America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Sri Benson, American Legion | Richard Sherman, American Legion

Sri Benson, a policy analyst at the American Legion, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast this Memorial Day to share the story of his late wife Katie and her battle with mesothelioma due to burn pit exposure. He shared their challenges with the VA for service-related recognition and his advocacy for veterans' rights through legislative efforts like the PACT Act and Dole Act.

Richard Sherman, a U.S. Navy veteran, Legionnaire and photographer, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast this Memorial Day to discuss his photographic tribute to fallen service members, the personal stories behind the headstones and the impact his project has had on his life.

John Lepley, USW | Dr. Mike McDonald and Brenda Thompson, Birdsong Hearing

Dr. Mike McDonald, Director of Audiology, and Brenda Thompson, Chief Operating Officer at Birdsong Hearing Benefits, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the impact of hearing loss on mental health, workplace performance and overall well-being.

John Lepley, Director of Education for the United Steelworkers, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the critical intersection of mental health and the workplace, the role of education in addressing mental health issues and the evolving perception of mental health in the labor movement.

Johnny Jones, AFGE | Champ Zavala, BMWED-IBT UPRF

Johnny Jones, Council Secretary/Treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees TSA Council 100, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the Trump administration's efforts to privatize the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), its impact on workers' rights and potential consequences for public safety.

Champ Zavala, Vice Chairperson of the United Passenger Rail Federation, part of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes—a division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters—joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast today. He discussed rail safety, the ongoing funding challenges for public transit in Illinois and the personal impact of workplace safety violations.

Chris Lalevee, IUOE | Manja Horner, BOOST

Chris Lalevee, Business Agent for International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 and Director of the IUOE Peer Support Program, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss mental health awareness in the construction industry, his personal experience with mental health challenges, the importance of recognizing signs of crisis in coworkers and how the IUOE is implementing their peer support program.

Manja Horner, CEO of Boost, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss enhancing union leadership and productivity through effective communication, identifying and developing leadership within unions and the role of Boost, a company dedicated to improving performance in skilled trades and unions, in supporting union growth.

Melissa Cropper, OFT | Illinois State Rep. Marcus C. Evans, District 33

Marcus C. Evans Jr., State Representative for Illinois' 33rd district and Chairman of the Labor Committee, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss public transit funding in Illinois, the need for enhanced safety measures and the power of collective action in demanding better public services.

Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the battle for fair school funding, attacks on collective bargaining rights for teachers and the potential impact of Medicaid cuts on children.

Shaun Richman, SUNY Empire State University | Bryce Covert, The Nation

Shaun Richman, labor historian, professor and author, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his new book "We Always Had a Union: The Story of the New York Hotel Workers Union, 1912-1953." 

Bryce Covert, contributing writer at The Nation, appeared on the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her recent article that investigated sexual harassment claims at McDonald's.

Jeff Stoffer, American Legion | Rich 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 June edition of The American Legion Magazine, which includes stories about the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary, manufacturing's return to America and issues with VA claims processing.

Rich Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, joined the America's Workforce Union Podcast to dissect the implications of what he calls the "big brutal bill"—more formally known as the U.S. House Spending Bill—currently under discussion. These include significant cuts to Medicaid, potential threats to Social Security and Medicare and the chaotic legislative process surrounding these issues.

Doreen Greenwald, NTEU | Pat Gallagher, North Coast Area Labor Federation

Doreen Greenwald, President of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the threats facing federal workers’ collective bargaining agreements, the impact of budget cuts on IRS operations and the importance of protecting federal employee data.

Pat Gallagher, President of the North Coast Area Labor Federation, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss some of the recent challenges facing the steel industry, such as the Cleveland Cliffs’ facility closures, the significance of the rail mill in Stilton, Pa. and the upcoming Ohio AFL-CIO Legislative Conference.

Sonya Bohmann, CIAFSP | Greg Regan, TTD AFL-CIO

Sonya Bohmann, Executive Director of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the organization's mission, available resources and the importance of destigmatizing mental health conversations in the workplace.

Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss rail safety regulations, challenges in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Infrastructure Week.

Frank Mathews, CWA District 4 | David Spero, PASS

Frank Mathews, District 4 Administrative Director for the Communications Workers of America (CWA), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss threats to broadband equity, the push for fiber over satellite internet and proposed Medicaid cuts.

David Spero, President of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss recent system failures at Newark Liberty International Airport, the need for updated infrastructure and the challenges caused by insufficient funding.