On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we examine the shifting landscapes of our physical cities and our digital security. We are joined by two leaders at the forefront of veteran and retiree advocacy to discuss the "reset" of the American downtown and the escalating fight to protect Social Security data.

Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications for the American Legion, previews the latest issue of the American Legion Magazine.

The Downtown Reset: How the collapse of office building valuations is forcing cities into a mixed-use transformation.

Housing & Homelessness: The urgent intersection of downtown revitalization and affordable housing for veterans.

Cannabis Research: An update on the Legion’s push for federal medical cannabis research to treat PTSD, TBI, and chronic pain.

The Thomas Paine Influence: Why the Revolutionary-era "media influencer" still matters to modern communicators and labor.

Rich Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, sounds the alarm on immediate threats to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The SSA Data Breach: Inside the federal court fight over unsecured servers and the potential exposure of millions of records.

The 2032 Deadline: New projections show the Social Security Trust Fund is moving toward a shortfall faster than expected—what it means for your benefits.

Actionable Advice: Steps beneficiaries can take right now to monitor their accounts and safeguard their financial identity.

Mobilizing for 2026: A preview of the Alliance’s National Membership Meeting in Las Vegas this April.

In this action-packed episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we tackle the legislative and local battles shaping the lives of industrial workers in the Midwest and beyond.

Segment 1: Policy and Pathways with U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) joins the show to discuss her "worker-centered" agenda in Washington. As the lead sponsor of the LEAP Act, Budzinski explains how bipartisan tax incentives can expand registered union apprenticeships, providing a debt-free route to the middle class.

The Battle for Granite City: An update on the ongoing fight to secure long-term investment for U.S. Steel’s Granite City Works.

Fair Trade: Why the upcoming USMCA review is a critical moment for domestic manufacturing and trade enforcement.

The $15 Minimum Wage: Lessons learned from her time leading wage negotiations in Illinois.

Segment 2: Contract Victories with Pat Gallagher Pat Gallagher, President of the North Coast Labor Federation, breaks down major developments for the United Steelworkers (USW).

Libbey Glass Ratification: More than 1,000 workers in Toledo have officially ratified a new agreement, ending a five-month strike marked by hedge fund pressure and demands for concessions.

Oil Sector Bargaining: The latest on the tentative agreement with Marathon, designed to set the "pattern" for safety and wage standards across the industry.

Global Steel Overcapacity: A look at how the Congressional Steel Caucus is addressing the 700-million-ton global surplus that threatens U.S. jobs.

Key Topics Covered:

Registered Apprenticeships (LEAP Act)

United Steelworkers (USW) Contracts

Toledo Libbey Glass Strike Resolution

Pattern Bargaining in the Oil Industry

USMCA Trade Review and Steel Dumping

How can the labor movement overcome outdated laws and geographical silos to build true worker power? Today on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we tackle the legislative and organizational strategies shaping the future of unions in the Midwest and the West.

Segment 1: Breaking the "Double Hurdle" in Colorado Dennis Dougherty, Executive Director of the Colorado AFL-CIO, joins us to discuss the high-stakes fight for the Worker Protection Act. He explains why Colorado is the only state in the nation that forces workers to clear a second, 75% "supermajority" vote after already winning their union election. Dougherty breaks down how this "Labor Peace Act" relic allows for employer intimidation and why ending it is the federation's top priority in 2026.

Segment 2: Organizing Across 11 Counties Luther Baker, President of the East Central Illinois AFL-CIO and a member of IBEW Local 601, shares the story of a major regional merger. What began as the Champaign County AFL-CIO has now expanded into a unified council covering 11 counties. Baker discusses:

His path from fast food management to an IBEW apprenticeship.

The role of IBEW RENEW in cultivating young leaders.

Strategies for bridging the gap between building trades and public sector unions.

What You’ll Learn:

Why the "75% rule" in Colorado is a national outlier for labor rights.

How central labor councils are modernizing through regional mergers and hybrid governance.

The importance of cross-union solidarity in winning first contracts.

In this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we dive into two major battles for the future of public education and worker rights.

First, Jason Rabinowitz, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 2010, discusses the weeklong strike of 1,100 skilled trades workers across the California State University (CSU) system. He breaks down why the union is striking over "broken promises" regarding negotiated step increases and how the CSU system is prioritizing executive compensation over the workers who keep 22 campuses running.

Next, we head to Ohio with Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT). Cropper sounds the alarm on HB 671, a "bully bill" that threatens to withhold state funding from school districts that challenge state laws in court—specifically targeting those fighting EdChoice vouchers. She also addresses the professional autonomy concerns within HB 693 and the upcoming 2026 OFT Convention.

What we discuss in this episode:

Is the U.S. Postal Service being set up to fail?

In this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we sit down with Jonathan Smith, the new President of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU). Smith, a second-generation postal worker who rose through the ranks from a New Jersey bulk mail center, pulls back the curtain on the "pseudo-privatization" strategies threatening one of America’s most trusted public institutions.

We dive deep into:

The Privatization Playbook: How profitable mail operations are being siphoned off to private interests, leaving the public with the bill.

The Staffing Crisis: Why those long lines at your local post office aren't an accident—they are a service issue rooted in understaffing.

Vote-by-Mail Under Fire: Why protecting the mail-in ballot is a nonpartisan, constitutional necessity for rural communities, veterans, and seniors.

Labor’s Legacy: A look back at the 1970 Postal Strike and why a new generation of workers must organize to protect middle-class, blue-collar pathways.

The Postal Service is more than just a delivery business; it’s a public obligation. Join us as President Smith outlines the APWU’s mission to ensure the USPS remains a prompt, efficient and universal service for every American.

The rules of the game are changing—both at the border and in the regional field office.

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we are joined by two leading experts to discuss the policy shifts threatening union leverage in 2026.

Part 1: The USMCA 2026 Review with Adam Hersh Senior Economist Adam Hersh joins us to break down the high-stakes "NAFTA 2.0" review coming this July. While USMCA was sold as a fix for manufacturing, Hersh explains why loopholes in auto rules of origin and the threat of offshoring continue to chill collective bargaining. We discuss:

Part 2: The NLRB Staffing Crisis with Andrew Strom Brooklyn Law School professor and labor lawyer Andrew Strom returns to discuss a compounding crisis at the National Labor Relations Board. With staffing at a decade-long low and a post-shutdown backlog mounting, "justice delayed" is becoming a tactical weapon for employers. We dive into:

Listen in to hear how unions can navigate these legal and economic headwinds to keep building power.

Today, we bring you stories from the frontlines of labor advocacy, featuring leaders from the fire service and nursing who are fighting for safety, respect, and fair treatment.

Segment 1: Protecting Ohio’s Bravest (OAPFF) We are joined by Jon Harvey, President of the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters (OAPFF), and Steve Stein, the OAPFF Director of Governmental Affairs. They discuss the current legislative landscape in Ohio, the critical work being done to protect firefighter pensions and safety standards, and the importance of political action in maintaining the resources first responders need to save lives.

Segment 2: Nurses United in Maine (MSNA/NNU) In our second segment, we speak with Terry Caron, an RN at Northern Maine Medical Center (NMMC) and member of the Maine State Nurses Association (MSNA), an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU). Terry shares the details of their recent battles at NMMC, including a decisive union recertification vote and a significant settlement following Department of Labor citations against the hospital. We discuss what this victory means for patient care, safe staffing, and the power of collective bargaining.

Links & Resources:

OAPFF: [Link to OAPFF website]

National Nurses United: [Link to NNU website]

Tags: #LaborRadio #OAPFF #Firefighters #UnionStrong #MSNA #NationalNursesUnited #Nurses #HealthcareHeroes #OhioLabor #MaineLabor #Solidarity

On this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we bridge the gap between labor’s historic battles and its future leaders.

Segment 1: The Strike That Changed Canadian Labor Law Myles Sullivan, International Secretary-Treasurer of the United Steelworkers (USW), joins the show to revisit a defining chapter in labor history: the 1941-42 Kirkland Lake gold miners’ strike. Sullivan explains how a "lost" strike in the frozen trenches of Northern Ontario eventually forced the government to mandate collective bargaining rights. He connects that legacy of resilience to modern struggles, including the fights at Local 6500 in Sudbury, and argues that member education and high union density remain the only true safeguards against concessions.

Segment 2: Training the Next Generation of Organizers Jessica Cook-Qurayshi, Director of DePaul University’s Labor Education Center (LEC), discusses how her team is turning labor education into a movement-building tool. She outlines the LEC’s "Labor Leadership Certificate" and advanced bargaining courses that teach members to cost contracts and write proposals. Cook-Qurayshi also details the Center’s massive youth initiative—including a collective-bargaining role-play that reaches 1,800 students—and explains why intergenerational training is critical to the survival of the labor movement.

Key Topics:

Kirkland Lake 1941: How a miners' defeat sparked a legislative victory.

USW History: The legacy of Leo Gerard and cross-border solidarity.

Labor Education: DePaul’s certificate programs for stewards and officers.

Youth Organizing: High school summer schools and internship programs.

Listen now to hear how the lessons of the past are shaping the organizers of the future.

Introduction On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we look at two major battles for public resources and professional dignity. First, we examine a ballot measure in Ohio that could strip billions from local communities. Then, we look at a wave of union victories in newsrooms that are fighting to keep local journalism alive.

Segment 1: The High Cost of Repealing Ohio Property Taxes Frank Mathews, Administrative Director for CWA District 4, joins the show to issue a stark warning about a signature-gathering effort to eliminate property taxes in Ohio. While the pitch sounds appealing to homeowners, Mathews explains why the "fine print" could be disastrous for working families.

The $20 Billion Hole: How eliminating property taxes removes the primary funding source for public schools, township roads, and police/fire departments.

Who Really Pays: Why replacing this revenue would likely force massive hikes in sales and income taxes, shifting the burden onto lower- and middle-income workers.

The Service Gap: The risk to essential services in townships that cannot levy income taxes.

Segment 2: Organizing Wins in Ohio & The Future of News NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss reports on a surge of momentum for newsroom workers, despite corporate consolidation and layoffs at national outlets like the Washington Post.

Victory in Columbus: Journalists at the Columbus Dispatch and Newark Advocate have voted overwhelmingly to unionize, strengthening NewsGuild Local 1.

Pittsburgh’s PAPER: How workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette are building their own community-centered publication, the Pittsburgh Alliance for People-Empowered Reporting (PAPER), to bypass corporate gatekeepers.

National Fight: The labor response to recent cuts at the Washington Post and why preserving newsroom jobs is a civic necessity.

Links & Resources

Support Pittsburgh Journalists: Visit OurPaperNow.org

Learn More About CWA District 4: CWA-Union.org

Follow the NewsGuild: NewsGuild.org

Listen to more episodes: AWF.LaborTools.com

Follow Us

Twitter/X: @AWFUnionPodcast

Facebook: @AWFUnionPodcast

Two major labor stories define today’s episode: a historic organizing win at some of the nation’s most famous music venues and the national fight to set rules for Artificial Intelligence in the workplace.

First, Ryan Chavka, Business Agent for IATSE Local 22, joins the show to break down the massive union victory for concert production workers at The 9:30 Club, The Anthem, The Atlantis, and Lincoln Theatre. Chavka takes listeners inside the campaign, describing the “standing room only” meeting that started it all and explaining why scheduling predictability and respect—not just wages—drove the vote. He also discusses the challenges of the "overhire" system and what lies ahead as workers move toward bargaining their first contract.

Then, Jody Calemine, Director of Advocacy for the AFL-CIO, provides a critical legislative update from Capitol Hill. He details the bipartisan passage of the Protect America’s Workforce Act in the House, which aims to restore collective bargaining rights for federal workers, and outlines the strategy to overcome the Senate filibuster. Calemine also discusses the labor movement’s push for AI Guardrails, explaining why states must retain the power to regulate technology to protect worker privacy and job security.

Featured Guests:

Ryan Chavka, Business Agent, IATSE Local 22

Jody Calemine, Director of Advocacy, AFL-CIO

Hosted by: Ed "Flash" Ferenc