America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, Vice President, Writers Guild of America East | Kenyon Johnson, Anisa Hosseinnezhaf, and Gabriella Ortega Ricketts, Documentary Workers United, CWA Local 9003

Vice President of the Writers Guild of America East, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the ongoing writers’ strike. Cullen also talked about the energy and support for the strike and what a fair, modern contract win involving artificial intelligence would look like and the impact it would have on the entertainment industry.

A trio of members from the Documentary Workers United (CWA Local 9003), Kenyon Johnson, Anisa Hosseinnezhaf, and Gabriella Ortega Ricketts, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the work done to earn the first contract for the DWU. The group discussed the work done by the International Documentary Association (IDA) and the importance of unions for the non-profit sector. 

Sean McGarvey, President, NABTU | Rob Monak, Workforce Development/Organizer/Business Development, Ironworkers Local 55

President of the North America’s Building Trades Union, Sean McGarvey, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the improvements made to the Davis Bacon Act. McGarvey also discussed the history of the Act and how it will impact the clean energy future.

Vice President of the Ironworkers Local 55, Rob Monak, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about his unique path to Union. Monak also talked about the efforts by Local 55 to organize and recruit new members.

Jon Schleuss, President, NewsGuild-CWA | Bob Funk, Founder and Executive Director, Labor Lab

President of the NewsGuild-CWA, Jon Schleuss, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about recent police incidents involving news agencies across America. Schleuss discussed the raid of the Marion County Record, the ongoing Pittsburgh Post Gazette strike and the TVO public broadcasters strike in Toronto.

Founder and Executive Director of Labor Lab, Bob Funk, returned to the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the increase in union-busting activities in America. Funk discussed the work that Labor Lab does for the labor movement and how new regulations from the Department of Labor can help hold large corporations accountable.

Aurora Bihler, Conductor, Ironworkers Local 396 | John Samuelsen, Transport Workers Union, President

Conductor with Ironworkers Local 396 in St. Louis, Aurora Bihler, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her life as a journeyman in the Ironworkers Union. Bihler also talked about the importance of diversity in the trades and her work with the BUD program in St. Louis.

President of Transport Workers Union of America, John Samuelsen, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss working conditions on New York City railways and the potential for TWU workers to go on strike. Samuelsen also discussed the conditions of the SAG-AFTRA picket and the importance of solidarity in the labor movement.

Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, Co-executive Director, NCOSH | Dave McCall, International Vice President, USW

Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, co-executive director for the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the dangerously high temperatures that have been impacting workers all over the country this summer. She also talked about the need for a national standard for worker protections, and the effort needed from the labor movement to achieve this goal. 

International Vice President of the United Steelworkers, Dave McCall, returned to the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the evolution of the steel industry over the last 20 years in America. McCall also discussed the tin steel dumping issues and Cleveland-Cliffs' attempt to purchase U.S. Steel.

Bill Samuel, Government Affairs Director, AFL-CIO | Kim Barboro, Co-Chair, CWA-IBT Passenger Service Association

Bill Samuel, Director of Government Affairs of the AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the potential for a complete government shutdown. Samuel outlined what could be done to prevent the shutdown, and he also talked about misinformation on the status of the economy.

Co-Chair of the Communication Workers of America-International Brotherhood of Teamsters Passenger Service Association, Kim Barboro, joined the America’s Work Force Union podcast to talk about the Association and their fight for a new contract with American Airlines.

Pete Ielmini, Executive Director, Heat and Frost Insulators LMCT | Mark Glyptis, President, USW Local 2911

Pete Ielmini,Executive Director of the Heat and Frost Insulators LMCT, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and explained the LMCT’s new Mechanical Insulation Energy Audit Program. He also provided an update on the Mechanical Insulation Act.

United Steelworkers Local 2911 President Mark Glyptis joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the current struggles of the Weirton Steel Mill. Glyptis also talked about the International Trade Council’s preliminary decision to implement tariffs on imports from three countries

Carol Tanzi, Registered Nurse, USW Local 4-200 | Rich Jordan, Business Manager, Ironworkers Local 17

Carol Tanzi, a registered nurse with the United Steelworkers Local 4-200, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and talked about the ongoing nurses' strike at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Tanzi explained the issues that lead to the strike and the negotiations that have taken place since the contract expired.

Ironworkers Local 17 Business Manager Rich Jordan joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed his Local and its plans for future growth. Jordan also spoke about the apprenticeship program and why believes the Local has a bright future.

Reid Maki, Coordinator, Child Labor Coalition | Lynne Gabriel, Spokesperson, Lakeland Faculty Association

Reid Maki, Coordinator of the Child Labor Coalition (CLC), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the issue of child labor in America. Maki explained the increasing number of states who weakened child labor laws, an incident at the cleaning company PSSI and Congressional reaction following the incident.

The spokesperson for the Lakeland Faculty Association, Lynne Gabriel, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and talked about teaching during the pandemic and the impact previous contract negotiations will have on current talks. She also spoke about the items the LFA seeks in a new contract.

Jeff Stoffer, Director of the Marketing, Media and Communications Division | Norm Wernet, State Director, Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans

Director of the American Legion Marketing, Media and Communications Division, Jeff Stoffer, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the Legion’s outreach to assist veterans in filing for VA benefits. Stoffer also discussed two articles from the upcoming September issue of the American Legion Magazine.

Norm Wernet, State Director for the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the organization’s opposition of State Issue 1. Wernet also talked about Social Security’s 88th anniversary, what the program has done for retirees and issues facing the program today.