America’s Work Force Union Podcast

“News, Not Slop” | NewsGuild’s Jon Schleuss on AI & the Global Press Freedom Fight

Artificial intelligence is moving fast, but union journalists are fighting back even faster.

In today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed "Flash" Ferenc sits down with Jon Schleuss, President of the NewsGuild-CWA, fresh off his historic election to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) executive committee in Paris. Representing journalists across 100 countries, Schleuss gives us a sobering look at global threats to press freedom—from media consolidation to algorithmic exploitation—and explains how he’s exporting the American organizing playbook to a global stage.

We dive deep into the front lines of the labor movement, including:

• The War on "AI Slop": Why outlets like Ziff Davis and Cal Matters have signed contracts protecting human journalists, while The New York Times and ProPublica continue to resist critical guardrails.
• CWA Has LA's Back: How the union is providing a financial runway ($500/week strike benefits and healthcare) to laid-off Los Angeles journalists fighting alleged anti-union discrimination as they launch an independent newsroom at ourpapernow.org.
• The Publishing House Surge: Inside the massive organizing wins drawing in over 730 workers at Hachette Books and the University of Chicago Press.

Discover more about worker power: Visit newsguild.org to learn more about the campaigns mentioned in this episode.

Subscribe to the America's Work Force Union Podcast for daily insights, interviews, and updates from the front lines of the American labor movement.

Ohio Labor Battles with OFT and Maternal Mental Health with BCBS NLO

On today's episode of the America's Work Force Union Podcast, we are covering a massive amount of ground—from the halls of the Ohio Statehouse to the structural healthcare barriers facing union moms across the country.

Segment 1: Ohio Labor Under Fire with Melissa Cropper

Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) and Secretary-Treasurer of the Ohio AFL-CIO, joins the show to unpack three simultaneous attacks on Ohio workers and the democratic process:

• The Midnight Pension Raid: How a 1 a.m. budget amendment stripped elected educators of control over the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) board, and the legal battle (plus House Bill 719) fighting to reverse it.

• HB 698 & Higher Ed Restrictions: How this compliance mechanism is weaponizing state funding to restrict collective bargaining and aggressively police DEI roles.

• Union Busting in the Stacks: A look at the Columbus Metropolitan Library administration's aggressive anti-union campaign ahead of a critical mid-June election—and details on the June 7 community rally at Franklin Park.

Segment 2: Breaking the Silence on Perinatal Mental Health

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we sit down with Merrilee Logue, Executive Director of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield's National Labor Office, and Arin McClune, Clinical Quality Senior Program Manager with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association National, to tackle the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in America: maternal mental health disorders.

• The Stark Reality: Up to 20% of women experience these disorders, yet fewer than 20% are ever screened.

• The Racial Equity Gap: Why women of color are twice as likely to suffer from maternal mental health challenges but only half as likely to receive care.

• The Union Solution: With 68% of mothers with young children in the workforce, find out how labor leaders can advocate for remote work, flexible scheduling, and integrated mental health benefits to build a culture of solidarity and support.

Go Behind the Scenes of the Labor Movement: Every victory starts with workers standing together. Subscribe to the America's Work Force Union Podcast to get the latest interviews with the leaders, organizers, and advocates building true worker power.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

IAFF Local 1120’s Battle for Safe Staffing and the Vote of No Confidence

What happens when local politicians prioritize budget spreadsheets over public safety?

In this episode, we visited with IAFF Local 1120 President Jeremy Gillam from the Bucyrus City Fire Department in Ohio. Gillam shares the harsh reality of leading an 18-member department stretched to its absolute limit, forcing first responders to fight not just fires but also city council budget cuts.

Key Takeaways From the Interview:

• The Staffing Crisis: Due to severe staffing shortages, Gillam was nearly unable to make the interview because he was called to active duty. Since taking over full EMS responsibilities for the city and four surrounding townships in 2021, the number of on-duty first responders in the area has dropped from 11 to just 5 or 6 per shift.
• Math vs. Myth on Overtime: While the city council complains about a swelling $600,000 overtime budget, Gillam explains that hiring six additional firefighters would erase the overtime burden, improve safety, and cost the city virtually nothing extra. The union even offered a 0% wage increase to restore their sixth overnight firefighter.
• Vote of No Confidence: Local 1120 members recently stood shoulder-to-shoulder at a city council meeting to deliver a unanimous vote of no confidence against their Fire Chief. Gillam reveals how the chief actively negotiated against his own members at the bargaining table and failed to maintain up-to-date standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Disaster Preparedness Realities: Reflecting on the East Palestine train derailment, Gillam warns that smaller towns like Bucyrus—which see constant hazardous train traffic—are fundamentally unequipped to handle a national-scale chemical disaster with current staffing levels.

Get Involved: Connect with the department and support local first responders by visiting IAFF Local 1120 on Facebook or Instagram. Taxpayers are always welcome to open the door, take a tour, and see what it takes to protect the community day in and day out.

The $12K Wage Gap and the Hidden Crisis of Workplace Hearing Loss

On this episode of the America's Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed "Flash" Ferenc welcomes Dr. Michael MacDonald, director of audiology, and Rick Renna, chief growth officer of Birdsong Hearing Benefits.

More than 22 million American workers face hazardous noise levels on the job, yet fewer than 16% of adults with hearing loss use hearing aids. MacDonald and Renna break down the severe economic, physical and psychological toll this takes on union tradespeople, noting that untreated hearing loss often results in an annual wage gap of roughly $12,000.

Key topics discussed include:

• The Career Toll: Why workers quietly pass on union leadership roles and trustee posts to avoid exposing their hearing limitations.

• The Safety Risk: How operating in high-noise environments causes physical fatigue and drives workers' compensation claims up to 33% higher annually.

• The Mental Health Connection: Recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month by exploring the link between untreated hearing loss, social isolation and cognitive decline.

• Eroding the Stigma: How modern, Bluetooth-enabled discrete tech is changing the perception of hearing aids for younger workers.

To learn more about implementing dedicated hearing benefits for your union members or health plan, visit birdsonghearing.com.

$21B VA Waste & Social Security’s Future: American Legion & Alliance for Retired Americans

The federal government is facing a crisis of accountability and a race against the clock. In today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we tackle two massive stories affecting millions of American veterans and retirees. From untracked billions in government spending to the legislative battle to save Social Security, we look at the issues defining the 2026 midterm elections.

Segment 1: The VA’s $21 Billion Blind Spot

Jeff Stoffer, Director of the American Legion Media and Communications Division, discusses June’s American Legion Magazine, including a story about a staggering GAO report:

• The Software Mess: How the VA spent $21B on software it can’t track, and the legislation (H.R.6654) designed to force accountability.
• Data at Risk: Why a 1974 privacy law isn't enough to protect veteran health data in 2026.
• A Presidential Tribute: A preview of the July 4 grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, ND.

Segment 2: The Senior Voter Shift & Social Security’s Deadline

Rich Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, brings fresh data from a survey of 1,000 likely voters age 60-plus:

• Midterm Momentum: Why seniors in 39 key swing districts are shifting toward Democrats by 3-4 points.
• The 2032 Cliff: A deep dive into the looming 25 percent benefit cut and the fight to scrap the $184,500 earnings cap.
• The Voting Record: How to use the Alliance's database to see where your representative actually stands on labor and retirement.

Take Action: Knowledge is power at the ballot box. Visit legion.org and retiredamericans.org to track the legislation discussed today.

Subscribe & Follow: Don’t miss an update on the labor movement. Subscribe to AWF on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite player.

Winning the Stage: IATSE Local 22’s Organizing Surge

Labor momentum in D.C.’s entertainment industry isn't just growing—it’s compounding. IATSE Local 22 Vice President Nick Arancibia and Business Agent Ryan Chavka join the show to discuss their third major regional theater victory in six years: Arena Stage.

We dive into how a "bombshell" management demand for 60-hour workweeks at Signature Theatre sparked a movement that changed NLRB case law, and why the union is now expanding into iconic rock-and-roll venues like the 9:30 Club.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Signature Spark: How one disastrous management decision led to a 100% card-signing drive in six weeks.
• A Shifting Market: Why younger workers are prioritizing "predictable lives" over just higher wages.

The Turning Tide: What it means when non-union venue managers start calling the union because they can't keep staff.

Defending Ohio’s Schools & LA’s Historic Direct Action Training

From the legislative battles of the Midwest to historic street mobilizations in Southern California, the labor movement is currently the front line of defense for the American working class. Today, we look at how union leaders are responding to fiscal threats and federal pressure.

Segment 1: The $21 Billion Threat in Ohio

We’re joined by Frank Mathews, Administrative Director of CWA District 4, to discuss the fallout of the Ohio and Indiana primaries. While labor-backed candidates like Ironworker Brian Poindexter are securing major wins, a new threat is looming: a movement to repeal Ohio’s property tax. Mathews breaks down why this proposal is a "trap" that would blow a $21 billion hole in public services, devastating schools, roads, and fire departments.

Segment 2: Solidarity Under Fire in Los Angeles

Yvonne Wheeler, President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, joins us to discuss a city pushed to the brink. Following the January 2025 wildfires and large-scale immigration enforcement operations, Wheeler explains how the LA Fed organized the largest nonviolent direct action training in U.S. history. We discuss the creation of the Peacekeepers, the May Day 2026 mobilization, and why the labor movement is the only force capable of holding the line during a crisis.

The Battle for Prop B in Round Rock

In one of the fastest-growing communities in the country, public safety is struggling to keep pace with the pavement. Billy Colburn, past president and election manager for IAFF Local 3082, joins the America's Work Force Union Podcast to sound the alarm on a critical staffing crisis in Round Rock, Texas.

Despite a study revealing the department has 0% capability of meeting national safety standards for fires at nursing homes and apartment complexes, the union's push for Proposition B faced a wall of political opposition. Colburn breaks down the "not for self, but for others" mission and the frustrating reality of a city that prioritizes multi-million dollar walking trails over basic fire apparatus staffing.

Key highlights from this episode:

• The 10% Standard: Why Round Rock currently fails to meet the "two-in, two-out" safety rule for residential fires.
• The $5.6 Million Disconnect: A look at city spending priorities and why walking trails are being built while fire response times lag.
• An Unexpected Rivalry: The story behind the local police union’s reversal on Proposition B—despite the plan quietly funding 30 new police positions.

The Post-Election Path: What comes next for IAFF Local 3082 after the unofficial May 2nd results.

Broadcast’s AI Threat vs. The Largest Union Surge in 16 Years

The broadcast industry is facing a "gut punch," but the labor movement is punching back.

In today’s episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed "Flash" Ferenc navigates the two-sided reality of the 2026 labor landscape: an industry in crisis and a workforce in ascent.

Segment 1: The Fight for the Voice of Journalism

Mary Cavallaro, Chief Broadcast Officer for SAG-AFTRA, delivers an unflinching look at the wave of layoffs sweeping through Nexstar and the shocking closure of the 100-year-old CBS News Radio.

• The AI Threat: How "voice cloning" and generative AI are targeting the identities of correspondents and DJs.
• The Severance Standard: Why union contracts are the only thing standing between a worker and a financial crisis during consolidation.
• A Message to Non-Union Workers: Why SAG-AFTRA is opening its doors to those without a contract.

Segment 2: By the Numbers—The Union Renaissance

Margaret Poydock, Senior Policy Analyst at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), joins us to reveal the blockbuster 2025 union membership data. Despite a hostile federal environment, the numbers are the highest they’ve been since 2009.

• The Southern Surprise: Why nearly half of all new union growth is happening in the South.
• Gen Z & Millennials: Breaking down the 72% favorability rate among young workers who are "done" with the status quo.
• The Representation Gap: 50 million workers want a union but can’t get one—how states are bypassing federal gridlock to fix it.

Links & Resources:

• Learn more about SAG-AFTRA: sagaftra.org
• Read the full EPI report: epi.org

Subscribe for more: awf.labortools.com

Surge in Union Growth and a 13-Year Legal Defeat for Worker Rights

The federal government may be swinging the hammer, but workers are building anyway. Jennifer Sherer, deputy director of the Economic Policy Institute's Economic Analysis and Research Network, joins the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss a moment of startling contrasts. Despite a hostile federal environment, approximately 463,000 workers joined unions in 2025. Sherer breaks down how states like Virginia are becoming the new front lines for worker power—banning captive-audience meetings, repealing "right to work" laws and protecting the right to strike when Washington fails to act.

But grassroots growth is being met by a "legal ghost" in the courts. In our second segment, labor lawyer Andrew Strom joins us for a post-mortem on the Bobby Reed case. After 13 years of litigation and two victories before the NLRB, the D.C. Circuit Court used a 73-year-old legal doctrine to strip Reed—a 34-year utility veteran—of his federal protections. His "crime"? Testifying before the Texas State Senate about workplace fires without explicitly mentioning a labor dispute. Strom explains how this ruling turns civic participation into a minefield for private-sector workers and why the current Supreme Court makes a rescue unlikely.

Featured Guests:

• Jennifer Sherer: Deputy Director, EARN (Economic Policy Institute)

• Andrew Strom: Labor Lawyer, Brooklyn Law School professor and OnLabor contributor

Inside the Episode:

• The data behind the 463,000-worker union surge

• The "Jefferson Standard" and the death of worker free speech

• Bobby Reed and his 13-year fight for justice