America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Jacob Morrison, North Alabama Area Labor Council | Catherine Turcer, Common Cause Ohio

Jacob Morrison, co-host of The Valley Labor Report and member of the North Alabama Area Labor Council, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss labor issues in Alabama, the impact of federal budget cuts and the state's political landscape. Morrison shared insights on protests against immigration enforcement, the effects of federal agency cuts on Alabama's workforce and the potential implications of Tommy Tuberville's gubernatorial announcement.

Catherine Turcer from Common Cause Ohio, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss changes to campaign finance laws proposed in Ohio's budget, potential misuse of unclaimed funds and ongoing attacks on direct democracy initiatives.

Kimberly Kam, ABOC | Jacqueline Cañola, SEIU Education and Support Fund

Following Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May, Kimberly Kam, Senior Vice President and Sales Director for Union Commercial Services at the Amalgamated Bank of Chicago (ABOC), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast. She discussed her journey as an Asian American in the financial sector, strategies for overcoming cultural challenges and her involvement in empowering entrepreneurs in low-income countries.

Jacqueline Cañola, Professional Development & Technical Assistance Program Manager with the Service Employees International Union Education and Support Fund, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the challenges faced by family child care educators, support efforts through the We Empower Providers Assembly (WEPA) Conference and progress made through collective bargaining.

Frank Mathews, CWA District 4 | Kalena Thomhave, Capital & Main

Frank Mathews, Administrative Director for District 4 of the Communication Workers of America (CWA), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, the recent policy changes affecting its implementation and the potential impact on rural communities.

Kalena Thomhave, a freelance journalist based in Pittsburgh, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her story on Capital & Main about the United Steelworkers' victory at Blue Bird Corporation in Georgia and its impact on organizing in the South.

Kevin Pranis, Steve Cortina, LIUNA MN & ND | Debbie Goldman, Author

LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota’s Kevin Pranis, Marketing Manager, and Steve Cortina, Organizer in North Dakota, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the challenges facing local workers in the wind energy sector. They talked about the influx of out-of-state workers, their impact on local communities and strategies to combat these issues.

Debbie Goldman, retired Communications Workers of America (CWA) labor researcher and author of "Disconnected: Call Center Workers Fight for Good Jobs in the Digital Age," joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast. She discussed the transformation of call center work, the impact of technology on workers and the ongoing fight for fair labor practices in the digital era.

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

Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss economic challenges in Central Ohio, ongoing construction projects and a union-busting case impacting Teamsters Local 284.

Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss proposed Medicaid cuts, their impact on healthcare access and potential job losses at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Tom Spiggle, The Spiggle Law Firm | Samantha Sanders, Economic Policy Institute

Tom Spiggle, labor and employment law attorney and founder of The Spiggle Law Firm, discussed the Trump administration's attacks on federal workers, legal challenges to union rights and the Supreme Court's role in these disputes.

Samantha Sanders, Director of Government Affairs and Advocacy at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the Trump administration's actions against workers in its first 100 days, highlighting the administration's attacks on collective bargaining rights, diversity initiatives and worker safety regulations.

Irma Westmoreland, NNU | Tim Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO

Irma Westmoreland, Secretary-Treasurer of National Nurses United, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the proposed cuts to VA staff, the need for full collective bargaining rights and the importance of maintaining quality care for veterans.

Tim Burga, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss their recent legislative conference in Columbus, Ohio. Burga highlighted three key issues: the fair school funding formula, unemployment compensation trust fund solvency and the ongoing threat of So-Called “Right-To-Work” legislation.

Jody Calemine, AFL-CIO | Dave Steiger, Attorney

Jody Calemine, the AFL-CIO's Director of Advocacy, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss attacks on federal unions, the crisis at the National Labor Relations Board and proposed legislation affecting workers' rights.

Dave Steiger, a Cleveland attorney, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed a recent Ohio Supreme Court case involving a workplace fatality in a steel plant near Canton, Ohio.

Michael Baldwin, BRS | Chuck Stiles, Teamsters Solid Waste and Recycling Division

Michael Baldwin, President of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss rail industry issues. Baldwin addressed the push for deregulation, challenges with the Railroad Retirement Board and the importance of state-level engagement in rail safety legislation.

Chuck Stiles, Assistant Director of Solid Waste and Recycling Division for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss recent organizing victories, contract negotiations and some of the ongoing challenges in the waste management industry.

Lindsay Dougherty, Teamsters | Merrilee Logue, NLO, Ruthie Fesahazion-Fortune, BCBSA

Lindsay Dougherty, International Vice President and Division Director of the Motion Picture and Theatrical Trade Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Principal Officer of Teamsters Local 399, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast. Dougherty discussed the impact of tax incentives on production locations, the industry's contraction due to streaming and efforts to standardize contracts across the country.

Merrilee Logue, Executive Director of the National Labor Office (NLO) at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), and Dr. Ruthie Fesahazion-Fortune, Project Director for Clinical Affairs at BCBSA, discuss the mental health crisis facing American workers. In this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, they explore common mental health challenges, workplace impacts and BCBSA’s strategies to address these issues.