America’s Work Force Union Podcast

James Benton, Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor | Pat Gallagher, USW

On this edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, James Benton, Director of the Race and Economic Empowerment Project at Georgetown University's Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the history of trade deals in America, their impact on workers and the challenges posed by automation and artificial intelligence.

Pat Gallagher, a retired United Steelworker with over 47 years of experience and President of the North Coast Area Labor Federation in Cleveland, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the recent explosion at a U.S. Steel plant in Pennsylvania, the importance of union safety protocols and upcoming political races in Ohio.

Martin O’Malley, SSA | Ian Fritz, IATSE Local 415

Today’s edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, featured Martin O’Malley, former Maryland governor and Social Security Commissioner, who joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the 90th anniversary of Social Security, current threats to the program and potential solutions to ensure its long-term viability.

 

Ian Fritz, Business Agent for IATSE Local 415 in Tucson, Ariz., joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss recent organizing victories at the Loft Cinema and Arizona Theatre Company.

Andrew Strom, NLRB | Tom Suhrbur, ILHS

Andrew Strom, labor lawyer and adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the current state of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

 

On today’s Labor 131 segment, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Tom Suhrbur, author and retired organizer for the Illinois Education Association (IEA), discussed his book "Public Education and Social Reform: A History of the Illinois Education Association." 

Frank Mathews, CWA | Jessie Wilkerson, University of Tennessee

Today’s edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, featured Jessie Wilkerson, Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, who shared her insights on the 1929 Elizabethton textile strike, highlighting the role of young female workers and the harsh conditions they faced. Wilkerson discussed the strike's origins, its impact and its place in labor history.

 

Frank Mathews, Administrative Director for District 4 of the Communication Workers of America (CWA),  joined the America’s Work Force Labor Podcast and discussed the CWA's national convention, the organization's strike fund and the challenges facing broadband expansion efforts.

Lauren Braun-Strumfels, Cedar Crest College | Jenny Bueno, UAW

This edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, featured Lauren Braun-Strumfels, an Associate Professor of History at Cedar Crest College, who discussed her research on Italian immigration and its influence on U.S. labor history. 

 

Jenny Bueno, a paralegal at CAMBA Legal Services and a member of UAW Local 2325, discussed the ongoing strike by legal services workers to secure better wages, improve parental leave and provide new measures to address burnout among staff.

 

Andrea Ringer, TSU (131) | Rob Dorans ACT Ohio

Today’s edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, features Andrea Ringer, Associate Professor of History at Tennessee State University, who shared her insights on the labor history of circus workers from the late 19th to mid-20th century. 

 

Rob Dorans, President Pro Tem of the Columbus City Council and Chief Legal Counsel for ACT Ohio, discussed his efforts to expand prevailing wage laws, combat wage theft and forgive medical debt for low-income residents.

Carie Rael, LAWCHA | Tim Smith, UAW

On this edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Carie Rael, Assistant Professor in History at California State University, Long Beach, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the 1984 Disneyland strike, recent labor victories and the evolving landscape of union representation at the theme park.

 

Tim Smith, Director of Region 8 for the United Auto Workers, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss ongoing organizing efforts at Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tenn., recent investments by General Motors and the UAW's push to utilize existing manufacturing capacity in the U.S. auto industry.

Rudi Batzell, UAW | Ken Margolies, Union Search

This edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, features Rudi Batzell, Associate Professor of History at Lake Forest College and former UAW Staff Organizer, who joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his book “Organizing Workers in the Shadow of Slavery.” 

Ken Margolies, partner at Margolies, Potterton and Associates, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss Union Search, a service helping labor organizations fill key staff positions. Margolies explored the growing need for executive search services in unions, the challenges of managing internal politics during hiring processes and strategies for objective candidate evaluation.

 

Tim Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO | D. Caleb Smith, Mount Holyoke College

On this edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, D. Caleb Smith, Assistant Professor of History at Mount Holyoke College, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the origins and evolution of affirmative action. Smith explored the term's roots in the 1935 National Labor Relations Act, its development through the Civil Rights era and its current challenges under the Trump administration.

Tim Burga, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his concerns about Ohio’s allocation of public funds to private schools, property tax reforms and potential impacts on public services.

Justin Jackson, UMass Amherst | Jennifer Bacon and Alan Bond, IATSE Local 15

In honor of the 131st year of Labor Day, the America’s Work Force Union Podcast has partnered with the National Labor Office of Blue Cross Blue Shield to bring you Labor 131. Visiting lecturer at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Justin Jackson, joined the podcast to discuss the intertwining of labor history and warfare in the U.S. 

 

Jennifer Bacon, President of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 15, and Alan Bond, Local 15 Assistant Business Agent, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the recent ICE detention of union member Fernando Rocha.