America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Josh Ruyle and Matt Davis, Dignity Apparel | Scott Paul, AAM

Josh Ruyle and Matt Davis from Image Pointe and Dignity Apparel joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast this Fourth of July to discuss their union-made and American-made apparel and what it means to be USA-made and union-made.

Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss USA-made companies and reshoring the manufacturing industry this Independence Day.

Tim Ryan, Former Ohio Congressman | Sherrod Brown, U.S. Senate | Dave Megenhardt, ULA

Tim Ryan, Former Ohio Congressman and Co-Chair of Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the need for a common-sense approach to the clean energy transition. He talked about the stress new AI facilities and data centers will have on the existing energy grid and the need for union workers to ensure that the changes to the energy industry go smoothly.

Following U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s short discussion with our host, Dave Megenhardt, Executive Director of the United Labor Agency (ULA) in Cleveland, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss some of the changes made at the organization over the past 53 years.

Tim Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO | Richard Mack Jr., Miller Cohen, P.L.C.

Tim Burga, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about a recent labor roundtable tour he did with labor leaders around Ohio. Burga also talked about the end of the signature gathering stage for a proposed constitutional amendment in Ohio and what’s next for Citizens Not Politicians.

Richard Mack Jr., a union labor lawyer with Miller Cohen, P.L.C., joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the impact of the new overtime regulations and how the Chevron Deference being overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court could negatively impact unions and the working class.

Sam Petschulat and Vonda McDaniel, Music City Construction Careers | Karla Walter, CAP

On today’s America’s Work Force Union podcast, Music City Construction Careers (MC3) Executive Director Sam Petschulat and President Vonda McDaniel joined us to discuss how the organization is filling a gap for unions and helping introduce workers to the benefits of joining a union.

Karla Walter, Senior Fellow for Inclusive Economy with the Center for American Progress (CAP), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss why workers are winning a higher percentage of union elections when the National Labor Relations Board oversees the vote than at any point in the past 15 years. Walter also discussed how current policies are helping union victories and a potential problem on the horizon for organizing workers.

Mandy Jo Ganieany, IUPAT DC 30 | Robert Ford Jr., USW Local 2L

Mandy Jo Ganieany, the Organizing Director for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 30, which covers North Central Illinois and three counties in Wisconsin, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her experience as a woman in the trades. She also discussed why she became an organizer and a recent event to recruit more women into the trades. 

Robert Ford Jr., United Steelworkers Local 2L member in Akron, Ohio, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss how the union has made a difference in his life and how he’s used those benefits to give back to the local community with Forever R Children.

Brent Booker, LIUNA | Merrilee Logue and Keisha Adams, NLO BCBSA

Brent Booker, General President of the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his first 14 months in charge of the union. He also discussed the new strategies the union will use on its March to One Million, including utilizing a new, state-of-the-art studio.

Merrilee Logue, Executive Director of the National Labor Office (NLO) at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), and Keisha Adams, Managing Director of Strategic Execution and Partnerships for BCBSA, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about their new partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of America to improve youth mental health care.

Pete Ielmini, Mechanical Insulators LMCT | Johnny Jones, AFGE Council 100

Pete Ielmini, Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to provide an update on the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act (FMIA). Ielmini also talked about the Insulators Member Assistance Program (IMAP) and a new program to train foremen to be ambassadors for the industry.

Johnny Jones, Secretary-Treasurer for American Federation of Government Employees Council 100, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the historic new contract, and how it will help reduce turnover.

Sword Health | Tom Buffenbarger

Shawn McLoughlin, Vice-President of Labor and Trust, Jerry Gallo, Regional Vice President of Labor and Trust, and Jenn Delman, and Senior Clinical Specialist, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast on behalf of Sword Health. They discussed the effects of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders on building trades members and how digital care solutions can help improve health funds services for their members.

Tom Buffenbarger, former International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the design flaws with the 737 Series planes produced by Boeing at a non-union plant in South Carolina.

Jackie Townsend, Bricklayers ADC 1 | Greg Regan, TTD

Jackie Townsend, a member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Administrative District Council 1 of Illinois (ADC 1) and bricklaying instructor with Paul Simon Job Corps, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about finding herself in the trowel trades and how the union has positively impacted her life. She also talked about the way that the BAC has helped her carve out a sense of belonging and what she’s doing to provide that to other people.

Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his recent testimony on public transit in America. Regan also discussed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) efforts to set a federal standard for worker protection against extreme temperatures and the positives from Solidarity Summer.

Jeff Stoffer, American Legion | Richard Fiesta, Alliance for Retired Americans

Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications for the American Legion, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. Stoffer also discussed the impact of the G.I. Bill and previewed an article from July’s edition of the Legion Magazine.

Rich Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the need for better retirement planning. He also discussed upcoming events focused on education for the November election and the Alliance’s Annual Congressional Voting Record.