America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Jeff Stoffer (American Legion) / Rich Fiesta (Alliance for Retired Americans)

The first guest that was featured on America's Work Force Radio Podcast was Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications with the American Legion. He previewed the upcoming edition of the publication and spoke about some of the stories that were featured in the issue. One of the stories he previews involves a soldier who fought on D-Day, and some of his artwork that he sketched while on the battlefield.

The second featured guest today was Rich Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. He spoke about President Trump and his attacks on social security. He also addressed certain states making it difficult for people to vote by mail. 

Michael Shields (Policy Matters Ohio) / Josh Nassar (United Auto Workers)

The first featured guest today on America's Work Force Radio Podcast was Michael Shields, Researcher for Policy Matters Ohio. He spoke about how raising the minimum wage to $13 an hour by 2025 will help more than 1.4 million Ohio workers.

The second featured guest was Josh Nassar, Legislative Coordinator for the United Auto Workers who spoke about the Heroes Act and why he believes it will be beneficial to frontline workers. 

Madelyn Hoffman (Green Party U.S.) / Tom Germuska, Jr. (The Labor Citizen)

The first guest on America's Work Force Radio Podcast was Madelyn Hoffman, Green Party U.S. Senate Candidate of New Jersey and she spoke about workplaces meeting safety standards so their workers can feel safe while on the job. Hoffman also talked about how workers should receive hazard pay, unlimited sick days, and be supplied with personal protective equipment by their employers.

Tom Germuska, Jr., editor of the Labor Citizen was the second featured guest on the show today. Germuska previewed three stories that are going to be featured in the next edition of the publication. The stories detailed the Belmont County Cracker Plant project delay, unemployment funds being depleted, and Sheet Metal Workers in Ohio volunteering to make the metal nose pieces used in creating protective masks.

Dave Wondolowski (Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council) / Frank Mathews (Communication Workers of America D4)

The first guest on America's Work Force Radio Podcast today was Frank Mathews, District 4 Administrative Director of the Communication Workers of America. Mathews discussed the U.S. Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act fights to prevent the offshoring and outsourcing of U.S. call center jobs. He also spoke about workers fighting for safer work conditions at Frontier Communications.

Dave Wondolowski, Executive Secretary of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council spoke about safety standards and regulations for construction workers who are still working during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also spoke about the Sherwin Williams Headquarters project in Cleveland, Ohio that was delayed because of the pandemic.

Andrew Tinkham (Ohio Consumers Counsel) / Tony Liberatore, Jr. (Laborers 860)

The first guest featured today on America's Work Force Radio Podcast was Andrew Tinkham, Senior Outreach and Education Program Specialist for the Ohio Consumers' Counsel and he spoke about public water service companies decision to not shut their services off to people who could not afford to pay their water bills in full during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also spoke about the ongoing issues with Verde Energy.

The second featured guest on the show today was Tony Liberatore, Jr., Business Manager for Laborers Local 860 in Cleveland, Ohio who spoke about keeping construction workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also discussed spring awareness for construction workers and to be extra cautious when driving through construction zones on highways. 

Joyce Goldstein (Goldstein Gragel, LLC) / Jim Cullen (Progressive Populist)

Our first guest on America's Work Force Radio Podcast was Jim Cullen, editor of the Progressive Populist. He spoke about President Trump downplaying the threat of the COVID-19 virus when he was first informed about it and did not prepare America for it properly.

Our second guest was Joyce Goldstein, a labor and employee benefits lawyer representing unions and employee benefit funds in Cleveland for over 30 years with Goldstein Gragel LLC, she discussed worker rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Senator Sherrod Brown / Brian Kelley (Kelley & Ferraro)

The first guest on America's Work Force Radio Podcast was Brian Kelley, attorney for Kelley & Ferraro, LLC. and he discussed the heartburn drug Zantac and how it is connected to various forms of cancer. 

The second guest featured on America's Work Force Radio Podcast was Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and he discussed his “Heroes Fund” plan for essential workers, President Trump reopening meat packing facilities without meeting safety standards put in place by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the possibility of a second stimulus package. 

Marcy Kaptur ( U.S. Representative for Ohio's 9th District) / Danielle Root (Center for American Progress)

Today on America's Work Force Radio Podcast our first guest, Marcy Kaptur, U.S. Representative for Ohio’s 9th District spoke about the shortage of personal protective equipment for first responders. She also discussed the Paycheck Protection Act.

The second guest on the podcast today was Danielle Root, Associate Director of Voting Rights and Access to Justice at the Center for American Progress spoke about preparing for elections in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, election security, and the CARES Act. 

Tim Burga (Ohio AFL-CIO) / Sharon Johnson (The Progressive)

The first guest on the show today was Ohio AFL-CIO President, Tim Burga, who detailed his testimony to the Ohio House Task Force about the protection of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also spoke about the United States dependence on other countries for manufacturing. 

The description of his testimony can be found here: http://ohioaflcio.com/president-burga-testifies-ohio-house-task-force-protect-ohios-workers/

Sharon Johnson, author of the article "Hell No, You Can't Go" for the Progressive spoke about how non-compete agreements are being used against low wage workers, preventing them from working for competitors. 

Check out her article on the Progressive's website, here: https://progressive.org/magazine/hell-no-you-cant-go-johnson/

Sue McConnell (Better Business Bureau) / Mark Gruenberg (PAI Union News)

Our first guest, Mark Gruenberg, labor writer for Press Associates Union spoke about what will happen when the economy reopens, and issues at meat packing facilities involving the COVID-19 virus.

Our second guest, Sue McConnell, President of the Cleveland Better Business Bureau spoke about online scams that people should be on the lookout for during the COVID-19 pandemic.