America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Lee Saunders, AFSCME | Sylvester Taylor, IBEW Local 1

On a day dedicated to honoring civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the America's Work Force Union Podcast dove into the intertwined history of labor rights and civil rights. We welcomed Lee Saunders, President of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), to discuss the union's pivotal role in the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers' Strike and the ongoing fight for workers' rights.

Continuing our special Martin Luther King Jr. episode, America’s Work Force Union Podcast welcomed Sylvester Taylor, Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC) and 34-year member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 in St. Louis. Taylor shared his experience and journey in the trades and how the union has led him to be a leader in the IBEW’s efforts to improve diversity and inclusion.

Jeff Stoffer, American Legion | Norm Wernet, Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans

Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications at the American Legion, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the response of Post 283 to the Los Angeles wildfires. He also spoke about a couple of stories in the February edition of the American Legion magazine and the need for a GI Bill 2.0.

Norm Wernet, President of the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to speak about the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act and its positive impact nationwide on millions of retirees. 

Timothy James, Ironworker Anthem | Pat Gallagher, NCALF

Timothy James, a former member of Iron Workers Local 7, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to share his unique journey from setting iron to singing on stages, and the inspiration behind his new song, "Ironworker Anthem."

Pat Gallagher, President of the North Coast Area Labor Federation and retired United Steelworkers member, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to provide his thoughts on the ongoing legal battle involving U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel.

Daniel Horowitz, AFGE | Dave Jamieson, HuffPost

Daniel Horowitz, Acting Legislative Director for the American Federation of Government Employees, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to share insights on the union's concerns and strategies to protect workers' rights as President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office on Jan. 20.  He also discussed reconciliation and how it could lead to budget cuts for programs most Americans support.

Dave Jamieson, labor reporter for the Huffington Post, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his investigation into the plight of traveling nurses and how forced arbitration imposes financial burdens on them.

Frank Mathews, CWA District 4 | Andrew Strom, OnLabor Blog

Frank Mathews, Administrative Director for District 4 of the Communication Workers of America (CWA), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss critical issues facing workers in the telecommunications industry, expanding broadband access and why the Wisconsin Supreme Court election matters for labor. 

Andrew Strom, a labor lawyer and law professor at the Brooklyn Law School, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the complexities facing the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the impact of President Biden's pro-union tenure.

Kim Kelly, Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor

On this episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, author and journalist Kim Kelly shared insights on labor organizing tactics, focusing on salting as a strategy where individuals take non-union jobs to unionize workplaces. She highlighted its historical roots and recent resurgence, particularly in efforts at Amazon and Starbucks. Kelly emphasized the role young people could play in the labor movement, drawing parallels between past and present activism and discussed the challenges posed by anti-union rhetoric.

Kelly also discussed her books on labor history, including "Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor" and the young readers' edition, "Fight to Win." She explained her motivation for making labor history accessible to younger audiences and addressed the challenges of publishing such content amidst current trends in book banning.

David Green, UAW Region 2B

Dave Green, Director of UAW Region 2B, shared insights on the United Auto Workers' recent contract negotiations and strikes on this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast. He highlighted the union's aggressive tactics in 2024, including the use of live updates from UAW President Sean Fain, and discussed the impact of these strategies on company actions, particularly at Stellantis. Green emphasized the importance of strong representation and the ongoing fight for workers' rights, while also addressing the challenges posed by the transition to electric vehicles and the need to secure union jobs in this evolving market.

This episode with Green also covered the diversity of industries now represented by the UAW, which now includes healthcare, aerospace and law enforcement. He discussed the union's organizing efforts, especially in the Southern U.S. and the challenges faced in non-union auto plants. Green underscored the significance of union protections in "at-will" employment states and the phenomenon of non-union plants offering raises in response to UAW contract gains, which he referred to as the "UAW bump."

Sue Martin, Nebraska AFL-CIO | Jonathan Light, Teamsters Local 8

Sue Martin, President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Nebraska State AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her path to her current role, the challenges faced by workers in Nebraska and the successful efforts to raise the minimum wage through citizen-led initiatives.

Jonathan Light, President and Business Agent of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 8, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to share insights into the contract negotiations between Penn State University and Local 8 members.

Alicia Boreman, ULA | Jacob Morrison, TVLR

As the new year begins, many Americans grapple with mental health challenges exacerbated by holiday stress, unfulfilled resolutions and ongoing societal pressures. To address these concerns, America's Work Force Union Podcast welcomed Alicia Boreman, Clinical Director of the United Labor Agency (ULA) Counseling Center, to discuss the critical importance of mental health support in the workplace and beyond.

Jacob Morrison, President of the North Alabama Area Labor Council and co-host of The Valley Labor Report, joined the America's Workforce Union Podcast to shed light on pressing labor issues facing the state.

Jason Perlman, Ohio AFL-CIO | Kenny Smigle, IW Local 549

Jason Perlman, Political Director for the Ohio AFL-CIO, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the current state of labor in Ohio and the challenges that lie ahead for labor in 2025.

Kenny Smigle, Business Agent for Iron Workers Local 549, joined America’s Workforce Union Podcast to discuss the industry's thriving opportunities and challenges. Based in Wheeling, W.Va., Local 549 is at the forefront of several major infrastructure projects, offering many a pathway to the middle class.