America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Eric Hill, SkillsUSA Illinois, and Armondo Perez, Student | Randi Pearson, USW

Eric Hill, Executive Director of SkillsUSA Illinois, and Armondo Perez, a high school computer science student, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the organization's impact on workforce development, pre-apprenticeship programs and student advocacy efforts.

Randi Pearson, Director of the Women of Steel program at the United Steelworkers, joined the America's Workforce Union Podcast and highlighted the program's educational initiatives, its role in fostering leadership among women and the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workforce.

Pennie McCoach, ATU Local 308 | Tim Drea, Illinois AFL-CIO

Pennie McCoach, President and Business Agent of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 308, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her journey from being a single mother to union leadership, the challenges facing women in transit and the funding shortfall threatening Chicago's public transportation system.

Tim Drea, President of the Illinois AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the $770 million funding shortfall for Illinois transit, the impact of federal decisions on Local Unions and the importance of union solidarity in legislative advocacy.

Pete Ielmini, Mechanical Insulators LMCT | Merrilee Logue, NLO, and Lynn Pina, GeoBlue

Pete Ielmini, Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the efforts to reintroduce the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act, the success of their Firestop Market Recovery Program and the importance of properly installed mechanical insulation in federal buildings.

Merrilee Logue, Executive Director of the National Labor Office at Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Lynn Pina, Chief Marketing Officer at GeoBlue, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the benefits of GeoBlue, the necessity of additional coverage when traveling abroad and how GeoBlue can assist union members and their families during their international travel plans this summer.

Pat Devaney, IL AFL-CIO | Tom Buffenbarger

Pat Devaney, Secretary-Treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the history of pension cuts, their impact on public workers and efforts to restore retirement security through the Fix Tier 2 campaign.

Tom Buffenbarger, former International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the fighter jet contract awarded to Boeing, challenges facing pension security and controversy surrounding the future of Social Security.

Karen Suarez-Flint, Chicago Federation of Musicians | Greg Regan, TTD

Karen Suarez-Flint, Secretary-Treasurer of the Chicago Federation of Musicians, American Federation of Musicians Local 10-208, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her journey as a musician, the importance of union representation in the music industry and her efforts to combat sexual harassment in classical music.

Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss pressing issues affecting federal unions, the Railroad Retirement Board and the future of autonomous vehicles.

Jeff Stoffer, American Legion | Norm Wernet, Ohio 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 organization's response to proposed federal cuts affecting veterans, the importance of the Elizabeth Dole Act and the unique history of China Post 1.

Norm Wernet, State Director of the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss critical issues surrounding Social Security, including the potential risks posed by unauthorized data access, the impact of office closures and ongoing efforts to safeguard the integrity of the fund’s system.

Eileen Boris, UC-Santa Barbara | Pat Gallagher, North Coast Area Labor Federation

Eileen Boris, Professor of Feminist Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss Frances Perkins, the first female U.S. Secretary of Labor.

Pat Gallagher, President of the North Coast Area Labor Federation, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the impact of tariffs on the economy, recent legislative changes in Ohio affecting university professors and the broader implications for union rights.

Johnny Jones, AFGE | Jonathan Rosenblum, Center for Work and Democracy

Johnny Jones, Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Council 100, joined the America's Workforce Union Podcast to discuss the Trump administration's cancellation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) contract, its impact on 47,000 TSA officers and the need for broader union support in this fight.

Jonathan Rosenblum, Activist in Residence at the Center for Work and Democracy at Arizona State University, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about recent unionization efforts at Amazon's RDU1 warehouse in North Carolina, the broader implications of Amazon's labor practices and the potential for leveraging labor's assets to support organizing efforts.

Melissa Cropper, OFT | Frank Mathews, CWA District 4

Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the state's school funding proposal, efforts to protect federal education funding and recent union victories in higher education.

Frank Mathews, Administrative Director for District 4 of the Communication Workers of America (CWA), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, the implications of broadband infrastructure decisions and the influence of major financial players like Elon Musk in these arenas.

Will Attig, Union Veterans Council | Lily Calderon, BAC

Will Attig, Executive Director of the Union Veterans Council, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss layoffs of veterans in the federal workforce, the impact on veteran services and the push for privatization. 

Lily Calderon, Director of Health and Safety for the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her path into the trades, the importance of safety in construction and the growing role of women in the industry.