America’s Work Force Union Podcast

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

Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer for the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the North American Building Trades Union Legislative Conference, getting more people into the trades and an update on the status of the Intel project. 

Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer for the AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss their report, Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, 2024. Redmond discussed the rise of workplace injuries involving minority workers and why there have been so many issues getting employers to provide proper protections for workers.

Sonya Bohmann, Executive Director, CIASP | Zack Tanner, President, Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh

Sonya Bohmann, Executive Director of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to continue our coverage of Mental Health Awareness Month. Bohmann discussed the proper ways to discuss mental health resources available to leaders and workers.

Zack Tanner, President of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh — a Local with The NewsGuild-Communication Workers of America — joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the announcement from Region 6 of the National Labor Relations Board that they would begin the process for seeking Injunctive Relief following the decision to dissolve by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 205.

Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, Clinical Psychologist, Program Trainer and speaker | Dave Megenhardt, Executive Director, ULA

To begin Mental Health Awareness Month, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, noted psychologist, program trainer and speaker, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the state of mental health awareness in America. She also spoke about how unions can provide care and access to mental health, including the Man Therapy campaign.

Dave Megenhardt, Executive Director of the United Labor Agency (ULA), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the ULA Counseling Center, improving access to mental health care and a shortage of mental health counselors.

Merrilee Logue, Executive Director of NLO, Mikal Sutton, Managing Director of Medicaid Policy for BCBSA | Jimmy Williams Jr., General President, IUPAT

Merrilee Logue, executive director of the Blue Cross Blue Shield National Labor Office (NLO), and Mikal Sutton, the managing director of Medicaid policy for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the process for Medicaid redeterminations and how Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies are working to give American’s access to coverage.

In honor of International Painters Appreciation Day, America’s Work Force Union Podcast spoke with the General President for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Jimmy Williams Jr. He gave an overview of the work done by the union in 2023, their strength in diversity and how the increase in work creates a greater opportunity to fix worker misclassification.

Stephan Davis, Business Manager, IBEW Local 40 | Jeff Joines, National Legislative Director, BMWED

Business Manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 40, Stephan Davis, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the Local’s upcoming 100th Anniversary event, the Hollywood Basic Crafts negotiations and their unique retirement plan for members.

Jeff Joines, the Director of Government Affairs for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED-IBT), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about Rail Labor Day on May 1 in Washington, D.C. and how it could help bring better safety regulations to the rail industry.

Donnie Blatt, District 1 Director, USW | Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, Co-Executive Director, NCOSH | Roy Morrison, Director of Safety, BMWED-IBT

The Co-Executive Director of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, appeared on the America’s Work Force Union podcast and spoke about the annual release of the “Dirty Dozen” list of companies and the power of unions to make employees and workplaces safer.

Donnie Blatt, United Steelworkers District 1 Director, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss how a Collective Bargaining Agreement can lead to a safer workplace and the move to end gerrymandering in Ohio.

As a part of our coverage for Workers Memorial Day on April 28, Roy Morrison, Director of Safety for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss how the union is working to eliminate rail operations that focus on profit over safety and explains how the Brotherhood is providing a better reporting system for workers.

Bill Samuel, Government Affairs Director, AFL-CIO | Dan Poteet, Business Manager, Insulators Local 50

Bill Samuel, Government Affairs Director of the AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast for his final appearance in his current position. Samuel talked about his history in Labor and his memories on the show. He also spoke on the work President Joe Biden has done to help pass a foreign aid package and the Biden Administration's announcement of the final rules on overtime for certain salaried employees.

Business Manager of International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators Local 50, Dan Poteet, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss a potential record contract for members of Local 50. He also provided an update on the Local’s organizing campaign to get enough members to handle the growing workload in Central Ohio.

Pete Ielmini, Executive Director, Mechanical Insulators LMCT | Ken Grossinger, Author, How Organizers And Artists Are Creating a Better World Together

Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust Executive Director Pete Ielmini joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and provided an update on the status of the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act and talked about jobsite safety.

 

Ken Grossinger, author of “Artworks: How Organizers and Artists are Creating a Better World Together,” appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about the power of art and how it can lead to social change. 

 

Scott Paul, President, Alliance for American Manufacturing | Tom Buffenbarger, Independent Labor Voice

Scott Paul, Alliance for American Manufacturing President, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the Biden administration launching an investigation into China's unfair trade practices in the shipbuilding sector and how Chinese overcapacity is a threat to many U.S. industries.

Independent labor voice Tom Buffenbarger appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about recent safety concerns raised about Boeing aircraft and his worry that union members will ultimately pay the price for the decisions by Boeing’s upper management.

Dr. Janet Choi, reproductive endocrinologist, and Stacey Hofert, VP of Labor and Trust, Progyny | Roland “Rex” Rexha, Secretary-Treasurer, MEBA

In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week beginning today, April 22, America’s Work Force Union Podcast featured Dr. Janet Choi, a double-board certified reproductive endocrinologist, and Stacey Hofert, Vice President of Labor and Trust, from Progyny. They discussed what they are doing to help individuals in the trades receive better care across the fertility, family building and women’s health continuum. They also talked about expanding benefits and closing the gaps in coverage that exist today.

Secretary-Treasurer for the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA), Roland “Rex” Rexha, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast to give a seagoing engineers’ perspective on the Francis Scott Key Bridge incident in the Baltimore Harbor and potential maritime reforms that could help protect workers and residents around ports.