America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Sam Petschulat and Vonda McDaniel, Music City Construction Careers | Karla Walter, CAP

On today’s America’s Work Force Union podcast, Music City Construction Careers (MC3) Executive Director Sam Petschulat and President Vonda McDaniel joined us to discuss how the organization is filling a gap for unions and helping introduce workers to the benefits of joining a union.

Karla Walter, Senior Fellow for Inclusive Economy with the Center for American Progress (CAP), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss why workers are winning a higher percentage of union elections when the National Labor Relations Board oversees the vote than at any point in the past 15 years. Walter also discussed how current policies are helping union victories and a potential problem on the horizon for organizing workers.

Mandy Jo Ganieany, IUPAT DC 30 | Robert Ford Jr., USW Local 2L

Mandy Jo Ganieany, the Organizing Director for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 30, which covers North Central Illinois and three counties in Wisconsin, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her experience as a woman in the trades. She also discussed why she became an organizer and a recent event to recruit more women into the trades. 

Robert Ford Jr., United Steelworkers Local 2L member in Akron, Ohio, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss how the union has made a difference in his life and how he’s used those benefits to give back to the local community with Forever R Children.

Brent Booker, LIUNA | Merrilee Logue and Keisha Adams, NLO BCBSA

Brent Booker, General President of the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his first 14 months in charge of the union. He also discussed the new strategies the union will use on its March to One Million, including utilizing a new, state-of-the-art studio.

Merrilee Logue, Executive Director of the National Labor Office (NLO) at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), and Keisha Adams, Managing Director of Strategic Execution and Partnerships for BCBSA, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about their new partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of America to improve youth mental health care.

Pete Ielmini, Mechanical Insulators LMCT | Johnny Jones, AFGE Council 100

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 (FMIA). Ielmini also talked about the Insulators Member Assistance Program (IMAP) and a new program to train foremen to be ambassadors for the industry.

Johnny Jones, Secretary-Treasurer for American Federation of Government Employees Council 100, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the historic new contract, and how it will help reduce turnover.

Sword Health | Tom Buffenbarger

Shawn McLoughlin, Vice-President of Labor and Trust, Jerry Gallo, Regional Vice President of Labor and Trust, and Jenn Delman, and Senior Clinical Specialist, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast on behalf of Sword Health. They discussed the effects of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders on building trades members and how digital care solutions can help improve health funds services for their members.

Tom Buffenbarger, former International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the design flaws with the 737 Series planes produced by Boeing at a non-union plant in South Carolina.

Jackie Townsend, Bricklayers ADC 1 | Greg Regan, TTD

Jackie Townsend, a member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Administrative District Council 1 of Illinois (ADC 1) and bricklaying instructor with Paul Simon Job Corps, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about finding herself in the trowel trades and how the union has positively impacted her life. She also talked about the way that the BAC has helped her carve out a sense of belonging and what she’s doing to provide that to other people.

Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his recent testimony on public transit in America. Regan also discussed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) efforts to set a federal standard for worker protection against extreme temperatures and the positives from Solidarity Summer.

Jeff Stoffer, American Legion | Richard 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 80th Anniversary of D-Day. Stoffer also discussed the impact of the G.I. Bill and previewed an article from July’s edition of the Legion Magazine.

Rich Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the need for better retirement planning. He also discussed upcoming events focused on education for the November election and the Alliance’s Annual Congressional Voting Record.

Scott Paul, AAM | Pat Gallagher, NCALF

Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss their recent report, SHOCKWAVES: The Ripple Effect of China’s Industrial Overcapacity on American Manufacturing and Factory Workers. Paul explained how the report is focused on raising awareness about the impact of excess goods and other bad trade practices from Chinese manufacturing companies. 

Pat Gallagher, president of the North Coast Area Labor Federation, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the costs unions pay to combat bad trade practices and how the labor federation is helping with the Ohio AFL-CIO election plans. He also talked about the efforts to end gerrymandering in the state.

Leonard Aguilar, Texas AFL-CIO | Grace Heffernan, NEO Workers Center

Leonard Aguilar, Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss state legislation creating more problems for labor unions. He also talked about their work to ensure unions lead the renewable energy transition and the 2024 Women’s Summit in Austin.

Grace Heffernan, co-founder and contractor with the Northeast Ohio Worker Center, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss employer wage theft and some of the resources available for workers to recover lost wages from their employers.

Melissa Cropper, OFT | Isha Vij, Maven Clinic

Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT-AFT), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to provide an end-of-the-2023-2024 school year recap. Cropper discussed an OFT survey that focused on the factors causing the state's teacher shortage. She also provided an update on recent organizing and contract wins for union members.

June is World Infertility Awareness Month, and in honor of that, Isha Vij, Vice President of Employer Growth at Maven Clinic, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed how the organization is helping union members address fertility issues.