America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Bernie Burnham (Minnesota AFL-CIO) / U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed how her state federation is building a program to elect union members to public office, financial bonuses for Minnesota’s essential workers and recent union organizing wins across the state.   

 

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined the AWF Union Podcast and spoke about the proposed Bartlett Maritime Plan, efforts to privatize Veterans Administration healthcare and his thoughts regarding the results of Ohio’s first Primary Election in 2022.

Dave Megenhardt (United Labor Agency) / Jeb Miles (IW Local 477)

Iron Workers Local 477 Business Manager Jeb Miles joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed his Local’s efforts to grow its apprenticeship program to help meet demand created by the current construction boom in Huntsville, Ala.    

 

United Labor Agency (ULA) Executive Director David Megenhardt joined the podcast and discussed new job opportunities, mainly Cuyahoga County government positions. He talked about a recently created RTA transit ambassador position and the ongoing need to hire social workers and corrections officers in Cuyahoga County. He also spoke about an upcoming virtual job fair hosted by the ULA.

Tim Burga (Ohio AFL-CIO) / Glenn Kelly (BAC President Local 8 Southeast)

Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed two of the state AFL-CIO’s endorsements in Ohio’s Primary Election. He also provided an update on the process to approve redistricting maps in Ohio following numerous rejections by the Ohio Supreme Court due to gerrymandering. 

 

Glenn Kelly, President of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) Local 8 Southeast, joined the podcast and discussed how the Vogtle nuclear plant project in Georgia is one of the largest union construction projects in the country. He also talked about why Georgia has become ground zero for voting rights and workers’ rights, and why growing union membership is critical to keeping the state blue.

Erik Shilling (GMG) / James Lingley (Northwest Florida Federation of Labor)

Northwest Florida Federation of Labor President James Lingley joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the political divide among the working class, and how workers can find common ground through “bread and butter” issues such as financial security, healthcare and retirement.

 

Erik Shilling, a member of Writers Guild of America East, joined the AWF Union podcast and talked about the successful four-day strike by Gizmodo Media Group Union and the benefits earned after the strike.

Greta Callahan ( MN-AFT Local 59) / Steve Rosenfled (Independent Media Institution)

Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT) Local 59 President Greta Callahan joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the unions success after a nearly three - week strike. 

Steve Rosenfled, Chief Correspondent from the Independent Media Institution, discussed how over 80 election-denying candidates are running for public office in primaries in 2022 and what it means to the future of democracy.  

Bill Samuel (AFL-CIO) / Mary Anne Trasciatti (Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition)

AFL-CIO Director of Government Affairs Bill Samuel joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and explained why he thinks U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin may be willing to revisit parts of the “Build Back Better” budget resolution bill in revamped legislation. He also talked about Congress reconciling legislation to fund domestic semiconductor chip manufacturing.

 

Mary Anne Trasciatti, President of the Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition, was today’s second guest and she discussed the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, along efforts by her coalition to build a memorial to the tragedy in New York City. Her appearance was part of AWF’s commemoration of Workers’ Memorial Day.

Pete Ielmini (LMCT) / Amber Angerer (Teamsters)

Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT) Executive Director Pete Ielmini joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the need to include tax incentives for mechanical insulation in revamped legislation similar to the “Build Back Better” budget reconciliation bill.  

 

Teamsters Organizer Amber Angerer was today’s second guest and she explained how she became a union organizer after a failed attempt to unionize the workers at the cannabis dispensary where she worked in California.

Tom Buffenbarger (Independent Labor Voice) / Lanny Mathis ( Florida North Central CLC and IBEW Local 1205) / Josh Nassar (UAW)

Tom Buffenbarger, an Independent Labor Voice, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and talked about the Securing a Strong Retirement Act (H.R. 2954) and the need to strengthen Social Security and Medicare in order to help working class baby boomers prepare for retirement. 

 

United Auto Workers (UAW) Legislative Director Josh Nassar was today’s second guest. He discussed the America COMPETES Act and the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, as both pieces of proposed legislation would strengthen the nation’s domestic chip production, if passed.

 

Lanny Mathis, Business Manager of IBEW Local 1205, President of the North Central Florida Central Labor Council and President of the Big Bend Building Trades Council also appeared on the show. He spoke about the multi-billion renovation projects underway at Tyndall Air Force Base and how it is benefitting his Local. 

Joe Zahorik (Ironworkers local 89) / Greg Regan (TTD)

Ironworkers Local 89 Political Coordinator Joe Zahorik joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed his political run for Iowa State Senate District 39. 

 

AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Greg Regan was today’s second guest, and he discussed how precision scheduled railroading exacerbated the supply chain crisis and subjected railway workers to grueling schedules with little time to be sick. He also talked about the need to legally define assault to better track attacks on transportation workers.

Chris Martin (Working Class Perspectives) / Benjamin Davis (United Steelworkers)

Chris Martin, Professor of Digital Journalism at University of Northern Iowa and a contributing write to Working Class Perspectives, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed one of his recent blogs, which explored the impact of unfettered global trade on American manufacturing.

 

United Steelworkers International Affairs Director Benjamin Davis was today’s second guest and  he discussed the potential impact of the Rapid-Response Labor Mechanism under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and how it could empower union organizing in Mexico.