When Ken Edwards (Executive Director of the National Coalition of Labor), Ed Maher (Associate Executive Director of the National Coalition of Labor), and Phil Davidson (Director of Communications of the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council) teamed up to host The Workers’ Mic on WGN Radio, their goal was to bring awareness and educate listeners on what workers and their unions are dealing with on a regular basis, and bring labor news and topics to the forefront with other credible voices.

On the latest episode of The Career Vision Podcast, Ken, Ed and Phil joined host Michael Piff to talk about who they were and their interests when they were younger, their journeys that have led to worker advocacy as a profession, how someone interested in the trades is introduced to a union, what their union can do for them (as long as they are putting in the work themselves), and much more. One was in a metal band. Another was a standup comedian. Listen to the full episode below to find out who:

TUNE IN for The Workers’ Mic on Sunday mornings at 8 AM on WGN Radio. Stream on wgnradio.com and catch up on past episodes on The Workers’ Mic page or wherever you get your podcasts.

Our sponsor, Career Vision and the Ball Foundation help students and professionals discover their strengths and navigate their career opportunities. Learn more at CareerVision.org.

And you can subscribe to the Career Vision Podcast with Michael Piff on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

This week on The Workers’ Mic, Powered by the NCL, Ken Edwards, Ed Maher and Phil Davidson kick off the show by chatting with Meghann Burke, the Executive Director of the NWSLPA (National Women’s Soccer League Players Association) and a former professional goalkeeper, to talk about the creation of the NWSLPA and what they added to their current CBA deal. Ruthy from the Chicago & Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United and Fauna, from First Ascent Uptown, joins the show to talk about what led First Ascent to want to organize, the reaction they got from management, and share how you can help them. For more information visit their Instagram page, instagram.com/climbing_workers_coalition.

Former Megent Financial Investment Executive Ron Bickel joins Ken Edwards, Ed Maher and Phil Davidson on The Workers’ Mic to discuss retirement strategies and why it’s important to plan for your retirement early. Ron also shares details surrounding his own retirement journey.

This week on The Workers’ Mic, Powered by the NCL, Ken Edwards, Ed Maher and Phil Davidson kick off the show by chatting with former Megent Financial Investment Executive Ron Bickel. Listen in while Ron discusses retirement strategies and why it’s important to plan for your retirement early. To close out the show, the guys discuss the latest union related news surrounding Illinois Commerce Commission, development around the United Center and the NLRB.

This week on The Workers’ Mic, Powered by the NCL, Ken Edwards, Ed Maher and Phil Davidson kick off the show by chatting with the President of the Illinois AFL-CIO, Tim Drea and Legislative Director at Illinois AFL-CIO Frances Orenic. Listen in while they discuss details about the Labor Alliance for Public Transportation and the United We Move Illinois proposal (Senate Bill 1938). To close out the show, the guys discuss the latest union related news surrounding Cook County State’s Attorneys, Project Labor Agreements Act and more.

This week on The Workers’ Mic, Powered by the NCL, Ken Edwards, Ed Maher and Phil Davidson kick off the show by chatting with the Communication Director for UNITE HERE Local 1, Sarah Lyons and Cass Hotel worker and UNITE HERE union memeber Flor Ulloa. Listen in while Sarah and Flor share details pertaining to their hospitality union and talk about how the hotel’s new ownership abruptly cut off health insurance for members of UNITE HERE Local 1 and IUOE Local 399 and what Local 1 is doing to fight back. Then, the guys discuss immigration law with Lauren McClure, a Partner with Kriezelman Burton & Associates. To close out the show, the guys discuss the latest union related news pertaining to Bird Flu, Denver grocery workers being on strike, the NLRB and more.

This week on The Workers’ Mic, Powered by the NCL, Ken Edwards and Phil Davidson kick off the show by chatting with the Assistant Professor of labor studies at Rutgers University and Author of We Are the Union: How Worker-to-Worker Organizing is Revitalizing Labor and Winning Big, Eric Blanc. Listen in while Eric talks about the power of unions and how the labor movement should move forward. Eric also weighs in on the latest news surrounding the National Labor Relations Board. Then, to close out the show, the guys discuss the latest union related news pertaining to a Whole Foods Philadelphia and the D.C. Plane Crash.

This week on The Workers’ Mic, Powered by the NCL, Ken Edwards, Ed Maher and Phil Davidson kick off the show by chatting with the Vice President of Business Development at Premise Health, Tami Damiani. Listen in while Tami reminds listeners that Premise Health’s goal is to make healthcare easy and people healthier. Tami also walks listeners through what they can expect when they make an appointment with them, how they differ from their competitors and more. Then, to close out the show, the guys discuss the latest union related new pertaining to a bill being pushed forward in Utah that ends collective bargaining for public workers, the Stellantis plant in Belvidere being reopened and more.

This week on The Workers’ Mic, Powered by the NCL, Ken Edwards, Ed Maher and Phil Davidson kick off the show by chatting with President of Working Families’ Friend (WFF) Niki Montgomery. Listen in while Niki shares details surrounding what WFF is and how people can support their cause by participating in their annual casino night happening on January 31st. Then, to close out the show, the guys discuss the latest union related new pertaining to the 2025 Inauguration, Red No. 3 food dye and how this ban will affect chemical workers within the trades, Foxtrot reopening its Chicago locations, and more.

This week on The Workers’ Mic, Powered by the NCL, Phil Davidson and Ed Maher, kick off the show by chatting with Labor Legend and General Counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, Dale Pierson. Listen in while Dale discuss the origin of the word “scab,” who Scabby The Rat is and his connection to this inflatable rat. Throughout the conversation, Phil, Ed and Dale also discuss the latest news surrounding the California wildfires, Park City Ski Patrol strike ending and the agreement outcome, SEIU coming back into the ALF-CIO and more.