America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Helena Worthen (Working Class Perspective) / Roy Houseman (USW)

Helena Worthen and Joe Barry, both writers for Working Class Perspectives, joined the AWF Union Podcast today and spoke about the need for college professors to organize and join a union. They also discussed Higher Education Labor United and the organization’s upcoming Winter Summit.

 

United Steelworkers Legislative Director Roy Houseman was featured on the podcast and spoke on the America Competes Act and how the legislation, once reconciled with a similar Senate bill, will provide funding for the production of semiconductor chips in the U.S., improve supply chains for critical items and support scientific research and innovation.

 

Doreen Greenwald (NTEU) / Bill Samuel ( AFL-CIO)

Doreen Greenwald, Vice President of NTEU, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss how budget cuts, staffing issues and the COVID-19 pandemic have affected Internal Revenue Service employees.

 

AFL-CIO Director of Government Affairs Bill Samuel was the second featured guest and spoke about ‘Vulture Capitalism’ and how it has negatively impacted the 1,100 striking mine workers at Warrior Met Coal in Alabama. 

Pete Ielmini (Insulators LMCT) / John Murphy (International Brotherhood of Teamsters)

Pete Ielmini Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust Executive Director joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about President Joe Biden signing an Executive Order mandating the use of Project Labor Agreement on federally funded projects worth at least $35 million.       

 

John Murphy, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Vice President At-Large, also appeared on the podcast to discuss the Butch Lewis Act and how it will save struggling multi-employer pension funds.

Tom Buffenbarger (Independent Labor Observer) / Len DiCosimo (AFM Local 4)

The first guest on today’s America’s Work Force Union Podcast is Tom Buffenbarger, an independent labor observer who shared his thoughts about the Netflix documentary “DownFall.” The documentary looks at two crashes involving the Boeing 737 Max. He also discussed the benefits of a deal between Boeing and Qatar Airways, which will create good-paying union jobs in Cincinnati. 

 

Len DiCosimo, the President of AFM Local 4, explained the benefits of the American Music Fairness Act; discussed the need to pass The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act; and touched on an upcoming production at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. 

Sam Phipps (Union Sportsmen’s Alliance) / Brian Stanley (IUPAT DC 53)

Sam Phipps the Conservation Program Manager for the Union Sportsmen's Alliance joined the America’s Work Force union podcast to speak about how the United Association Veterans in Piping Program (UA VIP) helped him join the building trades. He also discussed the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance plan to surpass 500,000 members this year. 

 

Brian Stanley, Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer for International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 53, was the second podcast guest. He discussed receiving the General President’s Award for Excellence in Organizing at the IUPAT 32nd General Convention earlier this year and how other IUPAT District Councils are now modeling recruitment efforts after the approach by DC 53.

Norm Wernet (Alliance for Retired Americans) / Jeff Stoffer ( American Legion)

Jeff Stoffer, Media and Communications Director for the American Legion, was the first guest on today’s AWF Union podcast. He spoke about the need for more quality healthcare workers at the VA, efforts to better serve the needs of women and providing better mental healthcare. He also spoke about the buddy check program and Louisiana State University, which was initially a military academy. 

 

Norm Wernet, President for the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans, was our second guest on the podcast and he discussed a lawsuit by the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans challenging the state of Florida’s restrictive voting law, a potential violation of the National Voter Registration Act in Texas and the continued issues surrounding Ohio redistricting maps.

Kelly Candaele (The Nation) /Pat Gallagher (North Coast Area Labor Federation)

Kelly Candaele, our first guest on today’s AWF Union Podcast, discussed an article he wrote in the Nation Magazine regarding professional baseball players. Those players who only “have a cup of coffee” in the big leagues must find a new career once their playing days are through. 

 

Steelworkers Local 14919 President Terrell Williams and Pat Gallagher, President of North Coast Area Labor Federation, also joined the podcast. They talked about a strike at a Sherwin-Williams plant in Ohio and the possibility of organizing an AM/NS Calvert Plant. 

Willie Haywood, Jr. (American Federation of Government Employees) / Jamie Seymour (UA Local 669)

Willie Haywood, Jr. of the American Federation of Government Employees was the first guest on the AWF Union Podcast. He spoke about an Executive Order by President Joe Biden that rescinded actions by former President Donald Trump and how it helped boost the morale of AFGE members. 

 

Our second guest on the AWF Union Podcast was Jamie Seymour, owner of M&S Fire Protection and a member of UA Local 669. He discussed proposed legislation in the State of New York that would mandate sprinkler fitters to be licensed. 

Melissa Cropper (Ohio Federation of Teachers, AFT) / Shawn Steffee (Boilermakers Local 154)

Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper was the first featured guest on today’s edition of the AWF Union Podcast. She spoke about a new poll showing strong support for public education, how redrawn congressional maps are not favorable for public education advocates to run for seats on the State Board of Education and the upcoming OFT biennial convention.

 

Also featured on the podcast today was Boilermakers Local 154 Business Agent Shawn Steffee. He discussed how Boilermakers are navigating the “green and renewable” trend in energy conservation, carbon capture to make fossil fuels more efficient and the Boilermakers apprenticeship program.

James Cole (Ironworkers Local 167) / Mike Pope (IATSE Local 317)

Today’s America’s Work Force Union Podcast episode is a “best of” show from Jan. 12.

The first featured guest was James Cole, Business Manager and Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Ironworkers Local 167. He spoke about a massive project to build a campus for Ford Motor Co. in Tennessee. 

IATSE Local 317 President Mike Pope was also featured on the podcast. He discussed the benefits union members receive and discussed how IATSE paid the insurance costs of its members, regardless of their ability to pay, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.