America’s Work Force Union Podcast
Episodes
Andrew Strom, Labor Lawyer | Len DiCosimo, AFM Local 4
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Strom, labor lawyer, adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School and OnLabor Blog contributor, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to di...
Jacob Morrison, North Alabama Area Labor Council | Catherine Turcer, Common Cause Ohio
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jacob Morrison, co-host of The Valley Labor Report and member of the North Alabama Area Labor Council, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast t...
Kimberly Kam, ABOC | Jacqueline Cañola, SEIU Education and Support Fund
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Following Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May, Kimberly Kam, Senior Vice President and Sales Director for Union Commercia...
Frank Mathews, CWA District 4 | Kalena Thomhave, Capital & Main
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Frank Mathews, Administrative Director for District 4 of the Communication Workers of America (CWA), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to ...
Kevin Pranis, Steve Cortina, LIUNA MN & ND | Debbie Goldman, Author
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota’s Kevin Pranis, Marketing Manager, and Steve Cortina, Organizer in North Dakota, joined the America's Work Force Un...
Dorsey Hager, C/COBCTC | Fred Redmond, AFL-CIO
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, joined the America's Work Force Uni...
Tom Spiggle, The Spiggle Law Firm | Samantha Sanders, Economic Policy Institute
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Spiggle, labor and employment law attorney and founder of The Spiggle Law Firm, discussed the Trump administration's attacks on federal workers, l...
Irma Westmoreland, NNU | Tim Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Irma Westmoreland, Secretary-Treasurer of National Nurses United, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the proposed cuts to VA sta...
Jody Calemine, AFL-CIO | Dave Steiger, Attorney
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jody Calemine, the AFL-CIO's Director of Advocacy, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss attacks on federal unions, the crisis at the N...
Michael Baldwin, BRS | Chuck Stiles, Teamsters Solid Waste and Recycling Division
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Baldwin, President of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss rail industry issu...
Lindsay Dougherty, Teamsters | Merrilee Logue, NLO, Ruthie Fesahazion-Fortune, BCBSA
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lindsay Dougherty, International Vice President and Division Director of the Motion Picture and Theatrical Trade Division of the International Brother...
Troy Swanson, CCCTU | Dr. Jessica Provines, Wichita State University, Suspenders4Hope
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Troy Swanson, Legislative Chair for the Cook County College Teachers Union (CCCTU), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss Illinois ...
James Petrides, Mechanical Insulators LMCT | Sean Allen, Union Proud Warrior
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jim Petrides, senior mechanical insulation specialist for the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT), joined the America's Wo...
Charlie Falkner, Ironworkers Local 8 | Tom Buffenbarger
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Charlie Falkner, Business Manager of Ironworkers Local 8 in Milwaukee, Wisc., joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the union's gro...
Sri Benson, American Legion | Richard Sherman, American Legion
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sri Benson, a policy analyst at the American Legion, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast this Memorial Day to share the story of his late wi...
John Lepley, USW | Dr. Mike McDonald and Brenda Thompson, Birdsong Hearing
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Mike McDonald, Director of Audiology, and Brenda Thompson, Chief Operating Officer at Birdsong Hearing Benefits, joined the America's Work Force U...
Johnny Jones, AFGE | Champ Zavala, BMWED-IBT UPRF
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Johnny Jones, Council Secretary/Treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees TSA Council 100, joined the America's Work Force Union Po...
Chris Lalevee, IUOE | Manja Horner, BOOST
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Lalevee, Business Agent for International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 and Director of the IUOE Peer Support Program, joined the Ameri...
Melissa Cropper, OFT | Illinois State Rep. Marcus C. Evans, District 33
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Marcus C. Evans Jr., State Representative for Illinois' 33rd district and Chairman of the Labor Committee, joined the America's Work Force Union Podca...
Shaun Richman, SUNY Empire State University | Bryce Covert, The Nation
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shaun Richman, labor historian, professor and author, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his new book "We Always Had a Union: Th...
Jeff Stoffer, American Legion | Rich Fiesta, Alliance for Retired Americans
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications for the American Legion, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the June edition ...
Doreen Greenwald, NTEU | Pat Gallagher, North Coast Area Labor Federation
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Doreen Greenwald, President of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the threats faci...
Sonya Bohmann, CIAFSP | Greg Regan, TTD AFL-CIO
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sonya Bohmann, Executive Director of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discu...
Frank Mathews, CWA District 4 | David Spero, PASS
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Frank Mathews, District 4 Administrative Director for the Communications Workers of America (CWA), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to di...
Sarah Anderson, IPS | Matt Biggs, IFPTE
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Anderson, Director of the Global Economy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the d...
Paul Mueller Jr., ABOC | Jessica Martinez, National COSH
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Mueller Jr., Vice President of Commercial Lending at ABOC, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the intricacies of constructi...
Pete Smith, Confyde | Andrew Strom, OnLabor Blog
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing our coverage of Mental Health Awareness Month, Pete Smith, founder of Confyde, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the...
Al Baraza, IUPAT | Dave Megenhardt, ULA
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Al Barraza, Director of Organizing for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 14, joined America's Work Force Union Po...
Cal Beyer, SAFE Project | Tim Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing our coverage of Mental Health Awareness Month, Cal Beyer, Senior Director of Safe Workplaces for the Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic (...
Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas | Ed. Bartlett Jr., Bartlett Maritime Corporation
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing our Mental Health Awareness Month coverage, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, clinical psychologist and mental health advocate, joined the America'...
Dorsey Hager, C/COBCTC | Fred Redmond, AFL-CIO
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, joined the America's Work Force Uni...
CWM Summit Panel featuring Alanna Marklund, Ben Bradshaw, Mike Hazard, James Pursell and Pete Ielmini
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The America’s Work Force Union Podcast proudly sponsored a panel discussion held earlier this year at the Fourth Annual Construction Working Minds S...
Robert Peters, Illinois State Senator | Greg Regan, TTD
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Illinois State Sen. Robert Peters joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about his journey into politics, Illinois' pro-worker legisl...
Jalen Alexander, SPWU | Tom Buffenbarger
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jalen Alexander, President of the Social Policy Workers United — affiliated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Co...
Jill Manrique, Chicago Jobs With Justice | Tim Drea, Illinois AFL-CIO
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jill Manrique, Executive Director of Chicago Jobs with Justice, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss Workers’ Memorial Day, immi...
Stacey Hofert, Progyny | Donnie Blatt, USW
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stacey Hofert, Group Vice President of Labor and Trust for Progyny, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss National Infertility Awar...
Cathy Kennedy, National Nurses United | Merrilee Logue, BCBS NLO
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cathy Kennedy, a President of National Nurses United, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the potential impact of staffing cuts a...
Pete Ielmini, LMCT | Tyler Lefeber, Color Health, Maria Scheeler, Teamsters Philadelphia & Vicinity
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pete Ielmini, Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast...
Nick Yelverton, Springfield & Central Illinois Trades & Labor Council | Brad Asay, Utah AFL-CIO
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Yelverton, President of the Springfield and Central Illinois Trades and Labor Council and Legislative Director for the Illinois Federation of Tea...
Lynn Rhinehart, EPI and Lauren McFerren, The Century Foundation | Pat Gallagher, NCLF
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lynn Rhinehart, Senior Fellow at the Economic Policy Institute, and Lauren McFerren, Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation and former National Labor...
Jeff Stoffer, American Legion | Rich Fiesta, Alliance for Retired Americans
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications for The American Legion, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss quality of life...
Tim Holahan, Broadstripes
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Holahan, CEO and project manager of Broadstripes, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss how digital tools are modernizing labor...
Jessica LaPointe, AFGE Council 220 | John Jarger, MACRC
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jessica LaPointe, President of AFGE Council 220, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the critical challenges facing the Social Se...
Alyssa Goodstein, IL AFL-CIO | Melissa Cropper, OFT
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers and Secretary-Treasurer of the Ohio AFL-CIO, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast t...
Nancy Altman, Social Security Works | Greg LeRoy, Good Jobs First
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nancy Altman, President of the political advocacy group, Social Security Works, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the Social Se...
Brad Asay, Utah AFL-CIO | Andrew Strom, OnLabor Blog
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brad Asay, Vice President of the Utah AFL-CIO and President of the American Federation of Teachers- Utah, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcas...
Katie Harris, Blue Green Alliance | Len DiCosimo, Cleveland Federation of Musicians
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Katie Harris, Blue Green Alliance Vice President of Federal Affairs, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss climate policy, environmenta...
David Holt, CEA | Jacob Morrison, North Alabama Area Labor Council
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
David Holt, President of the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the need for affordable and reli...
Frank Mathews, CWA District 4 | Sherry Linkon, Kalmanovitz Initiative
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Frank Mathews, Administrative Director for District 4 of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to dis...
Michael Linden, Families over Billionaires | Hannah Halbert, Policy Matters Ohio
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Linden, Campaign Director for Families Over Billionaires, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the federal government’s ...
Dorsey Hager, CCOBCTC | Fred Redmond, AFL-CIO
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus and Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council (CCOBCTC), joined the America's ...
Lynn Rhinehart, EPI | Matt Biggs, IFPTE
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lynn Rhinehart, a Senior Fellow at the Economic Policy Institute and former General Counsel of the AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podc...
Jimmy Williams Jr., IUPAT | Frank Mathews, CWA District 4
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jimmy Williams Jr., General President of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discu...
Robert J. Majdecki, ABOC | Tim Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rob Majdecki, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at Amalgamated Bank of Chicago (ABOC), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast ...
Mark Dimondstein, APWU | Kelly Dufour, Common Cause Ohio
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Dimondstein, President of the American Postal Workers Union, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the likely consequences of ...
Eric Hill, SkillsUSA Illinois, and Armondo Perez, Student | Randi Pearson, USW
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Eric Hill, Executive Director of SkillsUSA Illinois, and Armondo Perez, a high school computer science student, joined the America's Work Force Union ...
Pennie McCoach, ATU Local 308 | Tim Drea, Illinois AFL-CIO
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pennie McCoach, President and Business Agent of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 308, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss he...
Pete Ielmini, Mechanical Insulators LMCT | Merrilee Logue, NLO, and Lynn Pina, GeoBlue
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pete Ielmini, Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast...
Pat Devaney, IL AFL-CIO | Tom Buffenbarger
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pat Devaney, Secretary-Treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the history of pension cuts, their ...
Karen Suarez-Flint, Chicago Federation of Musicians | Greg Regan, TTD
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Karen Suarez-Flint, Secretary-Treasurer of the Chicago Federation of Musicians, American Federation of Musicians Local 10-208, joined the America's Wo...
Jeff Stoffer, American Legion | Norm Wernet, Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications for The American Legion, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the organization'...
Eileen Boris, UC-Santa Barbara | Pat Gallagher, North Coast Area Labor Federation
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Eileen Boris, Professor of Feminist Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss F...
Johnny Jones, AFGE | Jonathan Rosenblum, Center for Work and Democracy
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Johnny Jones, Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Council 100, joined the America's Workforce Union Podcast to discuss ...
Melissa Cropper, OFT | Frank Mathews, CWA District 4
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the state's school funding pro...
Will Attig, Union Veterans Council | Lily Calderon, BAC
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Will Attig, Executive Director of the Union Veterans Council, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss layoffs of veterans in the fede...
Rachel Martinez, Chicago Climbing Union | Richard Mack, Miller Cohen, P.L.C.
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Martinez, organizer and bargaining committee member for the Chicago Climbing Union, Workers United Local 513, joined America's Work Force Union...
Jane Flanagan, IL DOL | Zach Schiller, Policy Matters Ohio
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jane Flanagan, Director of the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the state’s enhanced ch...
Adam Keller, The Valley Labor Report | Marisa Richards, Painters DC 30
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Keller, Worker Power Campaign Director for Alabama Arise and co-host of the Valley Labor Report, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to...
Tim Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO | Jon Schleus, The NewsGuild-CWA
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Burga, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss federal workforce challenges, legislative threats t...
Doreen Cannon, Plumbers Local 55 | Bob Funk, LaborLab
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Doreen Cannon, retired member of Plumbers Local 55, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the upcoming Cleveland Building and Const...
Dorsey Hager, C/COBCTC | Fred Redmond, AFL-CIO
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council (C/COBCTC), joined America's Work Fo...
Eric Blanc, EWOC | Mandy Jo Ganieany, Painters DC 30
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Eric Blanc, Assistant Professor of Labor Studies at Rutgers University and organizer with the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC), joined ...
Roushaunda Williams, UNITE HERE Local 1 | Dave Megenhardt, United Labor Agency
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Roushaunda Williams, labor steward for UNITE HERE Local 1 in Chicago and a vice president on the Illinois AFL-CIO Executive Board, joined the America'...
Emily Twarog, LEP Illinois | Jason Walsh, BlueGreen Alliance
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Emily Twarog, Associate Professor of History and Labor Studies at the University of Illinois School of Labor and Employment Relations, Labor Education...
Jennifer Frank, Insulators Local 17 | Darlene Glass, Cleveland Builds
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jennifer Frank, journeyman insulator and part-time instructor from the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local...
Deborah Chunn, Roofers Union | Kevin Mapp, USW
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah Chunn, Market Development Representative for the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers, joined America's Work Force Union ...
Dr. Jayne Morgan, Hello Heart | Dian Palmer, SEIU Local 73
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Jayne Morgan, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Hello Heart, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss cardiovascular health, di...
Pete Ielmini, Mechanical Insulators LMCT | Reagan Chaney, Melwood
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pete Ielmini, Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT), joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to ...
Corliss King, TWU Local 556 | Tom Buffenbarger
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Corliss King, a member of Transport Workers Union of America Local 556 and Illinois State AFL-CIO board member, joined the America’s Work Force Unio...
Fedrick Ingram, AFT | Greg Regan, TTD AFL-CIO
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fedrick Ingram, Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the AFT's r...
Jeff Stoffer, American Legion | Rich Fiesta, Alliance for Retired Americans
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications at the American Legion, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss their upcoming l...
Jody Calemine, AFL-CIO | Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jody Calemine, the AFL-CIO's Director of Advocacy, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the labor federation's response to recent atta...
Everett Kelley, AFGE | Richard Mack, Miller Cohen, P.L.C.
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everett Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the...
Melissa Cropper, OFT | Michael Podhorzer, Defend Democracy Project
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss pressing issues that could impact ...
Claude Cummings Jr., CWA | Sean O’Brien, Teamsters
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To help us celebrate Presidents Day, Claude Cummings Jr., President of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), joined America's Work Force Union ...
Tim Smith, UAW Region 8 | Andrew Strom, OnLabor and Brooklyn Law School
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Smith, Director of Region 8 of the United Auto Workers (UAW), joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss ongoing negotiations with Volks...
Brian Pollitt, TWU Local 234 | Davida Russell, NCALF
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brian Pollitt, President of Transport Workers Union Local 234 in Philadelphia, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the Local's re...