America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Jeff Stoffer, American Legion | Rich Fiesta, Alliance for Retired Americans

Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications for the American Legion, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the organization's centennial baseball tournament, the USA 250 Challenge and the Legion's impact on communities nationwide.

Rich Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, discussed the potential impact of budget cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and other programs, as well as their upcoming anniversaries.

Mark Dimondstein, APWU | Pat Gallagher, North Coast Area Labor Federation

Mark Dimondstein, President of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the recent ratification of a new contract for postal workers, the appointment of a new Postmaster General with ties to FedEx and the ongoing threats of privatization facing the U.S. Postal Service.

Pat Gallagher, President of the North Coast Area Labor Federation, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the pending sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel and the upcoming political landscape for labor.

David Cann, AFGE|Brad Asay, AFT Utah

David Cann, Director of Organizing for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the union's response to federal workforce challenges, organizing strategies and the importance of collective action in protecting workers' rights.

 

Brad Asay, President of the American Federation of Teachers in Utah and Vice President of the Utah AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the Protect Utah Workers coalition's successful petition drive, the upcoming ballot measure and efforts to safeguard public sector collective bargaining rights.

Melissa Cropper Ohio Federation of Teachers|Tom Spiggle founder Spiggle Law Firm

Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the state budget's impact on education, changes to the State Teachers Retirement System and new legislation affecting higher education in Ohio.

 

Tom Spiggle, founder of the Spiggle Law Firm and employment attorney, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the pay disparity highlighted by WNBA star Caitlin Clark's salary. Spiggle explored the structural barriers women face in the workforce, the impact of collective bargaining agreements on pay equity and ongoing efforts to address wage discrimination.

Andrew Strom, Labor Lawyer | Bob Funk, LaborLab

Andrew Strom, labor lawyer, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions involving a disabled firefighter, an Apple Store in New York and a Starbucks location in Los Angeles.

Bob Funk, founder of LaborLab, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the rise in union-busting activities, the importance of transparency in labor relations and LaborLab's efforts to educate organizers about employer disclosure requirements.

Barry Winograd, arbitrator, mediator and adjunct law professor | David Leopold, Labor Lawyer

Barry Winograd, arbitrator, mediator and adjunct law professor, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle federal sector unions. Winograd explored the legal challenges to Collective Bargaining Agreements, the use of national security as justification and the potential long-term impacts on workers' rights.

David Leopold, an immigration and labor attorney, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the current state of immigration enforcement, its impact on workers and businesses and the urgent need for comprehensive reform.

Ashley Fueston, WFSE | Hannah Halbert, Policy Matters Ohio

Ashley Fueston, Vice President of the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the union's recent victory against proposed budget cuts, the importance of worker solidarity and the ongoing challenges faced by public sector employees in Washington state.

Hannah Halbert, Executive Director of Policy Matters Ohio, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss Ohio's new flat tax, its impact on public services and the future of state funding. Halbert highlighted how the flat tax disproportionately benefits the wealthy, explained its negative impact on education funding and warned about potential long-term consequences for Ohio's budget.

Jon Schleuss, TNG-CWA | Len Aguilar, Texas AFL-CIO

Jon Schleuss, President of The NewsGuild, Communications Workers of America (TNG-CWA), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the ongoing strike at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the use of artificial intelligence in journalism and the News Guild's lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security. Schleuss also shared insights on recent union organizing efforts in the media industry.

Len Aguilar, Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas AFL-CIO, appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about the ongoing flood recovery efforts in Texas, the impact of potential FEMA cuts and immigration issues affecting workers. Aguilar emphasized the need for long-term support and highlighted the labor movement's role in disaster response.

Frank Mathews, CWA | Dave Jamieson, Huffpost

Frank Mathews, District 4 Administrative Director for the Communication Workers of America, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the recent budget bill signed by President Trump, its impact on working Americans and the challenges facing rural broadband expansion. 

Dave Jamieson, a reporter for HuffPost, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the severe staffing shortages plaguing national parks, the Trump administration's push for early retirements and the long-term consequences of these cuts on park maintenance and visitor experiences.

Nina Mast, EPI | Greg LeRoy, Good Jobs First

Nina Mast, Economic Analyst at the Economic Policy Institute, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the shortcomings of the "No Tax on Tips" policy. She explained why this policy fails to benefit most workers, how it compares to raising the minimum wage and the broader implications for tax policy and worker welfare.

Greg LeRoy, founder of Good Jobs First, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the trend of states losing billions in tax revenue to datacenter incentives, the potential impact on utility rates and the lack of incentive transparency in many states.