America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Jon Schleuss NewsGuild-CWA | Brice Alexander, Melwood

Jon Schleuss, President of The NewsGuild-CWA, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the decision by the owners of the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post to not publish presidential endorsements ahead of the November General Election. Schleuss also compared the difference between Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance crossing the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette picket line earlier this month and a member of the Biden-Harris administration doing something similar in 2023.

Brice Alexander, Senior Vice President of Contract Operations at Melwood, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the organization's mission and workforce as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Merrilee Logue, NLO | Greg Leroy, Good Jobs First

Merrilee Logue, Executive Director for the National Labor Office of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her battle with breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She shared what she learned from her battle in hopes it will help others navigate their care post-diagnosis.

Greg Leroy, Executive Director of Good Jobs First, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss an article that examined the impact of film and televsion subsidies on state and local communities.

Brian Renfroe, NALC | Dean Nicosia, Union Shirts (TM Design Corp)

Brian Renfroe, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the union’s tentative agreement with the United States Postal Service. Renfroe also spoke about the NALC “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive and an increase in the number of letter carriers assaulted on the job.

Dean Nicosia, Operations Manager at TM Design Corp in Rochester, N.Y., joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the company's union printing and embroidery services. He also explained why the company's owner chose to go union.

Jason Lopes, Teamsters Health Care Director | Donnie Blatt, USW District 1

Jason Lopes, Health Care Director for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and a business agent for Teamsters Local 25, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the new national master agreement for workers at the American Red Cross. He also discussed the union members in the healthcare industry and an extensive organizing campaign in Michigan.

District 1 Director for the United Steelworkers, Donnie Blatt, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss what Ohio-based members of District 1 are doing to educate the public on the importance of State Issue 1.

Daniel Bauder, Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO | Pat Gallagher, North Coast Area Labor Council

Daniel Bauder, President of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his journey to becoming the fourth president in the labor council's history. He also discussed their canvassing efforts and the vital role he believes central labor councils hold in the future of organized labor.

Pat Gallagher, President of the North Coast Area Labor Federation, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss their canvassing campaign as the November election approaches and the engagement from Local affiliates. He also discussed Cleveland-Cliffs’ acquisition attempt of Stelco.

Pete Ielmini, Mechanical Insulators LMCT | Debbie Berkowitz, Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University

Pete Ielmini, Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to provide an update on the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act. He also discussed how fire stopping education could assist the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development create safer properties.

Debbie Berkowitz, a Fellow at the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the new Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) - Division of Labor and Industry standard for heat safety protections for workers.

Ron Bieber, MI AFL-CIO | Tom Buffenbarger

Ron Bieber, President of the Michigan AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the restoration of collective bargaining rights for home health care workers in the state. He also discussed battling child labor violations in the state and how Ohio’s State Issue 1 is similar to Michigan's first step to repeal so-called “Right-to-Work” laws.

Tom Buffenbarger, retired president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the tentative agreement between Boeing and Machinists in Washington state.

Tim Smith, UAW Region 8 | Brian Poindexter, Iron Workers Local 17

Tim Smith, Director of Region 8 of the United Auto Workers, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to give an update on the first contract negotiations at the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee. He also discussed issues with Stellantis and what led some members of UAW Local 129 to go on strike.

Brian Poindexter, a Brook Park City Councilman and Iron Workers Local 17 member, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss a proposed domed stadium project for the Cleveland Browns in Brook Park, Ohio, and the new union construction jobs the project could create.

Jeff Stoffer, American Legion | Rich Fiesta, Alliance for Retired Americans

Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications for the American Legion, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about the November edition of The American Legion Magazine. He also spoke about the 70th anniversary of Veterans Day.

Rich Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the recent Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) and urged for changes to the method to calculate it. He also addressed how the Alliance is spreading the word about their endorsed candidates ahead of November’s General Election.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown | Jamie Becker, LHSFNA

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and talked about the threat posed by the Chinese evading tariffs, reasons to prohibit China from dumping electrical vehicles in the U.S. and the Workers for Sherrod coalition.

Jamie Becker, Director of Health Promotion for the Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America (LHSFNA), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about National Drug Take Back Day, peer support programs and the Laborers’ Escaping Addiction Now (LEAN) program.