State of the Unions

By AFL-CIO

What's State of the Unions about?

State of the Unions is labor‘s podcast, a production of the 12.5 million member, 56 union AFL-CIO, bringing you the issues and guests important to working people.

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State of the Unions episodes:

12.23.2021
Our Newest Affiliate: NWSLPA
Co-host Carolyn Bobb sits down for a conversation about the AFL-CIO's newest affiliate, the National Women's Soccer League Players Association (NWSLPA), with its Executive Director Meghann Burke.
12.01.2021
Her First 100 Days
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler sits down with Emily‘s List President Laphonza Butler to talk about life as newly elected women leaders as Shuler celebrates her first 100 days. They lay out their plans to build more inclusive labor and political...
11.15.2021
Meeting the Moment for Working Families
Tim and Carolyn sit down with Jimmy Williams Jr., general president of the Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), to discuss the ongoing membership work of the IUPAT. They also talk about the positive impact the Build Back Better legislative agenda, the Infrastructure...
11.02.2021
On Strike at Kellogg‘s with BCTGM Members Heather and Andy
Tim and Carolyn are joined by two BCTGM members on strike at Kellogg's, Heather Greene and Andrew Johnson.
11.01.2021
A moment for working people with Congressman Chuy García
Congressman Chuy García (Ill.) joined Tim and Carolyn to discuss the Build Back Better agenda, infrastructure and what passage of the PRO Act would mean for working people all across the country.
10.04.2021
Democracy, Safe Schools and Union Power
Tim and Carolyn are joined by American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten to discuss back to school, the state of play on Capitol Hill and the rise of unions.
09.20.2021
On the Front Lines: A Conversation with NNU Executive Director Bonnie Castillo, RN
On this week‘s episode of ”State of the Unions,” co-hosts Tim Schlittner and Carolyn Bobb sit down with National Nurses United (NNU) Executive Director Bonnie Castillo, RN, to discuss how nurses went above and beyond to speak out and advocate...
09.06.2021
It‘s Labor Day! A Conversation with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh
Tim and new co-host Carolyn Bobb discuss the legacy of Richard Trumka, Liz Shuler and the new leadership team at AFL-CIO and talk to Labor Secretary Marty Walsh.
03.18.2020
Working America: A conversation with the AFL-CIO's community affiliate
Julie and Guest Co-host Carolyn Bobb sat down with Matt Morrison, executive director of Working America, to discuss how the affiliate union is mobilizing millions of workers from all demographics who otherwise lack representation at work.
03.04.2020
Special Episode: Coronavirus and the Labor Movement's Response
Tim and Julie sit down with M.K. Fletcher, AFL-CIO Safety & Health Specialist to talk all things Coronavirus (COVID-19), what the labor movement is doing and how we are responding to ensure that frontline workers' needs are taken care of.
02.19.2020
Redux: Can't Stop. Won't Shop. Stories from a UFCW Picket Line
Meet Caleb-Michael, the new executive producer of State of the Unions as he reintroduces SOTU Pod Episode 16, Can't Stop. Won't Shop. Stories from a UFCW Picket Line. In this episode Julie and Tim talk to Kristen Johnson, a deli manager...
02.05.2020
A Refugee's Journey: A Conversation With AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre
Podcast co-host Tim talks with AFL-CIO EVP Tefere Gebre about his journey from being an Ethiopian refugee to success in the labor movement in Orange County, California, and in Washington, D.C., and the people and institutions that helped him along...
01.22.2020
Healing A Community: A Conversation With Rev. Leah Daughtry of Reconnecting McDowell
Podcast co-hosts Julie and Tim talk to with Rev. Leah Daughtry, CEO of "On These Things," about Reconnecting McDowell, a project of the American Federation of Teachers that takes a holistic approach to revitalizing the education and community of McDowell,...
01.08.2020
Collective Heroism: A Conversation With Fire Fighters President Harold Schaitberger
Podcast co-hosts Julie and Tim talk to International Association of Fire Fighters General President Harold Schaitberger about IAFF's Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery, 9/11 and the life of a firefighter.
12.25.2019
A Year of Progress: Our Favorite Episodes of 2019
Co-hosts Julie and Tim take a look behind the scenes of "State of the Unions" and chat with the team that makes the podcast and talks about everyone's favorite episodes of 2019.
12.11.2019
The Far Right Today: A Conversation with Political Scientist Cas Mudde
Podcast co-host Tim Schlittner and guest host and AFL-CIO International Director Cathy Feingold talk with Professor Cas Mudde, a political scientist from the University of Georgia. Mudde has a new book, "The Far Right Today," which takes a look at...
11.26.2019
A Future Where People Will Have Jobs: A Conversation with International Labor Organization Director-General Guy Ryder
Podcast co-host Tim Schlittner talks to Guy Ryder, the director-general of the ILO about the international labor movement, the idea of "decent labor" and the future of work.
11.13.2019
Serving Those Who Served: A Conversation with Union Veterans Council Executive Director Will Attig
Julie and Tim talk with Will Attig about his work connecting the labor movement and the veterans community.
10.30.2019
Flexing Labor's Muscle: A Conversation with Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (Wis.)
Tim talks to union member and Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (Wis.) about strikes, trade, health care, LGBTQ equality and the freedom to form a union.
10.16.2019
Out of the Woods: A Maine Union Member's Journey From Logging to Senate President
Julie and Tim talk to Maine Senate President Troy Jackson (IUPAT/IAM) about his path to power and the experiences that have shaped his life and career.
10.02.2019
Dignity of Work: A Conversation with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
Julie and Tim talk to U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (Ohio) about worker power, automation, trade and his decision to stay in the Senate.
09.18.2019
A Huge Deal: Workers Win Big in California
Julie and Tim check in with Industrial Union Council Executive Director Brad Markell about the UAW strike at GM and interview UC Hastings Associate Law Professor Veena Dubal, whose work helped pave the way for passage of AB 5, landmark...
09.04.2019
Humble Courage and 90210: A Conversation with SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris
Julie and Tim talk to SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris about the future of work, sexual harassment and her journey from young actor to labor leader.
08.21.2019
Save Our Apprenticeships: A Conversation with North America's Building Trades Unions Chief of Staff Mike Monroe
Tim talks to NABTU Chief of Staff Mike Monroe about a Department of Labor proposal that would undermine world-class apprenticeships in the construction industry.
08.07.2019
Special Episode: The Labor Movement Responds to the El Paso Massacre
Julie and Tim talk with Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Montserrat Garibay in the wake of the deadly mass shooting in El Paso. They discuss immigration, organizing and the need for solidarity in times of darkness.
07.24.2019
Taking Risks to Organize: A Conversation with UNITE HERE President D. Taylor
Julie and Tim talk to UNITE HERE President D. Taylor about the activism of airline catering workers and the need for the labor movement to take more risks.
07.10.2019
Demanding Better: AFL-CIO Trade Tour Highlights
Over three days in June, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka held town halls in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Detroit to talk with workers about the future of NAFTA. Listen to some of the highlights from that conversation.
06.26.2019
Winning the Future: A Conversation with AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler
Julie and Tim talk to AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler who is pushing the labor movement to be bold, take risks and not be afraid of failure.
06.12.2019
Union Proud: A Conversation with Pride at Work Executive Director Jerame Davis
Julie and Tim talk with Pride at Work Executive Director Jerame Davis as the AFL-CIO constituency group celebrates its 25th anniversary. They discuss the progress made by LGBTQ working people over the past quarter-century and the work still left to...
05.29.2019
A Union Organizer Goes to Washington: In Depth with Rep. Andy Levin
Julie and Tim talk to Congressman Andy Levin (Mich.), a former AFL-CIO employee and career union organizer and activist. They discuss labor law reform, trade and the path to power for working people in Michigan and across the country.
05.15.2019
Confronting the Health Care Crisis: A Conversation with NNU Executive Director Bonnie Castillo, RN
Tim talks to National Nurses United Executive Director Bonnie Castillo about the growing movement of registered nurses organizing for better jobs, a more just society and health care as a fundamental human right.
05.01.2019
Not Good Enough: A Conversation on NAFTA with AFL-CIO Trade Policy Specialist Celeste Drake
Julie and Tim talk to AFL-CIO Trade Policy Specialist Celeste Drake about flaws in the proposed new NAFTA and outline the labor movement's high standards for current and future trade agreements.
04.17.2019
Special Episode: Can't Stop. Won't Shop. Stories from a UFCW Picket Line
Julie and Tim talk to Kristen Johnson, a deli manager and shop steward at the Stop & Shop in Somerville, Massachusetts. Kristen and more than 30,000 of her co-workers, members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), are out...
04.03.2019
#StampOutHunger: A Conversation with the National Association of Letter Carriers
Tim talks to NALC Executive Vice President Brian Renfroe and Assistant to the President for Community Services Christina Vela Davidson about #StampOutHunger, the annual one-day drive which has collected more than one billion pounds of food for the hungry.
03.20.2019
House Blue Collar Caucus: A Conversation with Reps. Brendan Boyle (Pa.) and Marc Veasey (Texas)
Julie and Tim talk to the co-chairs of the House Blue Collar Caucus. Boyle and Veasey both come from union families and formed the caucus in the aftermath of the 2016 election to better connect with blue collar workers. They...
03.06.2019
A Conversation with Teen Vogue Labor Columnist Kim Kelly
Julie and Tim talk to Kim Kelly, the labor columnist for Teen Vogue and a former music editor at VICE. Kelly shares her journey into radical political activism from humble beginnings in rural New Jersey to a platform that reaches...
02.20.2019
A Special Black History Month Conversation with IUPAT General President Ken Rigmaiden
Julie and Tim talk to Ken Rigmaiden, general president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. He details his journey from a floor covering installer in San Jose, California, to the highest ranks of the labor movement. He...
02.06.2019
In-Depth with Kooper Caraway, South Dakota's 28-Year-Old Labor Leader
Julie and Tim talk to Kooper Caraway, the dynamic 28-year old president of the Sioux Falls AFL-CIO. Caraway offers his ideas for how the labor movement can reach young people, recalls his own history with activism and informs Tim that...
01.23.2019
Honoring Dr. King's Legacy: A Special Conversation with Andrew Gillum
Julie and Tim talk with former Tallahassee mayor and 2018 gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum (Florida), who calls himself a "living, breathing, walking, talking result of (Dr. King's) legacy." Gillum shares his experience on the campaign trail and previews the important...
01.09.2019
Special #StopTheShutdown Episode: A Conversation with AFGE President J. David Cox
With the government shutdown in its third week, Julie and Tim talk to J. David Cox, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees. Cox says his members are being held hostage by extremist politics and is calling on...
12.26.2018
Year in Review: Collective Action on the Rise
Julie and Tim look back at the best guests and topics of 2018.
12.12.2018
Aviation's First Responders: A Conversation with Association of Flight Attendants-CWA International President Sara Nelson
Julie and Tim talk to UNITE HERE about recent worker victories at Marriott and go in-depth with AFA-CWA International President Sara Nelson.
12.05.2018
Special Episode: What’s Wrong with GM?
In a special episode, Julie and Tim discuss plant closures at General Motors with longtime autoworker Brad Markell.
11.28.2018
"I've Never Been More Optimistic": A Conversation with AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka
Julie and Tim put a bow on the midterm elections and chat with AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.
11.14.2018
Midterms Debrief: A Conversation with Rep. Conor Lamb
Julie and Tim react to the midterm elections and interview Congressman Conor Lamb (Pa.).
10.31.2018
Union Members in Public Office: A Conversation with Hillside, N.J., Mayor Dahlia Vertreese
Julie and Tim discuss the 2018 elections and interview Dahlia Vertreese.
10.16.2018
Speaking Truth to Power: A Conversation with Flint Whistleblower Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha
Julie and Tim discuss Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's testimony and interview Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha.
10.16.2018
Introducing State of the Unions: An AFL-CIO Podcast
Julie and Tim introduce themselves to listeners and talk about the state of labor unions in America.

What's State of the Unions about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

State of the Unions episodes:

Our Newest Affiliate: NWSLPA

Her First 100 Days

Meeting the Moment for Working Families

On Strike at Kellogg‘s with BCTGM Members Heather and Andy

A moment for working people with Congressman Chuy García

Democracy, Safe Schools and Union Power

On the Front Lines: A Conversation with NNU Executive Director Bonnie Castillo, RN

It‘s Labor Day! A Conversation with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh

Working America: A conversation with the AFL-CIO's community affiliate

Special Episode: Coronavirus and the Labor Movement's Response

Redux: Can't Stop. Won't Shop. Stories from a UFCW Picket Line

A Refugee's Journey: A Conversation With AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre

Healing A Community: A Conversation With Rev. Leah Daughtry of Reconnecting McDowell

Collective Heroism: A Conversation With Fire Fighters President Harold Schaitberger

A Year of Progress: Our Favorite Episodes of 2019

The Far Right Today: A Conversation with Political Scientist Cas Mudde

A Future Where People Will Have Jobs: A Conversation with International Labor Organization Director-General Guy Ryder

Serving Those Who Served: A Conversation with Union Veterans Council Executive Director Will Attig

Flexing Labor's Muscle: A Conversation with Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (Wis.)

Out of the Woods: A Maine Union Member's Journey From Logging to Senate President

Dignity of Work: A Conversation with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown

A Huge Deal: Workers Win Big in California

Humble Courage and 90210: A Conversation with SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris

Save Our Apprenticeships: A Conversation with North America's Building Trades Unions Chief of Staff Mike Monroe

Special Episode: The Labor Movement Responds to the El Paso Massacre

Taking Risks to Organize: A Conversation with UNITE HERE President D. Taylor

Demanding Better: AFL-CIO Trade Tour Highlights

Winning the Future: A Conversation with AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler

Union Proud: A Conversation with Pride at Work Executive Director Jerame Davis

A Union Organizer Goes to Washington: In Depth with Rep. Andy Levin

Confronting the Health Care Crisis: A Conversation with NNU Executive Director Bonnie Castillo, RN

Not Good Enough: A Conversation on NAFTA with AFL-CIO Trade Policy Specialist Celeste Drake

Special Episode: Can't Stop. Won't Shop. Stories from a UFCW Picket Line

#StampOutHunger: A Conversation with the National Association of Letter Carriers

House Blue Collar Caucus: A Conversation with Reps. Brendan Boyle (Pa.) and Marc Veasey (Texas)

A Conversation with Teen Vogue Labor Columnist Kim Kelly

A Special Black History Month Conversation with IUPAT General President Ken Rigmaiden

In-Depth with Kooper Caraway, South Dakota's 28-Year-Old Labor Leader

Honoring Dr. King's Legacy: A Special Conversation with Andrew Gillum

Special #StopTheShutdown Episode: A Conversation with AFGE President J. David Cox

Year in Review: Collective Action on the Rise

Aviation's First Responders: A Conversation with Association of Flight Attendants-CWA International President Sara Nelson

Special Episode: What’s Wrong with GM?

"I've Never Been More Optimistic": A Conversation with AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka

Midterms Debrief: A Conversation with Rep. Conor Lamb

Union Members in Public Office: A Conversation with Hillside, N.J., Mayor Dahlia Vertreese

Speaking Truth to Power: A Conversation with Flint Whistleblower Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha

Introducing State of the Unions: An AFL-CIO Podcast