"It's Okay Not to Be Okay" – How the USW is Reimagining Mental Health & Workplace Safety

Every victory at the bargaining table starts with workers standing together—but solidarity means looking out for each other's minds as well as their livelihoods.

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!