America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Columbus Building Trades and Nana Watson, President, Columbus NAACP | Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO

Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, and Nana Watson, President of the Columbus National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), both appeared on America’s Work Force Union Podcast. They discussed diversity, equity and inclusion in Central Ohio. They explained how the building trades and NAACP partnered for the Building Futures and Driving Futures Programs. The talk also turned to recently passed legislation by the Columbus City Council that created a Community Benefits Advisory Board and the city’s promotion of a database featuring female-owned and minority-owned contractors.

 

Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the Chris Gardner Foundation’s “Permission to Dream” initiative, which promotes alternative career paths instead of college. He also discussed the Battle of Homestead Foundation and how knowledge of labor history would benefit the younger generation.

Rita Lewis, Activist, Widow of Teamsters Local 100 President Butch Lewis | Frank Manzo, Executive Director, Illinois Economic Policy Institute

Rita Lewis, the widow activist of the late Local 100 Teamster President Butch Lewis, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and explained the story of the passage of the Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act of 2021. She detailed how the imminent collapse of various multi-employer pension funds took a toll on the health of her husband and how, after his passing, she felt compelled to pick up the torch and continue her late husband's work to lobby Congress for pension relief.

 

Illinois Economic Policy Institute Executive Director Frank Manzo appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed an IEPI study of six states that repealed Prevailing Wage laws and the impact it had on construction workers, businesses and communities. According Manzo, the study found the repeal of Prevailing Wage created a  multitude of unforeseen financial consequences and did not save taxpayers money.

Lane Windham, Associate Director of Georgetown University’s Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor | Dave Megenhardt, Executive Director, United Labor Agency (ULA)

Lane Windham, Associate Director of Georgetown University’s Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast and shared her thoughts on the current momentum of organized labor and where the newfound support is coming from. She also spoke about women who currently lead organized labor and some of the most influential women in the history of the labor movement.

 

Dave Megenhardt, Executive Director of United Labor Agency (ULA), appeared on America’s Work Force Union Podcast and explained how the organization helps retrain workers who change careers. The ULA also offers a program called the Union Counselor’s Association, which addresses mental health issues. He then talked about how the ULA is expanding the services they offer.

April Lott, Vice President South Carolina AFL-CIO, President of AFGE Local 3627 | Tom Buffenbarger, Independent Labor Voice

April Lott, Vice President of the South Carolina AFL-CIO and President of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3627, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast. Lott spoke of the uphill battle she faces, not just from the anti-labor rhetoric but also as a black female in a union in South Carolina, the state with the lowest labor density. Despite the negatives, Lott said she is excited to work with a younger generation that wants to join a union. With new industries moving in to South Carolina, Lott is positive their attempts to increase union membership will be successful.

 

Tom Buffenbarger, America’s Work Force Union Podcast’s independent labor voice, joined the AWF Union podcast to discuss his time with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Buffenbarger shared a story from when he first realized he would be a machinist and tool and die maker. He joined IAM as an apprentice while working for General Electric, followed by a rapid rise that eventually led to becoming IAM’s youngest international president. Buffenbarger also shared some of the stories and successes from his time as President of IAM.

Arlene Holt Baker, Former Executive Vice-President of AFL-CIO | Greg Regan, President, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD)

Arlene Holt Baker, former Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast and shared her pioneering experiences in organized labor, which include hearing President John F. Kennedy speak shortly before his assassination. She also discussed the current state of organizing by the younger generations and the AFL-CIO’s Organizing Institute.

 

Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the East Palestine train derailment. He spoke about possible contributing factors to the wreck and believes it will take approximately 18 months for the National Transportation Safety Board to complete its investigation and release a full report on the incident.

Scott Paul, President, Alliance of American Manufacturing (AAM) | Ben Davis, International Affairs Director, United Steelworkers

Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about the power of consumers who want to purchase American-made products. Through this desire, a near record number of manufacturing jobs have been created. He also explained the funding requirements for the network of EV charging stations to be built along U.S. interstates.

 

Ben Davis, International Affairs Director for the United Steelworkers, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast and explained the role of the the Independent Mexico Labor Expert Board. Created by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), the Labor Expert Board tries to ensure Mexican employers treat workers fairly. Davis serves as the board’s chair and detailed how it helps improve the lives of Mexican workers and also helps U.S. workers as well.

Bill Samuel, Director of Government Affairs, AFL-CIO | Joe Ciacchi, International Representative, OPMCIA

Bill Samuel, Director of Government Affairs for the AFL-CIO, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast and shared his assessment of the first two years of policy under President Joe Biden and his for the reintroduction of the PRO Act. He also discussed the debt ceiling fight and his thoughts on train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

 

Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Association Union (OPCMIA) International Representative Joe Ciacchi joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast and explained how the midwest has benefited from infrastructure funding. These projects have created a need for more manpower, and he explained how technological developments in educational tools have allowed the OPCMIA to reach out to the younger generation.

Pete Ielmini, Executive Director, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust | Mike Leda, Business Manager and Financial Secretary, IBEW Local 153

Pete Ielmini, Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about the Insulators Union’s Members Assistance Program, which is designed to help members deal with mental health issues. Ielmini also gave an update on the progress of the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act.

 

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 153 Business Manager and Financial Secretary Mike Leda appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the importance of growing the Local’s membership. He also shared the Local’s outreach and recruitment plans, which include an innovative method.

Melissa Cropper, President, Ohio Federation of Teachers | Stephen Rumburg, Business Manager and President, IUOE Local 465

President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, Melissa Cropper, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast to share updates about legislature impacting teachers in Ohio. Cropper discussed a proposed rule by the Federal Trade Commission to ban non-compete clauses with workers. Cropper shared how some teachers, mostly those in the Charter school system, have been impacted by non-compete clauses. She then discussed the issues the state faces with the Fair School Funding Plan and expanded charter school vouchers being implemented. Cropper also warned that the democratic process could be impacted by passing Ohio’s Senate Bill 1.

 

Stephen Rumburg, Business Manager and President of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 465, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast. Rumburg discussed the dynamics of managing an area covering North and South Carolina. He shared the difficulties he’s faced trying to organize in two of the least union friendly states and the successes they’ve had in growing membership recently. The push for renewable energy has Local 465 working with the North and South Carolina Building and Construction Trades Councils to unionize much of that work.

Billy Dycus, President, Tennessee AFL-CIO | Jake Grumbach, Associate Professor, University of Washington

Tennessee AFL-CIO President Billy Dycus joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the growth of Tennessee’s organized labor movement, which has been fueled by younger workers. He also spoke about the two sectors leading the way in union growth - construction and automotive manufacturing - and how they led to a 38 percent increase in overall union membership in a state considered to be anti-union.

 

Author Jake Grumbach appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about his book, which hypothesizes there is a direct correlation between organized labor and the strength of America’s democracy. In Laboratories Against Democracy: How National Parties Transformed State Politics, Grumbach aruges fewer union members hurt the nation’s democracy and weaken diversity and inclusion. He also aruged that union membership will not see a large increase until more manufacturing work returns to the U.S.