode, Shuler joins us to discuss the historic momentum of the labor movement, where public support has reached nearly 70 percent. We explore the 2026 WIC Week theme, "Level Up. Build Strong," and discuss how the union advantage provides a more equitable landscape for women in the trades compared to the broader economy.

Shuler also pulls back the curtain on the AFL-CIO’s fight for worker-centered AI. As technology reshapes the jobsite, she explains why collective bargaining is the ultimate "guardrail" to ensure human oversight, privacy, and shared productivity gains.

In this episode, we cover:

• The evolution of women’s leadership from the shop floor to the executive board.
• How the labor movement is scaling state-level legislation to protect workers from "algorithmic bosses."
• Advice for women entering male-dominated industries: Finding your voice and building mentorship networks.

Segment 1: USW District 1 & Libbey Glass (0:00 - 15:30) USW District 1 Director Donnie Blatt joins the show to recap the conclusion of a grueling five-month strike at Libbey Glass in Toledo. Blatt details how three separate USW Locals—65T, 59M, and 700T—maintained 24/7 picket lines to protect their craft jurisdictions and seniority rights. We discuss the transition from bankruptcy concessions to a contract that restores wage growth and secures healthcare for the future.

Segment 2: UPMC Magee Nursing Victory (15:31 - End) Registered Nurses Adrienne Andrews and Sharece Abee explain how they helped lead a successful organizing campaign at UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. Working with SEIU Healthcare PA, these frontline caregivers overcame intense anti-union messaging to win their election. They share updates on the first-contract negotiations that began in January and why safe staffing remains their North Star.

For more information on these stories, visit our blog at awf.labortools.com

Daren Gulliver, Training Director for BAC Local 2, discusses a successful partnership with New York’s Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). Gulliver outlines how Local 2 is reaching students as early as age 17 to provide hands-on masonry fundamentals and clear pathways into registered apprenticeship programs.

• Key Insight: Why "bridge programs" and earlier recruitment are essential to combatting the skilled labor shortage while providing debt-free career stability.

Kate Black, Field Director for AFSCME Council 65, breaks down a significant National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) unit clarification ruling involving Head Start teachers in Minnesota. Black explains how the employer used a "statutory supervisor" argument to narrow the bargaining unit and why this case serves as a warning for unions nationwide.

• Key Insight: How a single supervisory factor—effectively recommending discipline—can be used to strip workers of their union protections and what AFSCME is doing to prepare for future classification challenges.

Segment 1: The Business of the Trades with Pete Ielmini Pete Ielmini, Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT), discusses why union apprenticeship is about more than just "hard skills." Ielmini breaks down the "soft skills" that define a professional—safety culture, mental health awareness, and leadership. He also offers a candid look at the business side of the industry, explaining why many new contractors fail and what it takes to build a stable, successful union firm in today’s market.

Segment 2: Indigenous Inclusion in Northern Ontario with Andy Nieweglowski Andy Nieweglowski, Training Director for LIUNA Local 607, joins the show to discuss a groundbreaking partnership with the Lakehead District School Board and Matawa First Nations. With massive infrastructure and mining projects like the Ring of Fire on the horizon, Nieweglowski explains how Local 607 is removing barriers for Indigenous students—from residency housing to childcare—to ensure local people are ready for local jobs.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why safety culture has shifted from a checklist to a financial and ethical imperative.

• The "hidden" costs of contracting: Bonding, insurance, and the reality of payment timelines.

• How LIUNA Local 607 plans to double its membership by 2030.

• The role of tiny home construction in modern apprentice training.

Retired International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) International President Tom Buffenbarger joins host Ed “Flash” Ferenc to break down the real-world impact of sweeping tariffs. Buffenbarger explains why broad trade penalties often function as a "consumer tax" that destabilizes North American supply chains, particularly in the aerospace and automotive sectors. He also discusses the recent surge in union membership—reaching a 16-year high—and why younger workers and federal employees (NFFE) are leading the charge for collective action.

Guillermo Mendoza-Luján, Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU 121RN, sounds the alarm on hospital layoffs and staffing shortages in Southern California. Following funding cuts to Medi-Cal and Medicare, facilities like Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center are reducing staffing levels, leading to longer ER wait times and dangerous nurse-to-patient ratios. Mendoza-Luján details the ongoing strike at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana and explains why patient safety is inseparable from worker protections.

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we welcome two major voices in the labor movement to discuss the data behind the union resurgence and the legislative fight for worker safety.

Segment 1: The Resurgence of American Unions Dave Kamper, Senior Strategist for the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), joins the show to discuss his new book, Who’s Got the Power? The Resurgence of American Unions. Kamper explains how the pandemic served as a catalyst for worker demands and why Gen Z is leading the charge in organizing.

• Key Topics: Why EPI research is critical for labor’s moral and economic case, the rise of "Solidarity Standards," and how Central Labor Councils are coordinating resource-heavy wins.

Segment 2: Securing the Skies and the Streets Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO, outlines a three-front legislative agenda focused on safety as infrastructure.

• Key Topics: The ROTOR Act and preventing aviation collisions, the RIDER Safety Act to combat rising assaults on transit workers, and the urgent need for federal safety standards for Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) to protect both public safety and American jobs.

Go Behind the Scenes of the Labor Movement. Every victory at the bargaining table starts with workers standing together. From the shop floor to the statehouse, hear how activists are fighting for better wages, safer conditions, and a stronger future.

Subscribe to the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to get the latest interviews with the leaders and organizers building worker power across America.

Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications for the American Legion, previews the latest issue of the American Legion Magazine.

• The Downtown Reset: How the collapse of office building valuations is forcing cities into a mixed-use transformation.

• Housing & Homelessness: The urgent intersection of downtown revitalization and affordable housing for veterans.

• Cannabis Research: An update on the Legion’s push for federal medical cannabis research to treat PTSD, TBI, and chronic pain.

• The Thomas Paine Influence: Why the Revolutionary-era "media influencer" still matters to modern communicators and labor.

Rich Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, sounds the alarm on immediate threats to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

• The SSA Data Breach: Inside the federal court fight over unsecured servers and the potential exposure of millions of records.

• The 2032 Deadline: New projections show the Social Security Trust Fund is moving toward a shortfall faster than expected—what it means for your benefits.

• Actionable Advice: Steps beneficiaries can take right now to monitor their accounts and safeguard their financial identity.

• Mobilizing for 2026: A preview of the Alliance’s National Membership Meeting in Las Vegas this April.

Segment 1: Policy and Pathways with U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) joins the show to discuss her "worker-centered" agenda in Washington. As the lead sponsor of the LEAP Act, Budzinski explains how bipartisan tax incentives can expand registered union apprenticeships, providing a debt-free route to the middle class.

• The Battle for Granite City: An update on the ongoing fight to secure long-term investment for U.S. Steel’s Granite City Works.

• Fair Trade: Why the upcoming USMCA review is a critical moment for domestic manufacturing and trade enforcement.

• The $15 Minimum Wage: Lessons learned from her time leading wage negotiations in Illinois.

Segment 2: Contract Victories with Pat Gallagher Pat Gallagher, President of the North Coast Labor Federation, breaks down major developments for the United Steelworkers (USW).

• Libbey Glass Ratification: More than 1,000 workers in Toledo have officially ratified a new agreement, ending a five-month strike marked by hedge fund pressure and demands for concessions.

• Oil Sector Bargaining: The latest on the tentative agreement with Marathon, designed to set the "pattern" for safety and wage standards across the industry.

• Global Steel Overcapacity: A look at how the Congressional Steel Caucus is addressing the 700-million-ton global surplus that threatens U.S. jobs.

Key Topics Covered:

• Registered Apprenticeships (LEAP Act)

• United Steelworkers (USW) Contracts

• Toledo Libbey Glass Strike Resolution

• Pattern Bargaining in the Oil Industry

• USMCA Trade Review and Steel Dumping

Segment 1: Breaking the "Double Hurdle" in Colorado Dennis Dougherty, Executive Director of the Colorado AFL-CIO, joins us to discuss the high-stakes fight for the Worker Protection Act. He explains why Colorado is the only state in the nation that forces workers to clear a second, 75% "supermajority" vote after already winning their union election. Dougherty breaks down how this "Labor Peace Act" relic allows for employer intimidation and why ending it is the federation's top priority in 2026.

Segment 2: Organizing Across 11 Counties Luther Baker, President of the East Central Illinois AFL-CIO and a member of IBEW Local 601, shares the story of a major regional merger. What began as the Champaign County AFL-CIO has now expanded into a unified council covering 11 counties. Baker discusses:

• His path from fast food management to an IBEW apprenticeship.

• The role of IBEW RENEW in cultivating young leaders.

• Strategies for bridging the gap between building trades and public sector unions.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why the "75% rule" in Colorado is a national outlier for labor rights.

• How central labor councils are modernizing through regional mergers and hybrid governance.

• The importance of cross-union solidarity in winning first contracts.

First, Jason Rabinowitz, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 2010, discusses the weeklong strike of 1,100 skilled trades workers across the California State University (CSU) system. He breaks down why the union is striking over "broken promises" regarding negotiated step increases and how the CSU system is prioritizing executive compensation over the workers who keep 22 campuses running.

Next, we head to Ohio with Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT). Cropper sounds the alarm on HB 671, a "bully bill" that threatens to withhold state funding from school districts that challenge state laws in court—specifically targeting those fighting EdChoice vouchers. She also addresses the professional autonomy concerns within HB 693 and the upcoming 2026 OFT Convention.

What we discuss in this episode:

• The CSU Strike: Why electrical, HVAC, and plumbing workers are withdrawing their labor to enforce a signed contract.
• The "Step" Struggle: The 30-year fight to restore fair wage progression in California higher education.
• Ohio’s HB 671: How a new bill seeks to financially penalize school districts for exercising their legal rights.
• Educator Autonomy: The impact of HB 693 on classroom language and teacher-student relationships.

In this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we sit down with Jonathan Smith, the new President of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU). Smith, a second-generation postal worker who rose through the ranks from a New Jersey bulk mail center, pulls back the curtain on the "pseudo-privatization" strategies threatening one of America’s most trusted public institutions.

We dive deep into:

• The Privatization Playbook: How profitable mail operations are being siphoned off to private interests, leaving the public with the bill.

• The Staffing Crisis: Why those long lines at your local post office aren't an accident—they are a service issue rooted in understaffing.

• Vote-by-Mail Under Fire: Why protecting the mail-in ballot is a nonpartisan, constitutional necessity for rural communities, veterans, and seniors.

• Labor’s Legacy: A look back at the 1970 Postal Strike and why a new generation of workers must organize to protect middle-class, blue-collar pathways.

The Postal Service is more than just a delivery business; it’s a public obligation. Join us as President Smith outlines the APWU’s mission to ensure the USPS remains a prompt, efficient and universal service for every American.

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we are joined by two leading experts to discuss the policy shifts threatening union leverage in 2026.

Part 1: The USMCA 2026 Review with Adam Hersh Senior Economist Adam Hersh joins us to break down the high-stakes "NAFTA 2.0" review coming this July. While USMCA was sold as a fix for manufacturing, Hersh explains why loopholes in auto rules of origin and the threat of offshoring continue to chill collective bargaining. We discuss:

• What happens if the U.S., Mexico, and Canada don't agree by July.
• How "China-linked" supply chains are shifting the footprint in Mexico.
• The essential pillars of a truly worker-centered trade agenda.

Part 2: The NLRB Staffing Crisis with Andrew Strom Brooklyn Law School professor and labor lawyer Andrew Strom returns to discuss a compounding crisis at the National Labor Relations Board. With staffing at a decade-long low and a post-shutdown backlog mounting, "justice delayed" is becoming a tactical weapon for employers. We dive into:

• How new ULP intake procedures are slowing down investigations.
• The "chilling effect" on witness statements when cases sit for months.
• Why funding the NLRB is the most cost-effective way to protect the NLRA.

Listen in to hear how unions can navigate these legal and economic headwinds to keep building power.

Segment 1: Protecting Ohio’s Bravest (OAPFF) We are joined by Jon Harvey, President of the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters (OAPFF), and Steve Stein, the OAPFF Director of Governmental Affairs. They discuss the current legislative landscape in Ohio, the critical work being done to protect firefighter pensions and safety standards, and the importance of political action in maintaining the resources first responders need to save lives.

Segment 2: Nurses United in Maine (MSNA/NNU) In our second segment, we speak with Terry Caron, an RN at Northern Maine Medical Center (NMMC) and member of the Maine State Nurses Association (MSNA), an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU). Terry shares the details of their recent battles at NMMC, including a decisive union recertification vote and a significant settlement following Department of Labor citations against the hospital. We discuss what this victory means for patient care, safe staffing, and the power of collective bargaining.

Links & Resources:

• OAPFF: [Link to OAPFF website]

• National Nurses United: [Link to NNU website]

Tags: #LaborRadio #OAPFF #Firefighters #UnionStrong #MSNA #NationalNursesUnited #Nurses #HealthcareHeroes #OhioLabor #MaineLabor #Solidarity

Segment 1: The Strike That Changed Canadian Labor Law Myles Sullivan, International Secretary-Treasurer of the United Steelworkers (USW), joins the show to revisit a defining chapter in labor history: the 1941-42 Kirkland Lake gold miners’ strike. Sullivan explains how a "lost" strike in the frozen trenches of Northern Ontario eventually forced the government to mandate collective bargaining rights. He connects that legacy of resilience to modern struggles, including the fights at Local 6500 in Sudbury, and argues that member education and high union density remain the only true safeguards against concessions.

Segment 2: Training the Next Generation of Organizers Jessica Cook-Qurayshi, Director of DePaul University’s Labor Education Center (LEC), discusses how her team is turning labor education into a movement-building tool. She outlines the LEC’s "Labor Leadership Certificate" and advanced bargaining courses that teach members to cost contracts and write proposals. Cook-Qurayshi also details the Center’s massive youth initiative—including a collective-bargaining role-play that reaches 1,800 students—and explains why intergenerational training is critical to the survival of the labor movement.

Key Topics:

• Kirkland Lake 1941: How a miners' defeat sparked a legislative victory.

• USW History: The legacy of Leo Gerard and cross-border solidarity.

• Labor Education: DePaul’s certificate programs for stewards and officers.

• Youth Organizing: High school summer schools and internship programs.

Listen now to hear how the lessons of the past are shaping the organizers of the future.

Segment 1: The High Cost of Repealing Ohio Property Taxes Frank Mathews, Administrative Director for CWA District 4, joins the show to issue a stark warning about a signature-gathering effort to eliminate property taxes in Ohio. While the pitch sounds appealing to homeowners, Mathews explains why the "fine print" could be disastrous for working families.

• The $20 Billion Hole: How eliminating property taxes removes the primary funding source for public schools, township roads, and police/fire departments.

• Who Really Pays: Why replacing this revenue would likely force massive hikes in sales and income taxes, shifting the burden onto lower- and middle-income workers.

• The Service Gap: The risk to essential services in townships that cannot levy income taxes.

Segment 2: Organizing Wins in Ohio & The Future of News NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss reports on a surge of momentum for newsroom workers, despite corporate consolidation and layoffs at national outlets like the Washington Post.

• Victory in Columbus: Journalists at the Columbus Dispatch and Newark Advocate have voted overwhelmingly to unionize, strengthening NewsGuild Local 1.

• Pittsburgh’s PAPER: How workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette are building their own community-centered publication, the Pittsburgh Alliance for People-Empowered Reporting (PAPER), to bypass corporate gatekeepers.

• National Fight: The labor response to recent cuts at the Washington Post and why preserving newsroom jobs is a civic necessity.

Links & Resources

• Support Pittsburgh Journalists: Visit OurPaperNow.org

• Learn More About CWA District 4: CWA-Union.org

• Follow the NewsGuild: NewsGuild.org

• Listen to more episodes: AWF.LaborTools.com

Follow Us

• Twitter/X: @AWFUnionPodcast

• Facebook: @AWFUnionPodcast

First, Ryan Chavka, Business Agent for IATSE Local 22, joins the show to break down the massive union victory for concert production workers at The 9:30 Club, The Anthem, The Atlantis, and Lincoln Theatre. Chavka takes listeners inside the campaign, describing the “standing room only” meeting that started it all and explaining why scheduling predictability and respect—not just wages—drove the vote. He also discusses the challenges of the "overhire" system and what lies ahead as workers move toward bargaining their first contract.

Then, Jody Calemine, Director of Advocacy for the AFL-CIO, provides a critical legislative update from Capitol Hill. He details the bipartisan passage of the Protect America’s Workforce Act in the House, which aims to restore collective bargaining rights for federal workers, and outlines the strategy to overcome the Senate filibuster. Calemine also discusses the labor movement’s push for AI Guardrails, explaining why states must retain the power to regulate technology to protect worker privacy and job security.

Featured Guests:

• Ryan Chavka, Business Agent, IATSE Local 22

• Jody Calemine, Director of Advocacy, AFL-CIO

Hosted by: Ed "Flash" Ferenc

Segment 1: The "Silicon Valley of the Midwest" Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, joins the show to deliver a status report on the region’s construction boom.

Hager details the progress at Intel’s $28 billion chip plant, where nearly 1,000 trades members are currently working, with hundreds more expected by summer. He also outlines how data center expansion (including a new Google campus) is driving a secondary boom in power generation and grid infrastructure.

• Key Stat: IBEW Local 683 received the most apprenticeship applications in its history this year.

• Looking Ahead: Hager announces that Tradeswomen Build Nations is coming to Columbus in 2028.

Segment 2: Labor’s New Resistance Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO, returns to the podcast to discuss the high stakes facing working families in 2026.

Redmond argues that the labor movement must lead a renewed coalition to defend democracy against attacks on voting rights, immigrants, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Drawing parallels to the civil rights battles of the 1960s, Redmond explains why unions are partnering with faith leaders and civil rights organizations to fight back against a "class war" economy that benefits billionaires at the expense of workers.

Podcast Resources:

• Listen & Subscribe: https://awf.labortools.com/ 

• Learn more about the Columbus Building Trades: https://columbusconstruction.org/ 

• Learn more about the AFL-CIO: https://aflcio.org/

Segment 1: The Organizing Wave in Animation DreamWorks Animation remote feature production workers and the production team behind the TED animated TV series have voted to unionize, joining The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) and the Editors Guild (IATSE Local 700).

Organizer Allison Smartt, TED: The Animated Series Color Coordinator Kelly Simmons, and Organizer Ben Speight join the show to discuss this major victory. They explain how the pandemic exposed a "zip code barrier" where remote workers were denied union protections simply for moving out of LA County. The group also discusses:

• The push to end the "two-tier" system that separates production staff from artists.
• Why establishing guardrails for Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a critical part of their fight.
• How industry consolidation is driving more workers to organize for job security.

Segment 2: Why Union Members Must Run for Office Dan Gosa, a third-generation member of Insulators Local 81 and current Iowa State Representative, joins the show to discuss his re-election campaign. Gosa serves as President of the Quad City Federation of Labor and brings a "kitchen-table" perspective to the legislature.

Gosa details the challenges facing Iowa’s working families, including the drastic cut to unemployment benefits (from 26 weeks down to 16) and the need for "Responsible Bidder" laws to track bad-actor contractors who misclassify workers. He argues that when union members sit at the decision-making table, they can stop policies that strip funding from essential local services and ensure working-class issues aren't treated as political games.

Podcast Resources:

• Listen & Subscribe: https://awf.labortools.com/ 
• Learn more about The Animation Guild: https://animationguild.org/
• Learn more about Insulators Local 81: https://local81insulators.com/

First, Dr. Kendrick Roberson, National Vice President of AFGE, joins the show to preview the historic Young Worker March on Washington scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 7. Roberson details why workers under 40 are mobilizing near the U.S. Capitol to demand a living wage and relief from the affordability crisis in housing and education. He also discusses the "representation gap"—why 77% of young workers support unions but only 7% are members—and plans to honor AFGE member Alex Pretti during the event.

Then, Ryan Marshall, organizer for Ironworkers Local 5, steps in to debunk the "skilled labor shortage" myth. He argues the construction industry isn't facing a worker shortage, but a shortage of good jobs. Marshall highlights the massive data center boom in Northern Virginia, the $48 million cost of worker misclassification in D.C., and why Local 5 is treating mental health and suicide prevention as critical jobsite safety issues.

Featured Guests:

• Dr. Kendrick Roberson, National VP, AFGE

• Ryan Marshall, Organizer, Ironworkers Local 5

Hosted by: Ed "Flash" Ferenc

Then, Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga joins the show to break down the real-world impact of the partial government shutdown on federal workers and public services. Burga also discusses the economic stakes of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the 12,000-15,000 Haitian residents in Springfield, Ohio, and outlines labor's strategy for the 2026 election cycle ahead of Ohio’s Feb. 4 filing deadline.

Featured Guests:

• Tony Cardwell, President, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED-IBT)

• Tim Burga, President, Ohio AFL-CIO

Episode Highlights:

• Rail Safety Stalled: Cardwell explains why 1,000 derailments a year are still "routine" in the U.S.

• Inspection Battles: BMWED's fight against waivers that would replace human inspectors with automation.

• Shutdown Fallout: Burga details how political instability in D.C. hits working families in Ohio.

• Springfield Workforce: The critical role of Haitian workers in local economic recovery.

• 2026 Election Watch: Inside the Ohio AFL-CIO's endorsement process and the "working-family scorecard."

First up: The partial government shutdown is back, and Matt Biggs, President of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), joins us to expose the human cost of political dysfunction. Representing over 80,000 professionals—from rocket scientists at NASA to immigration judges—Biggs details the strain on "essential" employees who are reporting for duty while their pay is suspended.

• The "Essential" Trap: How the shutdown is disrupting critical work at the Department of Defense and stalling justice in immigration courts.

• Recruitment Crisis: Why chronic budget instability is driving skilled experts out of public service.

• Mobilizing for 2026: A look at IFPTE’s upcoming Legislative Advocacy Conference in D.C., where members will fight for stable funding and due process.

Then: As working families feel the squeeze of inflation and stalled wages, the billionaire class has hit a new stratosphere. Omar Ocampo, researcher at the Institute for Policy Studies, breaks down new data showing U.S. billionaire wealth has surged to $8.1 trillion.

• The Asset Gap: How stock market speculation is enriching the "centibillionaires" while the labor share of income shrinks.

• Wealth vs. Work: Why productivity gains aren't showing up in your paycheck.

• Taxing the Top: The state-level tax experiments that could finally fund public goods and reduce extreme inequality.

Listen now for a hard look at an economy where essential workers wait for back pay while billionaire wealth climbs by the trillions.

In this packed episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we look at two very different sectors facing the same core issues: safety, job security, and the demand for a voice on the job.

Part 1: UAW Region 2B – Offshoring & The "Shell Game" UAW Region 2B Director Dave Green joins host Ed “Flash” Ferenc to discuss the accelerating manufacturing crisis in Ohio and Indiana.

• The Offshoring Threat: Why Conn-Selmer workers in Eastlake are facing a sudden closure threat while ownership allegedly moves work to China.

• The EV Shift: Why 1,300 layoffs at Ultium Cells in Lordstown are a warning sign for federal incentive rollbacks.

• Corporate Extraction: How hedge fund and private equity models are leaving small-town America "holding the bag."

Part 2: CML United – Library Workers Demand Safety & Fairness Organizers Rahaf Fares and Sabrina Juntunen break down the historic union drive at the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

• Safety First: The reality of 1.5-hour police response times and the call for consistent safety protocols across all branches.

• "Open to All" (Including Staff): Why library workers are seeking neutrality and a contract that addresses the unique needs of part-time staff and the impact of AI.

• The Momentum: How the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) is helping library workers win enforceable standards.

As of January 29, 2026, Minnesota is at the center of a national crisis following the tragic death of Alex Pretti, a VA nurse and AFGE member, while video game workers across the globe prepare for a historic international strike at Ubisoft.

Guest: Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou, President of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation (AFL-CIO)

Following the Day of Truth and Freedom on Jan. 23, Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou joins the show to discuss a community in motion. Despite subzero temperatures, an estimated 90,000 people rallied in Minneapolis to demand an end to ICE's "occupation" of local neighborhoods.

• The Scale of Resistance: Why nearly 100,000 people marched in -23°F weather and how the Target Center became a hub for solidarity within 48 hours.

• The Death of Alex Pretti: A look at the tragic killing of the AFGE Local 3669 member and why labor leaders argue that current enforcement tactics are making workplaces and communities less safe.

• Building a Defense: The surge in Constitutional Observer and nonviolent action trainings, which have tripled in participation as union members choose preparation over retreat.

• Economic Blackout: How 1,000 small businesses stood with labor while major corporations remained silent.

"The resilience of our community is so strong right now. You cannot go into a neighborhood that is not self-organizing." — Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou

Guests: Vlada Monakhova (Montreal) & Anna Webster (Los Angeles), United Videogame Workers-CWA (Local 9433)

The "dream job" of game development is facing a reality check. With United Videogame Workers (UVW-CWA) nearing 600 members since its March 2025 launch, organizers are proving that even "creatives" need the power of a union contract.

• The Ubisoft Strike: Details on the February 10-12 international walkout called by five unions in response to studio closures and the 5-day return-to-office mandate.

   

• The "Art Factory" Myth: Shifting the industry mindset from "passion-driven" to "worker-led" to combat exploitation and $200M cost-cutting plans.

• Contract Wins & AI Protections: How workers at Blizzard, Bethesda, and Sega are securing rights over generative AI and winning residual payments for game releases.

• GDC Festival of Gaming 2026: UVW’s plans for a major presence at the San Francisco event (March 9-13) to organize the next generation of developers.

• Listen to the full episode to hear the firsthand accounts of these labor leaders.

• Support Minneapolis Labor: Contact the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation for nonviolent action training.

• Join the Gaming Movement: Are you a developer or freelancer? Connect with United Videogame Workers-CWA to protect your career.

Keywords: Union Rights 2026, Minneapolis ICE Protests, Alex Pretti AFGE, United Videogame Workers, Ubisoft Strike 2026, CWA Local 9433, Labor Podcast, Collective Bargaining AI.

Pete Ielmini, Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT), joins the show to discuss a massive legislative breakthrough.

• The 54-0 Win: How the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act cleared the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously and what the "suspension" process means for its future.

• Taxpayer Impact: Why auditing 350,000 federal buildings for insulation is a "no-brainer" for energy savings.

• Firestopping is Life Safety: Why union insulators are the experts in containing smoke and flame—and why building owners can’t afford to wait for a tragedy to prioritize it.

• Mental Health Matters: An update on the Insulators’ Member Assistance Program and the push to make mental health support as routine as a safety meeting.

We sit down with Merrilee Logue, Aishat Magbade, and Sarah Duggan Goldstein from the BCBS National Labor Office to talk about the "Food is Medicine" movement.

• Breaking Barriers: Why shift work, overtime, and "food deserts" make healthy eating a structural challenge for union members, not just a personal choice.

• Hidden Benefits: Are you leaving "Medically Tailored Meals" or "Produce Prescriptions" on the table? We discuss how to find these benefits in your existing health plan.

• Small Changes, Big Gains: Practical tips for locals to improve workplace nutrition and combat the chronic diseases that drive up healthcare costs.

"The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act is a no-brainer... it’s not just a bill, it’s a journey toward public savings." — Pete Ielmini

"Food is medicine is the concept that food is a factor for improving health outcomes by preventing, combating, or even managing disease." — Merrilee Logue

1. The status of the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act in the House and Senate.

2. How the Firestop Market Recovery Program is helping contractors win more work.

3. The difference between medically tailored groceries and standard nutrition.

4. How to advocate for better nutrition benefits within your Local.

• Mechanical Insulators LMCT Website

• Blue Cross Blue Shield National Labor Office

• Next Step: Check your health plan for "Medically Tailored Meals" or "Produce Prescriptions" today!

Don’t forget to subscribe to the America’s Work Force Union Podcast for more updates from the front lines of the labor movement!

Solano County’s behavioral health workforce isn't warning of a future risk—they are describing a present-tense catastrophe. Sarah Soroken, a licensed marriage and family therapist and SEIU Local 1021 member, joins the podcast to discuss why 2,000 county workers recently walked out on a two-day strike.

• The Vacancy Gap: With 200 open positions in Health and Social Services, remaining staff are facing "moral injury" and burnout while patients face dangerous waitlists.
• The Human Cost: Why union-driven staffing demands are a public health issue in a county that ranks 15th out of 58 in California suicide rates.
• Budgetary Myths: A look at union "deep dives" into county finances that challenge claims of a financial crisis.

Retired International President of the Machinists Union (IAMAW), Tom Buffenbarger, provides a sobering diagnosis of a country he says has slipped into a 1960s-style crisis—only worse.

• The Investigation Gap: Buffenbarger explains why he trusts state leadership, such as Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, over federal investigators following recent tragedies in Minneapolis.
• The Tariff Price Tag: How trade brinkmanship with Canada is hitting the grocery store (milk, eggs, cereal) and industrial supply chains of working families in the U.S.
• Organizing the Future: Why the Young Workers March on Washington (Feb. 7) represents a "bright spot" for a generation looking for stability through union rights.

• Join the Movement: Visit goiam.org for details on the Young Workers March.

Follow the Fight: See more SEIU 1021 and IAMAW stories on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast.

Whether it’s the rails running through our towns or the fire engines protecting our neighborhoods, the message from labor is urgent: the gap between public rhetoric and actual safety is widening. This episode breaks down the two most critical battles in Labor Legislation 2026.

Nearly three years after the East Palestine, Ohio disaster, why has durable federal reform stalled? Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, joins us to discuss the "eyes and ears" on the ground.

• The RSAC Return: Why the Rail Safety Advisory Committee is vital for real-time risk reporting.
• The 2026 Deadline: The September 30th Surface Transportation Reauthorization is the "hard deadline" Congress cannot ignore.
• Lobbying vs. Lives: A blunt look at why the Rail Safety Act and the Under Pressure Act remain stuck in neutral.

We move to the frontlines in Pennsylvania, where chronic firefighter understaffing is turning routine calls into preventable risks. Ed "Flash" Ferenc sits down with Lou Jimenez (IAFF 735) and Jordan Klein (IAFF 507).

• The 1710 Deficit: Why PA’s average of 2.29 firefighters per engine is a danger to both crews and the public.
• The Volunteer Collapse: The "factory horn" era is over. Why municipalities must transition to career staffing now.
• Grant Gaps: Why SAFER and AFG grants are failing the departments that need them most.

From the ROTOR Act in aviation to NFPA 1710 in the fire service, this episode highlights the shift from “policy” to “permanence.” If it isn't written into law, it can be rolled back.

• Read TTD’s Greg Regan’s Rail Safety Blog: https://awf.labortools.com/listen/rail-safety-reform-greg-regan-2026
• Read the IAFF Local 735 and 507 Blog: https://awf.labortools.com/listen/pa-firefighter-staffing-crisis-iaff-2026

On today’s episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Sue Browne, Rapid Response Coordinator for District 1 of the United Steelworkers, took center stage. With more than 30 years as a Steelworker and deep roots in Local 5965 in Michigan, Browne reflected on her path from the assembly line to union activism. She shared insights into the USW Rapid Response program, its communication strategies, and its Balancing the Scales campaign, which aims to advance core workplace issues for union members in Ohio and Michigan.

On this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Richard Shavzin, 1st Vice President of the SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local and Executive Board member of the Illinois AFL-CIO, discussed artificial intelligence. The conversation covered the implications for union performers and the broader creative sector, potential job security risks, personal agency concerns and the rapidly evolving legal landscape as AI reshapes entertainment and media. Shavzin drew on his decades of industry experience and recent service on Governor Pritzker’s AI task force, which he said put him in a vital role as an advocate for labor in the new age of technology.

Lynn LaPlante, a concert violinist and member of the Chicago Federation of Musicians, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her campaign for Illinois State Representative. She highlighted her union background, community service through music, her decision to run for office and the importance of grassroots support in her campaign for the state legislature.

This episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast featured Jon Schleuss, President of the NewsGuild-CWA, who discussed the recent announcement that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will close after a legal win for the union that was achieved through the courts, and what it means for journalists and local news in Pittsburgh.

This episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast spotlighted Siobhan Standaert, a research analyst at Good Jobs First, a nonprofit focused on corporate accountability and labor rights. Standaert shared her unique background—from her roots in a commercial fishing family to leading a deckhand apprenticeship program with the Deep Sea Fishermen’s Union of the Pacific and, ultimately, joining Good Jobs First—to better understand her commitment to worker advocacy.

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Lisa Cutler, Director of Communications for the Alliance for Retired Americans, discussed recent changes to prescription drug pricing, adjustments to Social Security benefits, Medicare premiums and the impact of staff cuts at Social Security field offices.

Pat Gallagher, President of the North Coast Area Labor Federation and a retired member of the United Steelworkers, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss new job openings at Cleveland Cliffs and reflect on the evolution of labor contracts in the steel industry.

Jason Monteith, Vice President of the Service Employees International Union-West in Saskatchewan, Canada, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss healthcare worker shortages, the rise of privatization and stalled contract negotiations, which affect both frontline workers and patients. SEIU West represents nearly 15,000 workers across healthcare, community-based organizations, education, and the private sector in the province of Saskatchewan. SEIU-West is affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour.