America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Melissa Cropper, OFT | Michael Podhorzer, Defend Democracy Project

Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss pressing issues that could impact the state’s education system including Ohio Senate Bill 1, school funding and possible federal education cuts.

Michael Podhorzer, Chair of the Defend Democracy Project, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the impact of billionaire influence on elections, the importance of unions in defending democracy and the need for increased public awareness and action.

Claude Cummings Jr., CWA | Sean O’Brien, Teamsters

To help us celebrate Presidents Day, Claude Cummings Jr., President of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his journey, the challenges of maintaining diversity initiatives and the critical role of unions in advocating for workers amid political and corporate pressures.

Continuing our Presidents Day coverage, Sean O'Brien, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, appeared on America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the union's strategic approaches to negotiations, the challenges posed by automation and the ongoing efforts to organize Amazon workers.

Tim Smith, UAW Region 8 | Andrew Strom, OnLabor and Brooklyn Law School

Tim Smith, Director of Region 8 of the United Auto Workers (UAW), joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss ongoing negotiations with Volkswagen, organizing efforts at the BlueOval SK battery plant in Kentucky and concerns about funding cuts to the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Andrew Strom, a union lawyer, OnLabor contributor and adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss Gwen Wilcox's recent firing from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the potential dismantling of the Board and the broader implications for labor rights in the U.S.

Brian Pollitt, TWU Local 234 | Davida Russell, NCALF

Brian Pollitt, President of Transport Workers Union Local 234 in Philadelphia, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the Local's recently completed contract negotiations with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), the importance of transit funding and the challenges transit workers face in ensuring public safety.

Davida Russell, Vice President of the North Coast Area Labor Federation, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to share her inspiring journey from union member to prominent labor leader.

Dr. Teresa Hodge, UFF | David Spero, PASS

Dr. Teresa Hodge, President of the United Faculty of Florida (UFF), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the ongoing challenges faced by higher education in Florida. Hodge addressed the potential impacts of Florida Senate Bill 266, the erosion of academic freedom and the politicization of university leadership.

David Spero, National President of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the challenges faced by PASS members regarding pressing aviation safety issues, the impact of recent executive orders on federal employees and complexities of modernizing the air traffic control system.

Frank Mathews, CWA District 4 | Daniel Letwin, Penn State University History Dept

Frank Mathews, Administrative Director for District 4 of the Communication Workers of America (CWA), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss a setback in Michigan's Call Center Jobs Retention Act, the push for fiber-first broadband expansion and concerns over potential healthcare benefit taxation.

Daniel Letwin, an associate professor of history at Penn State University, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the history of interracial unionism in Alabama's coal mines, the dynamics of racial cooperation in the labor movement, the organizational strategies of the United Mine Workers of America and the broader implications for labor and race relations during the Jim Crow era.

Adam Keller, TVLR | Tom Spiggle, Spiggle Law Firm

Adam Keller, co-host and co-producer of The Valley Labor Report (TVLR), joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the show's expansion, Alabama's legislative session and the state’s history of organizing across racial divides.

Tom Spiggle, an attorney and founder of the Spiggle Law Firm, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the legality of the Department of Government Efficiency, the implications of a controversial federal employee buyout offer and the differences in protections for union versus non-union federal workers.

Dorsey Hager, C/COBCTC | Fred Redmond, AFL-CIO

Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council (C/COBCTC), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the construction boom in Central Ohio, the challenges of workforce recruitment and the federal court ruling potentially impacting federal Project Labor Agreements (PLA). 

Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the recent actions of the Trump administration impacting federal workers, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and what the labor movement is doing in response.

Joe Nantista, BMWED and Paul Slocomb, Blunt Slocomb, Ltd. | Jeff Bonior, AAM

Joe Nantista, Assistant General Chairman of the Unified System Division of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWED), a division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and Paul Slocomb, an attorney and Partner with Blunt Slocomb, Ltd., joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the tragic death by suicide of Philip Morgan, a BMWED member and Union Pacific employee, the upcoming Iowa Supreme Court hearing and a rally to support the case.

Jeff Bonior, a researcher and writer for the Alliance for American Manufacturing, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss Wilson Sporting Goods' footballs, the significance of union labor in their production and the factory's expansion in Ada, Ohio.

Wendell Young, UFCW Local 1776 | Jon Schleuss, The NewsGuild-CWA

Wendell Young IV, President of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 Keystone State, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the recent unionization of Whole Foods workers in Philadelphia, the organizing process, the company’s anti-union tactics and the future of labor relations with the parent company, Amazon.

Jon Schleuss, President of The NewsGuild-Communication Workers of America, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the impact of recent changes to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the ongoing strike at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the impressive number of first contracts secured by The NewsGuild in 2024.