America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Josh Phillips, Eberts & Harrison | Len Dicosimo, North Shore Federation of Labor and AFM Local 4

Josh Phillips, Director of Business Development for Eberts & Harrison, Inc., joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the difference their union-focused insurance company can make for union training centers and Local and International unions. He talked about the way the company works to provide the best policies to clients and even discussed a recent experience where their union shop was able to make a difference for a Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Len Dicosimo, President of the American Federation of Musicians Local 4 and the North Shore Federation of Labor, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the recent NLRB petition by faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music for union representation from AFM Local 4. Dicosimo also discussed the summer Musical Rally schedule and the approval of a levy to support Cuyahoga Arts and Culture on the November ballot.

Adam Keller, The Valley Labor Report | Matt Rothchild

Adam Keller, Co-host of The Valley Labor Report, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about recent work they’ve done with Local unions and a fundraiser they’ll be co-hosting in the Huntsville, Ala. area. Keller also discussed some of the organizing victories in the South and what the North Alabama Area Labor Council is doing to educate high school students about the trades.

Matt Rothchild, former editor of the Progressive Magazine and former Executive Director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his new project with Civic Media. He also talked about the history of anti-union legislation in Wisconsin and what the state is doing to overturn the 2011 Wisconsin Act 10.

J. Albert Mann, Shift Happens | Tim Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO

J. Albert Mann, author of Shift Happens: The History of Labor in the United States, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about her newly released book, and how she was inspired to write about the history of the labor movement. Mann discussed why the book is written for Young Adults (YA) and how they can use it to help them prepare for entering the workforce.

President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, Tim Burga, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss why he’s meeting with leaders in the AFL-CIO, and an update on the Citizens, not Politicians effort to get a constitutional amendment on Ohio’s November ballot.

Ted Pappageorge, UNITE HERE, Culinary Union Local 226 | Andrew Spar, FEA

As part of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast's ongoing effort to share the issues unions face across the country, we featured portions of the May 23 press conference from UNITE HERE Culinary Workers Union Local 226 Secretary-Treasurer, Ted Pappageorge, where he discussed the ongoing negotiations with Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. He discussed the strike at the property held from May 10-12 and his thoughts on the progress of negotiations since the strike.

Following Andrew Spar’s most recent appearance on the show, today’s episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast features portions of a May 29 press conference, where Spar and several leaders within the Florida Education Association discuss funding for public schools and the increasing teacher and staff shortage across the state.

Josh Sturm, Color Health, and Mullissa Willette, SEIU Local 521 | Lawrence Abbott, Move to Amend

Mullissa Willette, President of the Service Employees International Union Local 521, and Josh Sturm, Chief Revenue Officer at Color Health, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the reasons union members are receiving cancer diagnoses at a higher rate than average, and how Color Health is helping union members receive quality care.

Lawrence Abbott, a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 70, delegate to the Alameda Labor Council and Labor Caucus Co-Chair for Move to Amend, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss that group’s effort to amend the U.S. Constitution to remove money and lobbying from politics and pave a way to improve labor laws.

Gary Mendell, Shatterproof and Dr. James Polo, Carelon Behavioral Health | Merrilee Logue, NLO and Dr. Raiza Hashmi, BCBSA

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, the America’s Work Force Union Podcast’s coverage continues with Dr. James Polo, Chief Medical Officer for Carelon Behavioral Health, and Gary Mendell, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Shatterproof. The two discussed how substance use and mental health issues impacted their families, what they are doing now to help those suffering from addiction and eliminating the stigma around mental health care conversations.

Merrilee Logue, Executive Director of the Blue Cross Blue Shield National Labor Office (NLO), and Dr. Razia Hashmi, Vice President of Clinical Affairs with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to continue our coverage of Mental Health Awareness Month. They discussed how a partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of America is using a different approach to address the youth mental health crisis in hopes of improving the future of American workers' mental health.

Eric Weiner and Dr. Gareen Hamalian, Included Health | Greg Regan, TTD

Eric Weiner, Division VP for Labor & Trust, Public Sector, and Higher Education for Included Health and their interim director of behavioral health, Dr. Gareen Hamalian, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss how Included Health is assisting unions and their members get the assistance they need during our Mental Health Awareness Month coverage.

Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the recent FAA Reauthorization bill that was passed by Congress. He also discussed the TTD’s annual Executive Committee meeting and what the transportation industry can do to improve worker safety measures globally.

Amanda Biggins, President, AFSCME Local 1539 | Tom Buffenbarger, independent labor voice

Amanda Biggins, President of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1539, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about her Local’s new contract with the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Rush City. Biggins also talked about approved legislation that will ban private prisons in Minnesota.

Tom Buffenbarger, an independent labor voice and former International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his history with Harley-Davidson, ongoing investigations into potential Boeing design hazards and more attacks on railroad safety.

Mike Hazard, UA VIP | John “Jack” Monahan, WWI Centennial Commission

In honor of Memorial Day, Mike Hazard, the program manager for the United Association Veterans in Piping program, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the program and what it is doing to help military service members transition to civilian careers in the UA. Hazard also discussed the UA Pipe P.A.L.S. program recently launched by the union.

United States Army veteran John “Jack” Monahan, who also serves as a World War One Centennial Commission representative, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast this Memorial Day to discuss the WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C. He also discussed the unveiling of a new sculpture at the memorial slated for this fall.

Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas | Teresa Cassady, USW District 1

At the request of our listeners, America’s Work Force Union Podcast brought back the interview with Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas from May 1, which began our Mental Health Awareness Month Coverage this year. In the episode, Dr. Sally discussed the state of mental health awareness in America and how unions can provide care and access to mental health, including the Man Therapy program.

Assistant to the Director of the United Steelworkers District 1, Teresa Cassady, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the union’s Your Union, Your Voice initiative. She discussed the efforts to educate members at the Local level about the union’s core values, and what goes into the initiatives and politicians the union chooses to support.