America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Dr. Michael MacDonald, Birdsong Hearing | Dave Jamieson, HuffPost

Dr. Michael MacDonald, Director of Audiology for Birdsong Hearing Benefits, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the importance of hearing healthcare for working Americans, signs of hearing loss and how employers and health plans can help.

Dave Jamieson, the labor reporter for the HuffPost, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his recent article on the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) strike and provided insights into what he’s learned through his interviews and research.

Ted Pappageorge, Culinary Workers Union Local 226 | U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown

Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer of the Culinary Union Local 226, joined the America’s Workforce Union Podcast to discuss the Las Vegas Strip going 100 percent union. He also discussed Station Casinos’ management on trial with the NLRB and concerns with taxing tips for certain workers.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his work in the Senate and what he’s done to help retirees and union members around the country.

Phil Mattara, Good Jobs First | Tim Burga, OH AFL-CIO

Tim Burga, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the state labor federation’s 34th Biennial Convention in Cleveland. He also discussed Maureen O’Connor’s work on Citizens Not Politicians and the importance of residents checking their voter registration before Ohio’s Oct. 7 deadline.

Phillip Mattera, Violation Tracker Project Director and Corporate Research Project Director with Good Jobs First, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss a rise in child labor violations over the past decade and the organizations Violation Tracker.

Ashley Fueston, AFSCME WFSE | Wayne Creasup II, Iron Workers Union

Ashley Fueston, Vice President of the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) — American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees Council 28— joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the Walkout for Washington and their tentative agreement for the 2025-2027 General Government contract.

On the final day of National Suicide Prevention Month, America’s Work Force Union Podcast welcomed back Wayne Creasup II, Director of Health and Safety for the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers. Creasup discussed what the union is doing to address rising suicide rates in the union and the mental health resources available to members. 

SkillsUSA Illinois | Randie Pearson, USW

Eric Hill, Executive Director of SkillsUSA Illinois, and Sean Fitzgerrel, Vice President of the AED Foundation, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss a registered apprenticeship program for high school students to create more well-trained heavy machinery operators and the federal funding the program received from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Randie Pearson, the Director of the United Steelworkers Women of Steel, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the program and how it empowered her in the workplace. She also discussed the Raising the Bar campaign, and how it is helping to create safer workplaces.

Randi Weingarten, AFT | Merrilee Logue, NLO, and Chris Trahan Cain, CPWR

Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her multi-city bus tour focused on addressing literacy in schools and what they’ve done during the tour as part of Banned Books Week. She also talked about a grant the AFT received in partnership with Micron to develop a high school pilot program to provide workforce certifications to students.

Merrilee Logue, Director of the National Labor Office (NLO) and Chris Trahan Cain, Executive Director at CPWR — the Center for Construction Research and Training — joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the work NLO, CPWR and the North America’s Building Trades Union’s (NABTU) are doing to assist building trades members improve their mental health and the impact of the opioid epidemic on the trades as part of our National Suicide Awareness Month coverage.

Gina Higgin, Perspectives | Allison Balanc, TradesFutures

Gina Higgin, Account Manager with Perspectives—an Allone Health Company—joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the assistance the organization provides to members of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers through its Member Assistance Program (IMAP) during our National Suicide Prevention Month coverage.

Allison Balanc, Digital and Marketing Strategy Manager for TradesFutures, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference in New Orleans, and a unique virtual reality experience the organization will be offering for free during the gathering.

Tom Buffenbarger, Independent Labor Voice | Bob Batz Jr., Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh

Tom Buffenbarger, an independent labor voice, appeared on the AWF Union Podcast and spoke about the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) strike at Boeing and how the union may have the upper hand in the negotiations. 

Bob Batz Jr., Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh (TNG) member and Interim Editor of Pittsburgh Union Progress, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the potential end of the 24-month strike by NGP members at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Eric Blanc, EWOC | Greg Regan, TTD

Eric Blanc, Assistant Professor, Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Rutgers University, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC).

Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to speak about an Artificial Intelligence Summit with Microsoft, high-speed rail projects and the Department of Labor’s Century of Service Honor Roll of American Labor Organizations.

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 to discuss the October edition of Legion Magazine. He also addressed the emergency funding legislation passed by Congress to cover the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) budget shortfall.

Rich Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss election issues that concern retirees. He also talked about educating retirees on candidates' voting records and why retirees should take precautions when voting through mail-in ballots.