America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Holding the Line: Big Wins for USW at Libbey Glass and Nurses at UPMC Magee

In today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we go behind the scenes of two major labor victories where workers refused to back down in the face of corporate pressure.

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.

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Building the Masonry Pipeline & Challenging NLRB Supervisor Rulings

In today's episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we explore two critical fronts of the labor movement: proactive workforce development in the trades and the legal defense of bargaining unit integrity.

Segment 1: Masonry’s Next Generation in Central NY

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.

Segment 2: Protecting the Bargaining Unit from Technical Exclusions

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.

Building Union Power: Mastering the Business of Contracting & Expanding Indigenous Trades Pathways

In this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we dive deep into the two pillars of a thriving labor movement: professional excellence in the business of construction and inclusive recruitment that reaches remote communities.

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.

Tariffs, Layoffs and Safe Staffing with Tom Buffenbarger and SEIU 121RN’s Guillermo Mendoza-Lujan

In this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we examine the intersection of trade policy, healthcare funding and the rising tide of union organizing across the United States.

Segment 1: The High Cost of Broad Tariffs

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.

Segment 2: California’s Healthcare Staffing Crisis

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.

Building Worker Power: From Union Resurgence to Transportation Safety Reforms

The labor movement is shifting from a defensive crouch to a bold offensive strategy.

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.

Social Security Data Breaches & The Future of America’s Downtowns

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we examine the shifting landscapes of our physical cities and our digital security. We are joined by two leaders at the forefront of veteran and retiree advocacy to discuss the "reset" of the American downtown and the escalating fight to protect Social Security data.

Segment 1: The New American Landscape & Veteran Health

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.

Segment 2: Protecting the Retiree Safety Net

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.

The Blue-Collar Blueprint: From Union Apprenticeships to Pattern Bargaining Wins

In this action-packed episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we tackle the legislative and local battles shaping the lives of industrial workers in the Midwest and beyond.

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

Union Hurdles & Modern Mergers: The Battle for Worker Power in CO and IL

How can the labor movement overcome outdated laws and geographical silos to build true worker power? Today on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we tackle the legislative and organizational strategies shaping the future of unions in the Midwest and the West.

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.

Teamsters Local 2010 on Strike at CSU and OFT Sounds the Alarm

In this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we dive into two major battles for the future of public education and worker rights.

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.

APWU President Jonathan Smith on "Pseudo-Privatization" and the Future of Your Mail

Is the U.S. Postal Service being set up to fail?

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.