America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Cecil Roberts, President, UMWA | Brent Booker, General President, LIUNA

Happy New Year’s Day! Cecil Roberts, President of the United Mine Workers of America, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the Warrior Met Strike in Alabama, outdated protective equipment for miners and the dangers of siliica dust.

As part of the “Best of 2023” coverage, we replayed an interview from July 31, when America’s Work Force Union Podcast interviewed the 11th General President of LIUNA, Brent Booker, to discuss his time in charge of the International after being appointed to his new role. Booker also talked about the construction workers who repaired Interstate 95 in Philadelphia in record time and his plans for the future of the Union.

Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, Clinical Psychologist | Remembering USW President Tom Conway

As part of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast’s “Best of 2023” coverage, we highlight Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, noted psychologist, program trainer and speaker, who joined the show on Sept. 11 as part of Suicide Prevention Week and Mental Health Awareness Month. Dr. Sally spoke about improving mental health awareness in the building trades and improving a Local Union’s ability to provide resources to those in need. 

Many great labor supporters have joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast this year. For the final segment of 2023, we wanted to look back and honor one of Labor’s great leaders, Tom Conway, the late President of United Steelworkers. Today, we shared the second segment from the Oct. 3 episode that highlighted his appearances on the show over the last three years.

Sean McGarvey, NABTU, President | Bill Samuel, Director of Government Affairs, AFL-CIO

Bill Samuel, AFL-CIO Director of Government Affairs, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss Congress’s productivity in 2023, two new deadlines for a potential government shutdown and the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

For day seven of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast’s “Best of 2023” coverage, we go back to our July 13 interview with Sean McGarvey, President of North America’s Building Trades Unions, who talked about NABTU’s multi-city highlight tour. McGarvey also spoke on Apprenticeship Readiness Programs (ARPs) and the extraordinary efforts by union members to rebuild Interstate 95 in Philadelphia.

Pete Ielmini, Executive Director, Insulators LMCT | Terry O’Sullivan, General President, LIUNA

Pete Ielmini, the Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and provided updates on the status of the mechanical insulation legislation in Congress, the importance of knowing what mechanical insulators do and labor shortages in the industry.

 

America’s Work Force Union Podcast’s “Best of 2023” coverage continues with a look back at the April 27 interview with then Laborers’ International Union of North America General President Terry O’Sullivan, who discussed his retirement and tenure as the leader of LIUNA.

David Cann, Director of Organizing with the American Federation of Government Employees | Tom Buffenbarger, independent labor voice

As a continuation of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast “Best of 2023” coverage, today’s episode features a replay from June 21 featuring David Cann, Director of Organizing with the American Federation of Government Employees. He discussed the union’s organizing success in the first half of 2023 and the union’s plans to continue the trend going forward. Cann also discussed the organizing model used by the AFGE and why empowering Local Unions and members is the key to successful organizing.

On July 4, Independence Day, the America’s Work Force Union Podcast was joined by Independent labor voice Tom Buffenbarger who talked about the history of Harley-Davidson. As part of the AWF  “Best of 2023” coverage, Buffenbarger talked about the post-war problems Harley-Davidson faced and how unions like the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers helped make Harley the company it is today.

Ed Hill Jr., Business Development Rep, IBEW 3rd District | Vicki O’Leary, TWBN Chair, Erica Stewart, TWBN committee member

Merry Christmas! The America’s Work Force Union Podcast continues its “Best of 2023” coverage  with a Nov. 2 interview featuring IBEW 3rd District Business Development Representative, Ed Hill Jr. He talked about the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 3rd District’s plan for transitioning to green energy, the importance of organizing so they can staff the new jobs in the region and solar and offshore developments planned in New York and New Jersey.

NABTU Tradeswomen Committee Chair and Ironworkers General Organizer and Director of Diversity Vicki O’Leary and International Brotherhood of Boilermakers International Representative and TWBN Committee member Erica Stewart joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the North America’s Building Trades Union’s 13th annual Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference.

Mark Dimondstein, President, AWPU | Dave McCall, International President, USW

It’s day 3 of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast’s “Best of 2023” coverage. Today we’ll feature the May 8 conversation with the President of the American Postal Workers Union, Mark Dimondstein. Dimondstein spoke on how the American Postal Workers Union was dealing with staffing issues on the retail and delivery side of postal work. He also discussed some of the fundamental issues that needed to be fixed in order to improve working conditions and ways the Post Office could improve banking access for millions of Americans.

International President of the United Steelworkers, Dave McCall, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the announcement that US Steel has agreed to be purchased by Nippon Steel. McCall outlined his thoughts on the deal and potential issues that could prevent the deal from being finalized. Finally, McCall talked about the future and what to expect from the USW in 2024.

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, Vice President, Writers Guild of America East | Len DiCosimo, Executive Secretary, North Shore AFL-CIO

It’s day 2 of the “Best of 2023” coverage on America’s Work Force Union Podcast. Today’s highlighted interview featured then-vice president, now president, of the Writers Guild of America East, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen. She spoke about the WGA strike, which was then in its third month. Takeuchi Cullen explained her journey into the industry and how she found herself as a scriptwriter by accident. Finally, she discussed what a fair, modern contract win involving artificial intelligence would look like and the impact it could have on the entertainment industry.

The Executive Secretary of the North Shore AFL-CIO and president of the American Federation of Musicians Local 4 in Cleveland, Len DiCosimo, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to recap the year for Local 4, the new standard set by the contract with the Cleveland Orchestra and Ohio AFL-CIO’s regional labor federations efforts to get a new redistricting proposal on the ballot in 2024.

Tim Ryan, Former Ohio State Senator | Marisa Powell, Organizer and Lawyer, Doctors Council SEIU

As the kick-off to America’s Work Force Union Podcast’s “Best of 2023” coverage, we are replaying one of our popular episodes from the year. Former Ohio State Senator and founder of the We The People Action Fund, Tim Ryan, anchors the first part of the show. During his interview, Ryan discussed the origins and purpose of the political organization. Ryan also talked about voters growing discontent with the political system and how his new PAC is trying to improve public opinion on American politics.

The second guest who originally appeared on November 6, attorney and organizer for the Doctors Council SEIU, Marisa Powell, continued America’s Work Force Union Podcast “Best of 2023” coverage. In her interview, Powell discussed the organizing success of doctors in the Allina Healthcare System throughout Minnesota.

Melissa Cropper, President, Ohio Federation of Teachers | John Russo, Visiting scholar, Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University

Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the organizing wins at CCAD and the Pickerington Public Library. Cropper also talked about OFT’s efforts to organize other libraries in the state and the difficulty of winning a first contract in the private sector.

A visiting scholar at the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University, John Russo, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss contributing factors to the banner year for labor. He also discussed the impact of United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain and what the record contracts earned in 2023 could do for future negotiations.