America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Dr. Jill Stein (Green Party U.S.) / Tom Germuska, Jr. (The Labor Citizen)

Dr. Jill Stein, two time presidential candidate of the Green Party spoke with America’s Work Force Radio Podcast on June 10 about holding corporations accountable and offering better protections to their employees and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Tom Germuska, Jr., editor of Cleveland's Labor Citizen spoke about the June edition of the publication, highlighting stories about state construction budgets, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations being enforced, and a Battery Plant project near Youngstown, Ohio.

Frank Mathews (CWA D4) / Dave Wondolowski (Cle BCTC)

The first guest today on America's Work Force Radio Podcast was Frank Mathews, District 4 Administrative Director of the Communication Workers of America spoke about the CWA endorsement for Joe Biden for President and why.

Also featured today was Dave Wondolowski, Executive Secretary of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council who spoke about the need for more construction workers for summer projects.

Jim Williams, Jr. (IUPAT) / Tony Liberatore, Jr. (Laborers 860)

Jim Williams, Jr., General Vice President At-Large/Organizing for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades was the first featured guest on America’s Work Force Radio Podcast on June 8. He spoke about multiemployer pension plans and how to strengthen him. 

The second featured guest today was Tony Liberatore, Jr., Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer of Laborers Local 860 who spoke about summer construction projects, infrastructure improvement, and the clean up of cities around the United States after the protests and riots.

Dr. Camillo Ricordi, MD (Diabetes Research Institute) / Dorsey Hager (Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council)

Dr. Camillo Ricordi with the Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine spoke with America’s Work Force Radio Podcast about umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cell research for COVID-19 and transplant surgeries that reverse diabetes.

Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council spoke about Columbus Construction and Politics that affect working people and the Dollars Against Diabetes (D.A.D.s) Clay Shoot.

Senator Sherrod Brown / Ed Kelley (Kelley & Ferraro)

Today on America's Work Force Radio Podcast, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) spoke about fighting for workers in the face of GOP attacks on workplace protection and the need for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to implement newer, stricter workplace safety standards to protect workers who are working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ed Kelley, attorney for Kelley & Ferraro spoke about mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases. He also explained how asbestos companies are going bankrupt from paying compensation to asbestos victims.

Anthony Darkangelo (Finishing Contractors Association) / Dave Megenhardt (United Labor Agency)

The first guest featured today on America's Work Force Radio Podcast was Anthony Darkangelo, CEO of the Finishing Contractors Association. Darkangelo spoke about the Giving Retirement Option to Workers Act, listed in the HEROES Act which addresses multiemployer pension plans.

The second featured guest was Dave Megenhardt, Executive Director of the United Labor Agency who spoke about helping people find job placements and the ULA's virtual job fair with over 80 businesses.

Tim Burga (OH AFL-CIO) / Richard Cordray (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)

The first featured guest today on America's Work Force Radio Podcast was Tim Burga, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO. He spoke about workers rights, Presidential endorsements, and state and federal legislation.

The second featured guest was Richard Cordray, former Ohio Attorney General and former First Director of the  Consumer Financial Protection Bureau who spoke about his book "Watchdog" which addresses the unfair treatment of consumers by financial companies, economic downturn and unemployment.

Sue McConnell (Better Business Bureau) / Mark Gruenberg (PAI Union News)

The first featured guest on America's Work Force Radio Podcast was Mark Gruenberg, editor of Press Associates Union. He spoke about jobless numbers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and how the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) displayed a lack of guidance for workers and allowed employers to get away with sub-par safety standards.

Sue McConnell, president of the Cleveland Better Business Bureau spoke about what a person should do if they bought from a company that went bankrupt due to the COVID-19 pandemic and never received their product. She also spoke about online scams and work-at-home scams to be mindful of.

Bridget Early (National Public Pension Coalition) / Mac Regan (Author, The 2020 American Revolution: 20/20 Decision Support for Voters)

Today’s first featured guest on America’s Work Force Radio Podcast was Bridget Early, Executive Director of the National Public Pension Coalition. She spoke about pension plans and how they are a small fraction of a state’s annual budget.

The second featured guest was Mac Regan, author of “The 2020 American Revolution: 20/20 Decision Support for Voters.” He spoke about his book and how to empower voters for the 2020 presidential election.

Bill Samuel (AFL-CIO) / Bob Swanson (Finishing Contractors Association)

The first featured guest on America’s Work Force Radio Podcast was Bill Samuel, Government Affairs Director of the AFL-CIO. He spoke about OSHA needing to “beef up” safety standards post COVID-19 pandemic, the union difference in the workplace, the Protect the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, and the HEROES Act.

The second featured guest speaker was retired paint contractor with the Finishing Contractors Association, Bob Swanson, who spoke about mental health in the building trades and ending the stigma that mental illness makes a person “weak”.