America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Anna-Marta Visky, CWA District 1 | Andrew Strom, Labor Lawyer

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Anna-Marta Visky, NJ Political and Field Director for District 1 of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), joined the podcast to discuss the pressing issue of healthcare affordability for public employees in New Jersey. 

Andrew Strom, labor lawyer and adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to warn listeners about the looming threats to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Strom’s conversation centered on the ripple effects of the Supreme Court’s consideration of Trump v. Slaughter. This case could significantly increase presidential control over independent agencies such as the NLRB.

Charlotte Brody, BlueGreen Alliance | Will Lindsay, BMWED

Charlotte Brody, Vice President of Occupational and Environmental Health at the BlueGreen Alliance, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the importance of workplace health regulations, challenges from the Trump Administration to these protections and the crucial role of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) general duty clause.

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we were joined by Will Lindsay, Local Chair in Illinois with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWED), a division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Lindsay’s story is one of resilience and transformation, having started his career in carpentry, then finding his way into music and bartending before forging a path as a union railroad worker and community advocate.

Adam Keller, The Valley Labor Report | Hannah Halbert, Policy Matters Ohio

Adam Keller, co-host of The Valley Labor Report and a leader in Alabama’s labor movement, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed what he described as troubling labor practices connected to an automotive supply chain facility in Alabama.

Hannah Halbert, Executive Director of Policy Matters Ohio, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the successful fight against Ohio Senate Bill 50 and to share her organization’s ongoing mission to support working families. 

Frank Mathews, CWA District 4 | Dave Wondolowski, Cleveland BCTC

Frank Mathews, Administrative Director for District 4 of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to provide his thoughts on skyrocketing health care costs, the dangerous implications of the “One Touch Make Ready” (OTMR) utility pole policy and the ongoing need to protect worker safety in the face of deregulation.

On today’s edition of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Dave Wondolowski, Executive Secretary of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council, offered insights on two major projects set to energize greater Cleveland. As the region eyes a wave of construction at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and a new Browns stadium, Wondolowski discussed what these developments mean for union labor and the community. He also shed light on ongoing workforce recruitment and the much-debated future of Cleveland’s lakefront property.

Sylvia Allegretto, CEPR | Bob Funk, LaborLab

On this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Sylvia Allegretto, Senior Economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), offered a comprehensive look into lagging teacher compensation, or as she called it, a “teacher pay penalty” in the United States. Allegretto, who has spent over two decades researching labor economics and teacher pay, highlights the “teacher pay penalty” — the wage gap between public school teachers and other college graduates, and how it has grown since the 1960s.

In today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Bob Funk, Founder of LaborLab, joined to discuss the current landscape of union busting in America. LaborLab is a non-profit watchdog organization that tracks and investigates corporate spending on union-busting activities. During the conversation, Funk touched on statistics regarding the money spent to stop union campaigns, the influence of large corporations like Amazon and Starbucks and the role his organization plays in combating these anti-union tactics.

Dorsey Hager, C/COBCTC | John Paul Smith, AFL-CIO

Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, joined the America’s Workforce Union Podcast and highlighted a number of ongoing infrastructure projects in the region, the challenges and innovations brought on by harsh weather, ongoing workforce development efforts and the changing attitudes toward career paths in the construction industry.

John Paul Smith, Executive Assistant to AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about the urgency to pass the Protect America's Workforce Act and the upcoming annual AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference.

Jared Ross and Lorie Thompson, South Sound BCTC | Steve South, Teamsters Local 25

This episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast featured Jared Ross, Executive Secretary of the South Sound Building and Construction Trades Council — a regional council under the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council — and Dr. Lorie Thompson, regional network director for the Capital STEM Alliance. The conversation focused on the growing opportunities in construction and trades, the evolving role of education and career pathways and their collaborative success in organizing the second annual “Try a Trade” event in Tacoma, Wash.

Today’s episode of the America's Work Force Union Podcast featured Steve South, Secretary-Treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 25 in Boston. Representing more than 13,000 workers across public and private sectors, South detailed his union’s fight against Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company aiming to deploy driverless taxis in Boston. The conversation highlighted Waymo’s business model, the risks associated with driverless technology and the far-reaching implications for organized labor and public safety.

Paul Nolley, Project First Rate | Jody Calemine, AFL-CIO

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Paul Nolley, Executive Director of Project First Rate, joined the show to shine a light on his organization’s approach to promoting union construction in Rockford, Ill. and surrounding counties. Project First Rate is a partnership between union contractors and tradespeople, focusing on quality craftsmanship, apprenticeship opportunities and community impact.

On this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Jody Calemine, Director of Advocacy for the AFL-CIO, gave listeners a detailed look at the ongoing fight to restore collective bargaining rights for federal workers. He highlighted the Protect America’s Workforce Act and the legislative process currently underway to pass the bill in Congress.

Dave Saucedo, Teamsters | Tim Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO

Dave Saucedo, Director of the Airline Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the ongoing struggles faced by United Airlines mechanics as they fight for better contract terms, the outsourcing of maintenance work to other countries and the challenges of securing fair contracts under the Railway Labor Act.

On this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Tim Burga, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, joined the show for a conversation about the state’s labor landscape and legislative issues impacting workers.

Ted Pappageorge, Culinary Workers Union Local 226 | Merrilee Logue, NLO

This episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast featured Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer of Culinary Workers Union Local 226. Representing 60,000 members in Las Vegas, Pappageorge joined the podcast to celebrate a landmark achievement: the union's first-ever representation across every major casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The conversation highlighted the union’s decades-long fight for workers’ rights, the details and impact of the newly negotiated contracts and the broader effects of federal policies and industry challenges on both union members and the Las Vegas workforce.

This episode of America’s Workforce Union Podcast spotlights Merrilee Logue, Executive Director of the National Labor Office at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, as she commemorates the organization's 60th anniversary. Logue explored the origins of the National Labor Office, the evolving landscape of labor and healthcare, and the partnerships that drive advocacy and support for union members across the nation.