A LaborPress Radio Collaboration with OneLegUpAlex Garrett This Labor Day 2025!
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Here's your host, Alex Garrett.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
All right, well here on Labor Day twenty twenty five,
I do want to first outright say one leg up.
Alex is union strong, and we love all the union
members and the blue collar workers that work their asses
off day and night. And we're working hard today as well.
In any industry, and of course any unionization effort should
(00:31):
be supported, but sometimes, like we see you with Amazon.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
They're just not.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
But in addition to being union strong, we've put it
into practice, as you.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Might know.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Through connections with Amlin sim and the Answer Darren Yellen,
we've spun off with Labor Press Radio, and I'd like
to present to you thirteen different clips of various voices
that have been so impactful in the union strong movement
in the labor movement this Labor Day. I am very
honored to say since last year's Labor Day, we've wrapped
(01:08):
up thirteen different interviews with some pretty pretty important figures
in the union strong labor movement. Let's start off with
Tom Swazi. Yes, Tom Swase, Long Island Congressman in District three.
All right, I'm here at the high speed Rail conference
(01:30):
and with Congressman Tom Swase I'm Alex Herrett, Congressman.
Speaker 5 (01:33):
Thanks for joining me today, Alex, thanks so much for
having me on.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
This event's put on by Labor pres and all the
good people there. But why did you come today talk
about your support for this high speed rail?
Speaker 6 (01:43):
I mean, the bottom line is is that high speed
rail is about making people's lives better. But it's also
about creating an enormous amount of jobs, jobs that have
good wages and good benefits. And we forget sometimes that
the basic idea of America has always been that if
you will work hard, you get a decent life in
return for that.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
I'll work hard in return.
Speaker 6 (02:03):
And make enough money so I can buy a house,
educate my kids, pay for health insurance, and retire one
day with healthing scared. And there's too many jobs in
America these days that don't make that promise anymore. So
having jobs by building something like a high speed rail
project will deliver good jobs at good wages with good
(02:25):
benefits for people for a generation.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
You were talking there, you wrote a letter about this.
Tell us about the letter if you can well.
Speaker 6 (02:32):
Back in twenty twenty one, when we were first talking
about the infrastructure project, the Infrastructure Bill, which has provided
so much money for creating big public works projects throughout
the country. I wanted to make high speed rail a
part of the conversation, and I wanted to make sure
that we could start getting people in the Northeast to
start talking about high speed rail. They're doing it in California,
(02:53):
they're doing it in some of the Southwest. I wanted
to try and make the Northeast Corridor and especially from
New York City to Boston, a part of the project.
And so that's what we're trying to still do.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Now.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
This is not going to happen today.
Speaker 6 (03:07):
It's not going to happen tomorrow. It's going to take
three years, four years, five years, six years. But these
kind of big visionary projects are what turnaround economies and
what provide enormous amount of jobs that change people's lives.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
For the better.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Being re elected, by the way, congratulations. Tell us about
your role with labor now back in Congress, I know
have the Labor Congress. I'll talk about that for a minute.
Speaker 6 (03:29):
Well, I've always been a very pro union person. I
was the mayor of my hometown. I was the county
executive of Nasal County. I was in Congress for six years.
I'm back in Congress now after my brief hiatus, and
I started the Labor Caucus back in twenty twenty one
or so. And the idea was is that whenever you're
(03:50):
looking at an issue like immigration or climate change, or
any issue that you look at as a legislator, you
should be looking at it through the lens of how
does this affect people's wages and benefits. My grandfather was
an electrician for the IBW Local three. He helped put
the lights on top of the mPire State Building. Well,
so I know that the union movement and the idea
(04:14):
of remembering that whenever you do a project, you've got
to provide people with good wages and benefits. That's what
makes people's lives better in our country.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Well, thanks so much for joining us today at here
the Labor Press event. Thanks for joining us, AWO for
having me now. Also, someone of this high speed rail
conference might be someone you know of, Gary la Barbara
of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. Well,
here at the Labor Press High Speed Rail Network Conference.
Our recognizable name, Gary LaBarbara, president of the New York
(04:47):
State Building and Construction Trades Council joining me today. Thanks
for joining me.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Sure, pleasure to be here. Nice to see you.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
So firstly, you're honoring Terio Sullivon. What is he meant
to you and why you speaking and honoring him?
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Well, let me just say, as a president of the
State Trades and the City Trades, Terry O'Sullivan as general
President of LAYUNA, has been just an incredible support to
me over the years. I've known Tony Terry a long time.
Terry is you know, obviously one of the nation's greatest
(05:19):
labor leaders.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
And that's why he's earned the title of you know,
General President Emeritus at LUNA. Uh. He was a driving
force in really creating much of of current legislation that
really helps hard working men and women in the labor movement,
in particular labors. He has been a extremely loud voice
(05:46):
on behalf of all workers, not just his members or
other members of the building trades. And he, you know,
my opinion, has remains still a force of nature. He's
just a very unique and incredible guy.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Well, today as a tribute him, but he's not stopping there.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
No, he's not. He's he's I think he's he's been
as busy as he's ever been, and he continues to
do good work and works hard on behalf of the
labor movement. And again, all working men and women.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Let's focus on me now. So you're sure to support
the high speed rail network, right, How from your standpoint
with this benefit, what your mission is as president of
the New York State Building and Construction breacounts.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
Well, there's a couple of components that I think are
important to recognize. First of all, let's just talk about
high speed rail for a moment. I mean, this is
something that is absolutely necessary in order for states, for
North America frankly, to remain relevant and remain competitive. High
(06:46):
speed rail is I think a very important necessity. Critical
infrastructure really is what drives our economy. And so I
mean that's just the fundamental fact. Beyond the virtues of
high spuel rail, the job creation for this would be incredible.
(07:10):
And again, I believe that there's opportunities to do things
that are very good for the states and for the
nation and for the economy, but at the same time
create meaningful pathways into the middle class with strong union jobs.
And so this is yet another example of one of
(07:32):
those areas much like renewable energy again, same theory. Right,
we have to address the climate change, we have to
address the needs, and by building out renewable energy, we
can do two things. We can address the critical needs
that are we face we face with the climate crisis
(07:52):
as well as creating meaningful pathways through union apprenticeships and
union careers into the middle class.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
I feel like when you can actually there's other You're
always on the news talking about it.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
So how is the construction seene in New York post COVID?
Speaker 2 (08:05):
I mean we're four years out of it now, So
how has it been since since that time?
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Well, I will tell you thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill,
which you know, obviously President Biden gets an enormous amount
of credit for you know, there hasn't been a infrastructure
program like what we have today since post World War Two,
and that I think is something that should be recognized
(08:32):
that that bill has created an enormous amount of infrastructure work,
which is employing you know, hundreds of thousands of members
in here in New York State and millions of members
in North America. So that has been a critical component
of creating tremendous work opportunities there's still in New York City,
(08:55):
in New York State there's some very major projects that
are taking place and water. So the construction outlook looks positive. Unfortunately,
due to you know, the interest rates, the private sector
remains a little sluggish. But in terms of institutional work
or healthcare projects or some very big mega projects like
(09:20):
for example, in Queen's we have a new soccer stadium
which is come up right field right there, so that's
going to be a great buffalo you got done flow
bill stadium. And this is all done under project labor agreements,
which you know, assures that these will be good building
trades jobs and many many others right and more to come.
So I think overall that the outlook looks good. I
(09:43):
think twenty twenty five is going to be a fairly
robust year in the construction industry, and I would believe
those projects that will be starting next year and into
twenty twenty six, frankly, will generate strong work opportunities for
the next several years. Beyond that.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Talk about navigating you know, your work and then dealing
with construction companies and all that through all the negotiations
talk about it was a little insight into all the
negotiations that maybe public doesn't the same, right.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
So what I would say is that my role as
the president of the Building Trades Councils is is multi level.
You know, not only do I you know, negotiate project
labor agreements with state agencies, city agencies, UH, private sector owners,
(10:32):
private sector contract is there is a big piece of
what I do is really on the economic development front,
and that is to try to move forward projects. And
you know it's hard to get projects yes, right, so
and and and you know it's all in terms of
there's always issues whether it's a public work or private
(10:55):
work to move projects forward. And so I spend a
lot of my time dealing with those issues, right And
and another big component of of what I do is,
you know, legislation. The construction industry is unique in that
where we come when you think about construction, big construction
(11:16):
companies or even subcontractors, we have a very different relationship
than many other labor management relationships because we're all on
the same page in terms of moving projects forward. And
so there's a very strong collaboration between employee associations and
the Building Trades Council and that helps a great deal
(11:38):
and I look like with any negotiations on Project Lava agreements,
you know, there's always some competing issues, but for the
most part, the relationships are strong in this industry. We
all sides of this industry consider it the industry, and
so I think that really makes the relationship stronger and
(12:01):
unique in a lot of ways.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Well, Gary, thank you, thank you very.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Much for having me. It was a pleasure to see
you again. Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
Gary L.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Barbara, president of the Building Construction Trades Canslow Greater in
New York. Always great to see him on the parade
route so to talk to him for Labor Press Radio
very special. Now another member of Labor Press Radio that
I want to talk to and got a chance to.
He's also president of Local three thirty eight and is
(12:30):
a Viscardi Center board member. Mister John Durso had this
to say from that High Speed Round conference. All right
here at the High Speed Rail Network conference, I'm a
johnder So and John, you are an MC here at
Teamser's Local two eighty two with Labor Press and you
are actually the president of Loyland Federation of Labor and
(12:52):
Local three thirty eight.
Speaker 5 (12:53):
Thanks for joining me today. It's my pleasure, happy to
be here.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
So your message today was very loyal and focused. Tell
us about why this high speed reil could affect and
could help Long Island.
Speaker 5 (13:03):
Well, this project is a long time coming. You know,
they're doing it in California. They're doing it. They've done
it successfully in parts of Florida. They want to do
it in Texas. The opportunity to connect Washington, d C,
New York City in Boston is absolutely vital to the
(13:27):
future of the Northeast. And if you're going to be
involved in the Northeast, Long Island has to be a
player in this.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Absolutely.
Speaker 5 (13:35):
You know, we are three millions of your closest friends
and relatives. Okay, everybody knows everybody on Long Island.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
And people are literally working in the city from Long Island, right,
So what are the stats on that.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
If you have, there's a tremendous amount. But you know,
during since COVID and so many people have now learned
to work from home. You have a good combination of both.
All right, So, but look, New York City, regardless of
what other people might feel, New York City is the
center of the world. Okay, everything is built around New
(14:07):
York City, and if things are going to get done,
New York City has to be involved in This high
speed rail project can be and will be an economic
engine for tens of thousands of people in this region,
you know, and it will be the future and it
is the future. And so we in Long Island want
(14:29):
to make sure that not only are we involved with it,
but we take a leading role in making this project happen.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Well, you know, I'm thinking of the Long Island Railroad
because obviously that's where where you guys had that experience,
right dealing with the lar R. You could take that
experience and say, hey we can we know how to
work on a rail system, So get involved us, right.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
There's no question about it. Now, there's money in the
infrastructure built for improvement in the Northeast with the Acel line,
but there's tens of millions of dollars in the Industryructure
Bill that can be used to kickstart this program. And
let's face it, you will never have a more pro
(15:09):
union administration that we currently have. And working with the
Biden Harris administration, and then in the next over the
next four years, if Vice President Harris is elected, we know.
Speaker 8 (15:23):
That that project will continue and this is an opportunity
to improve the quality of life for people on Long Island,
not just for them, but for their children and grandchildren.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
This is that kind of a game changing project.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Now I hear this high spiratic will also attract like
different kinds not just on the rail but like the
entertainment and hospitality.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
Right absolutely, yes, this is this job. When you have
something like this, when you have you put a dollar
in infrastructure, you get three dollars back in ancinliliy, jobs
and money into the economy. So you're talking about food, entertainment, hotels,
all of that is involved when you do a project
(16:05):
like this. You know, when we have built things on
Long Islands, all of the communities, all the communities are
affected and gained from it. So and all the women
and men of the labor movement are the best trained,
the most motivated workforce you will ever meet. And all
(16:25):
people here on Long Island are ready to do this
project all right.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Well, obviously you have to deal with day to day
things as well along. So when people turn to Long
Island Federation of Labor, what can they expect?
Speaker 5 (16:38):
People come to us. We are an advocate for working
families here in our region. And while we are bases
on Long Island, in my other positions, you know, I
have I'm an international president with my with my the
ufcw THERWT issue, so I have the opportunity to learn
and speak to people around the country. But when you
(17:01):
come to the Long Island FED, you're going to get
the very best of what we have to offer. And
that is not only the quality of the people who
are our affiliates, but the people that we can speak
to in Washington, the people that we could speak to
in Albany, and the people that we can speak to
in the City of New York. That is who we are.
(17:23):
We're a service organization and we're all about making sure
that the people we represent and it's a privilege. It's
a privilege to represent working people and odd jobs to
make their lives better. And that's what we do each
and every day.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
I feel like the other side makes it very separable
about the union. So for those skeptics out there, how
do you ease their fears of joining a union? Like,
don't tell me about that.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
So seventy percent of the American work force, or seventy percent,
i should say, of the American people feel very positively
about the union movement. There is no reason anybody should
be skeptical about joining a union. Our mission is to
improve the life of our members. The employer is not
(18:06):
our enemy. The employer is our partner. Sure, no employer
is able to do his job without working the working
women and men of labor. It does us no good
to put an employer out of business, because that affects
our jobs. We make an agreement, we negotiate contracts, We
(18:30):
shake that employer's hand. We keep to it. We don't
break the rule. Okay, if the employer breaks breaks the rule,
we address it.
Speaker 9 (18:40):
But our job is to lift up people, lift up families,
and give hope to those who don't have hope, speak
to those who have no voice, to encourage people to
be the best they can be.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
That's what the labor woman's about. That's what we do
each and every day.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
I feel like last year had a lot of labor disaputes, right,
I mean you saw the SiGe after all that This
year has been a low commerce so that that cordiality
between employer and union helps the year go smoother, doesn't it.
Speaker 5 (19:08):
Well, look, as long as employees understand that people are
entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. That people
are entitled to make a living. Nobody objects to an
employee of making a profit. He should make a property's investment,
but he does not make that profit without the men
(19:28):
and women that do the job. So they are entitled
to have a living wage, a good wage, to be
able to retire with dignity, have good healthcare, to have
job protections. When an employee decides they don't deserve that
because it might infringe upon his bottom line, well then.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
That's a problem as someone with his ability. You know,
full disclosure. Year. Are the members that are disabled in
your union? How do you represent them?
Speaker 5 (19:58):
Represent them very same same way we represent everybody else.
We represent everybody the same way. You have a problem,
we try to help you. If we can't help you,
we'll find a way to do something.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
To love to help you.
Speaker 5 (20:11):
This is about a family. The union movement is a family.
About protecting the people we represent.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
And you know, I'm just thinking people in disability sometimes
don't work, so you probably encourage people to work.
Speaker 5 (20:22):
Of course, listen, I have the honor of city on
the board of the Viscardi Center. I went, yes, I did, Okay,
So it is a phenomenal organization. Phenomenal and it's it's
it's an honor for me to sit on that board, Okay,
and that's what we do.
Speaker 8 (20:39):
Look, everybody, everybody has the same dream.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
You want to have a good life. They want to
love somebody, be loved by somebody, be able to have
a job and live life with dignity.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Amen, Okay, And that's what the labor movement's all about.
We just passed Labor Day, and I feel like the
conversation with labor goes away after Labor.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
So you guys, not this household.
Speaker 5 (21:02):
So you should come to the Labor Day Parade.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
The largest Labor Day parade in.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
The United States. There'll be tens of thousands of men
and women in the labor movement out there marching and
celebrating labor. In who we are and what we do.
We are the American workforce. We are your neighbors, were
your litterally coaches, were your people who work at the
(21:27):
different churches or synagogues or mosque.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
We are America.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Okay, We're not too the special interest group. We are
the community and we are.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Proud to be Hey, man, well thanks so much, John,
I know it all. Love off topic, but this is
a great conversation. Thanks for joining me too much. All right,
Before we continue with this Labor Day special on one
leg Up with Alex Garrett, I have to shout out
Neil Tappell, the man the visionary behind labor Press Radio,
(21:58):
as well as Stephanie West and Darren Yellen and of
course Jay the man who puts all these interviews on
the website. Very thankful for that in collaboration with One
look Up Alex adapts. But Labor Press Radio is having
their twenty twenty five Apprentice of the Year Awards Wednesday,
September seventeenth. This year's Labor Press Apprentice of the Year
(22:20):
Awards is going to honor the rising stars in the
world of labor at the twenty twenty five Apprentice of
the Year Awards. We hope to see you there the
September seventeenth, twenty twenty five, and for more information, I'll
drop the link in the website below Laborpress dot org
and event bright is where you can get the tickets.
(22:43):
We'll get to a couple of big names from that
High Speed Row conference. But I got a shout out
right now, Karen mgnanni, the emblem Health CEO, who was
at the Heroes of Labor Awards put on at Emblem
Health headquarters last October. And here's what Karen mg Nani
and I talked about live from Emblem Health headquarters in
(23:04):
downtown Manhattan for the Heroes of Labor Awards put on
by Labor Press. All right, well, a very special moment
here for Labor Press as we welcome once again Karening Nanni,
the CEO of Emblem Health at your Heroes of Labor Awards.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Thanks for joining us today. Thank you so much for
being here.
Speaker 10 (23:20):
We're so happy to welcome you.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Talk about Emblem Health's commitment to the unions.
Speaker 10 (23:24):
Firstly, our commitment to the unions is long, it's deep,
and it's wide. We have been partnering with labor unions
for decades and it will continue for many decades to come.
Because we are a union company. We are the only
health plan that's a union company, and we provide health
(23:46):
benefits for one point two million city workers, along with
another number of other unions as well and employers. And
we feel very strongly that our commitment to labor un
unions is something that they deserve, something that we work
very hard to do. Every day and we will continue
(24:07):
to do it.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
How does EMBLEM because I know you're basically the leading
union healthcare and how do you guys manage.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
All the different unions you're partnered with?
Speaker 10 (24:14):
Basically, it's just such a pleasure actually, just to have
gotten to know so many union leaders and so many
of the rank and file union members here to make
sure that we're doing what they need. We're thinking ahead,
we're bringing innovation, we're bringing modernization, and we're bringing the
(24:36):
best of the best of their members because they deserve it.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Now all about Emblem Healths, you're also out there for
the public. You make sure the public knows everything. So
what as we talk now is most concernative when it comes.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
To New York City.
Speaker 10 (24:49):
What we're most concerned about is what everyone else is
most concerned about. That we get people moving across the
city safely, that we have the opportunity as a city
to thrive and grow, and to make sure that people
have the healthcare they need, which includes physical health, mental health,
(25:11):
and all the other services that are so important to people.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
He now a million people in New York City.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
What's it like to you to lead one of the
leading healthcareism in New York City.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
What does that mean to you?
Speaker 10 (25:22):
It is such I get out of bed every morning,
and I think it is such an honor to have
this role. I come from a union family. My dad
was a firefighter, my mom was a city worker. So
I and my dad actually worked for the firefighters union
and for the firefighters as a firefighter before they had
(25:42):
health benefits. So I understand what it's like and how
important it is to have health benefits. So we take
this job in this role very very seriously.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Now you're honoring the transit workers today. I mean without them,
we're not getting anywhere in the city, right, So talk
about the TWU you're honoring today.
Speaker 10 (26:00):
Oh, I'm so excited about this because talk about keeping
the city rolling. They keep the city rolling. I'm a
bus rider. I love the crosstown buses. I'm a subwive rider,
and I so appreciate the work that the men and
women of the TWU do every day.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
I'm so appreciably said, you're taking subway in bus because.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
CEO, you're not just wheeling in. You're with us amongst
the crowd, I can tell you.
Speaker 10 (26:23):
And I try to outsmart the schedule, so I end
up taking three trains, and just to make sure I
can get to from point A to point B the
quickest possible.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
I understand there's an annual event the Heroes of Labor,
so to put this on here at Emblem Health for you,
it seems like it means a lot.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
And every year just having all these people here, what's
that mean?
Speaker 10 (26:42):
Oh, I just wouldn't miss it.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
It means it just makes me so proud.
Speaker 10 (26:46):
It gives me goosebumps when I hear even though I
read about these stories ahead of time, when I see
these individuals, these individual heroes, hear their stories, hear their
words from their own mouths, it just gives me pride.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
And one message from Emblem Help to the same of
New York, as we said right now October twenty four, just.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
It's our pleasure to serve you.
Speaker 10 (27:12):
We will continue to do so. Please understand how seriously
we take that responsibility.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Well, I love that Alex Garrett here with Karen ing Nanni,
the CEO of EMBELM Help, thanks for joining.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
You so much.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
I mean for Neil and Darren to put me next
to these luminaries of the healthcare industry and of the
transit industry and of course of a political world. Like
Tom Swase, it means a lot. That's why I want
to give him a big shout out today on Labor
Day twenty twenty five. But I want to wrap with
(27:45):
these two legends. Okay, I mean, if you're in the
afl CIO, you know about Fred Redmond, right, And here's
what he and I talked about last year at the
high speed rail event. Now this was a few months
before the election, so we did get a little political.
But as to why the Dems are always union strong
(28:08):
and labor strong, according to a fl CIO president Fred Remand,
all right, back here at the Labor Press High Speed
Rail Network conference, I'm Alex Garrett with the Secretary Treasurer
of the afl CIO, Fred Remand thanks for joining me today.
Speaker 4 (28:23):
Fred, thank you, Alex, glad to be here.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
You had a fired up speech in there. What is
the afil CIO's role going to be should this high
speed rail come into existence? How are you guys can
help people get jobs to this.
Speaker 11 (28:34):
Well, first of all, we had a fid of revised
because we're fired up as a labor boat bit to
see an investment being placed in American workers because this
is what this is. This is an investment in the
American workforce. This is a challenge to American manufacturers. Okay, well,
(28:55):
we can build out this high speed rail, create good jobs,
uplift and sustained communities. And it's an exciting time to
be really committed to a new form of transportation that's
going to take off in the United States.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
And what could I guess even Congress's role in toms
Wwasey today, what could Congress's role, What could the administration's
role be to make this happen.
Speaker 4 (29:20):
Funding, they have to be committed. They have to provide
the funding.
Speaker 11 (29:24):
They have to provide the resources for us to do
the job. Training, workforce development programs.
Speaker 4 (29:32):
Need to be engaged.
Speaker 11 (29:34):
So the federal government play a huge role because a
commitment from the federal government in terms of resources and
a commitment from employees throughout this country, we can actually
build a manufacturing chain regarding the component parts the high
speed rail. We could train communities and as I stated,
you know, we need to bring in people who have
(29:56):
historically been locked out, people of color, underserved community and women.
And we have an opportunity to build a transportation sector
that can uplift communities uplift families and help rebuild the
middle class.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
All right, soxiety where does this commerce today? What's the
next steps?
Speaker 11 (30:13):
Next step is to make sure that we get through
November with the right team in office that's going to
fulfill this commitment when it comes to funding, when it
comes to making sure that these projects continue, that the
commitment of Bided Harris administration continues with the funding and
(30:35):
able to make these sort of projects possible.
Speaker 4 (30:39):
And then from there it's just going to take.
Speaker 11 (30:41):
The wheel of creating a big table, a big tent
where everybody is coming together in order to really really
move this technology to the next levee.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
So those I'm familiar with the AFLCIO talk about the
day to days. We're talking long term as well, talk
about day to day responsibilities.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
The afl CIO is a labor federation.
Speaker 11 (30:57):
We have sixty affiliate unions. We represent twelve and a
half million members around the United States. Every industry in
the United States, public sector, private sector, service employees, we
represent screen actors, we represent athletes, and we are Americans workforce.
We're based in Washington, DC. Our members work at all
(31:20):
fifty states. We have a state fed and fifty states
around this country, four hundred and thirty fourth Central Labor
counsuls around the country, and we are the voys for
Americans work.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
And one more thing to those are in today, what's
your message on behalf of the unions like to the
averages early, what's your message to them?
Speaker 4 (31:37):
We can do this work.
Speaker 11 (31:39):
We can do the work if you with the proper funding,
with the proper resources, with the proper commitment. American unions
are prepared to train the next generation of workers, starting
off with high speed rail and where it takes us,
who knows, right, We're ready. We got the best training
capabilities of the world. Our training programs, apprenticeship programs is
(32:03):
the gold standard and we're ready to take these huge
investments and build the next generational workers.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
A fl CIO Secretary Treasurer Fred Redmond, thanks for joining
me today.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
All right. Well, I mentioned luminaries of the transit world,
and I meet Bose who served as the Administrator of
the Federal Railroad Administration. UH is part of the US
Department of Transportation under Pete Buddhaj Well. Administrator Bose joined
me from that high speed rail conference last September, and
(32:41):
here's what he had to say.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
Of course he is.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
No longer part of the FIRA, but but these words
will live on through the labor press, radio and want
leg got alex network. All right, Well, a very special
guest here from me I feed Rail Network conference, a
meet Bosey administration with Federal Railroad Administration. Thanks for joining
(33:07):
me today. Thank you so I under saying you were
alongside people first of all, talk about that experience.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
It's fantastic.
Speaker 7 (33:14):
He's such a remarkable Secretary of Transportation, a remarkable individual,
and for me the bonuses. He's a very big booster
of rail across the country, passenger rail, high speed rail,
freight rail. So it's incredible to work side by side.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
And have you here means the buy maansician clearly is
invested in this am I right.
Speaker 7 (33:38):
We are, we are and that's reflected from March of
twenty twenty one with the introduction of the American Jobs
Act that became the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November of
twenty twenty one, and right on through with the implementation
of the programs that were funded through that law, and
now it's leading to projects and corridors that we fund
(34:00):
that we've selected and now we're delivering and building those
projects now to.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Be toopular over But this is an election year, so
does this election year, does this project.
Speaker 5 (34:10):
Hang in the balance with the election year, if you will.
Speaker 7 (34:13):
In The good news is there was a five year
transportation will. We're in roughly year three of that bill,
so there's two more years of funding remaining in that
and the projects that we've selected already, projects like the
California High Speed Rail project, also the Brightline West project,
which are both high speed rail projects, along with plenty
(34:35):
of Northeast corridor projects including the Hudson River Tunnel East
River Tunnel that people in this area are very familiar with.
Those projects are funded and will continue, and what we're
trying to do is make sure that those projects are
successful so that Congress can give even more funding to
(34:57):
rail across the country. But the sixty six billion dollars
at the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided was absolutely historic, game
changing and transformative.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
With all the railroads we.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Have out there, can we all what kind of what
can we learn from all the railroads currently to make
this a success.
Speaker 7 (35:14):
Even we have a lot of lessons learned, we have
a lot of experience with projects that we have built
that are in service right now. Just as an example,
there's a new service called Borealis between Saint Paul and
Chicago that we started that Amtrak is running. We also
(35:37):
know that there's been an increase of service in Virginia
in their rail program in places like North Carolina, so
there's there's a strong effort across the country and it
really reflects the demand that people across the country have
for passenger rail as an alternative, not as a substitute,
as an alternative to vehicle riding in vehicles and sitting
(35:59):
in highway traffic. And of course this also comes with
labor support. To talk about your support of the labor
unions that are really going to be impacted in a
positive way by this project. Well, first of all, labor unions.
Labor unions represent skilled workers and craft workers, and American
workers are second to none. And it's going to be
(36:19):
the American workers who are building these projects who are
also when these projects are in operation, running the trains,
who are providing the services on the rail cars, and
who are maintaining the rail cars. So it's a real
opportunity to create jobs. It's also manufacturing because we want
(36:40):
the train sets that we haven't had high speed rail
train sets to be manufactured here in the United States,
and that's a great opportunity.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
Is the measures committed to having all of this American
made I feel.
Speaker 5 (36:52):
Like, yes, we are, we are very much So.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
One last thing I just saw, La had a train
built not too long ago. So these probably are always ongoing.
What can we learn from the West coast high street
rail and turn into the northeast.
Speaker 7 (37:06):
Well, an example of that is there's a service called
Caltrain which is between San Francisco and San Jose, and
the California High Speed Rail project will eventually run on
those tracks. But right now there's a service called Caltrain
and they just put new electrified rail cars on that
(37:27):
and they electrified that whole corridor. So it's an example
of very positive things going on in the western part
of the country. And you're right in some respects. The
West right now has the possibility of having a real
high speed rail network, as I mentioned Las Vegas, southern
California and also southern California going into the Bay Area
(37:50):
through the Central Valley.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
Well, you're here to speak, so tell us what your
message was and is going to be for all people.
Speaker 7 (37:55):
Well, my message is the rail program that the Biden
Harris administration has can be a win win for workers.
It can be a win win for rail companies, for
the railroads. And it's a win win for the railroads
because we can sell we can separate freight from passenger
rail traffic so that they don't interfere which with each other.
(38:17):
And it's also a win for the private sector and
the communities and the future passengers.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
I mean, Bose, thanks so much for joining me today.
Speaker 7 (38:25):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
These interviews, by the way, did take place at Teamsters
two to eighty two. As you might have heard a
reference earlier on in the shop. The one big honoree
was Terry O'Sullivan and of course thanks to Darren and
(38:47):
Neil once again we got to talk about talk to
this luminary on September fifth, twenty twenty four with me
at the Labor Press High Speedborough conference. Is a very
special guest. You know, when you have about four or
five six people talking about well man, I means this
guy is a legend. Terry O. Sullivan, thanks for joining
AM nine seving the answer today.
Speaker 1 (39:09):
Yeah, thank you, thank you, and thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
We're very proud to have you on a Salem media
group as well. So first of all, talk about your
history with labor and being honored today.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Well, my history, I was more or less born into it.
So my father was with the labors and ran our
local in San Francisco and he ultimately became the general
secretary treasurer in Washington, d C. So I've been a
member for just over fifty years. I was general president
(39:41):
for twenty four So I have obviously a long history
with LAYUNA and with the labor movement.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
And talk about the labor movement, I mean, this is
we just passed Labor Days, so you know, I feel
like the conversation with labor sometimes ends in the media
with Labor Day, but we were continuing it here. So
talk about what the labor movements meant for you.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
Well, the labor movement has meant everything for not only me,
but for our family adventure. I wouldn't know exactly where
we would be if it wasn't for the Labor's International
Union North America. My father, his parents both were from Ireland.
His father died when he was thirty seven years old.
His mother was pregnant with his brother, so his brother
(40:22):
never even met his father. He was a grave digger
at Holy Cross Cemetery where he is buried in a
doorman at the Palace Hotel, pretty famous hotel in San Francisco,
and from there, my dad's mother knew somebody in the
laborers and they put him out to work because they
(40:43):
knew he was bringing every paycheck home to take care
of his mom and his seven his brother. So yeah,
if it wasn't for it wasn't for the labor movement,
we wouldn't be where we're at today.
Speaker 2 (40:56):
Terry, You've obviously seen the labor women evolved, So talk
about seeing as a kid with your dad to.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
Now, Well, I think there are some differences. Yes, back
then we had more strikes. There was I won't say
more activism, but their share sec was a lot of activism,
and I think that was what's evolved in my twenty
(41:22):
four years of being president. At thirty years I was
in DC. Unfortunately I still can't get out of there,
but the longest sort of become even more politically active.
They were always politically active. Organized labor always was. But
I've seen more activism in my time in d C
than I saw before.
Speaker 2 (41:43):
You know, I was just thinking last year it was
a big year for labor disputes and all that. But
when you see those kinds of things and you see
the fight that sag After had and all that, what's
that mean? It must make it kind of proud that
these guys are fighting for their rights.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
They are, and I get encouraged by those things. I mean,
take the teamsters and ups and some of the other
things you mentioned sag After, uh, you know, the Big three,
the auto workers. I mean, there is a there's a
real spark in the labor movement, and I think that
spark leads to a fire and I see a lot
(42:19):
more engagement, involvement and activism, which is always a good thing.
So this high.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
Speed rail feels like the next generation for union workers, right,
That's why it's so important.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
Yeah, definitely, And I applaud Neil, you know, for having
this conference this morning. It's much needed and just not
here in a whole host of places. So I think
to get the ball rolling this was an important thing
to do. And having experts from you know, not only
(42:52):
political life, but from the industry everywhere, from everywhere.
Speaker 2 (42:56):
So Terry, obviously you've been on the West coast, right,
you said you were to save, just go. They already
have this, so why not? Why can't it work here?
Speaker 1 (43:04):
That's my question. Well, he can work. There has to
be a political will to make it work. And I
think that political will is here, and I think by
partnering together labor management and industry, maybe we can get
it over get it over the top.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
Being sorry with your dad through this whole moment, when
he was, when you were, when he was here, What
did you learn from him and how have you applied
that as president?
Speaker 1 (43:30):
I learned about loyalty from my father, about solidarity, and
I learned it by watching him. He was a hands
on leader.
Speaker 2 (43:40):
They said.
Speaker 1 (43:40):
He was a member of ours and a leader of
ours for sixty nine years. So he lived by example.
He's one that back in the fifties we went on
strike for eighty six days get three cents for health
and welfare fund. So they were rough and tumble times,
(44:03):
but he was a man of his word. And and
to tell you that the other labor leaders that I
had the privilege to know when I was a young man,
sometimes and in some cases very young man, sure, I
was always inspired by their dedication and commitment to the cause,
the purpose and the mission of the union movement.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
It's maybe a controversy. Did you ever cross paths with
Jimmy Hoff?
Speaker 1 (44:25):
I have to ask, I have so. Uh, my father
knew Senior. I obviously worked with Jimmy and now with
Sean when when Jimmy was president for for years. I
haven't seen him in a while.
Speaker 2 (44:41):
But I know, and Sean's been been doing great. But
at the l i U, right where you're at, where
you're president at, there's a daily support of your union workers.
Talk about the daily operations of the LU from where
you sit as president, I.
Speaker 1 (44:54):
Mean as far as the activity, yeah, and how you
support every day to make it well. And I think
what's different now is with technology, it's a lot easier
for us. So I have to be able to reach
out to union members and union families. And you see that.
I mean that. I know my wife Vett, she oversees
(45:16):
communications department at while you're in the headquarters in our
political and legislative department, and the engagement is set. If
I go back twenty four years and I look at
what we were doing twenty four years ago versus today,
it's light years ahead today.
Speaker 2 (45:35):
Well, it's funny you say that because a lot of
people that are in their associations are worried that AI
is going to take over. And why is manpower so.
Speaker 1 (45:42):
Vital even in twenty twenty four. I mean, we can't
build our roads and bridges and tunnels and waterways and
all the rest of it without haveing skilled labor. Sure,
I mean I think you always have to be concerned
about AI. I'm less concerned about it, but there are
industries and unionized industries that I get it.
Speaker 2 (46:05):
Terry, it is we're honoring you today, but I feel
like your work's not done yet. So you know you're
going to honor today, but.
Speaker 1 (46:11):
Tell us where you go from here. Well, I'm involved
in a number of things. So I am now the
chairman back as chairman of ULIKA with the untimely passing
and unfortunate passing of Eddie Smith. I'm emeritus with with Liuna,
and we launched a union prescription drug company.
Speaker 2 (46:30):
Well, and that's so important as you're saying those members
who need that are not getting represented.
Speaker 1 (46:36):
Enough for well, we can't have PBMs, gouge and us.
I mean every nickel, every dime, every dollar is important
because I always used to say if it wasn't going
towards benefits, tould be going on members check. But we
stand for great benefits. But we have to get our
hands around PBMs. When you have two percent of your
(46:58):
claims right are costs and almost fifty percent of to spend,
something's broken needs to be fixed.
Speaker 2 (47:06):
I feel that this kind of ears into my next
question about people disabilities. Do you guys represent people disabilities
as well born with them on the job of them
talk about that sector of the.
Speaker 1 (47:17):
Union, I mean critically important. We have a lot of
members get hurt on the job, some of them, some
of them unfortunately permanently, and we try to make sure
that if somebody is injured on the job that we
can get them back to work within Sometimes you can't.
But I think it's critically important as a society and
(47:40):
as a labor movement to take you know, to work
with quite minded groups and find opportunities, because there are
plenty of opportunities for the individuals that do have disabilities
to go back to work.
Speaker 2 (47:54):
I've asked a few other people. I want to ask you, Terry,
from your experience here, there are skept skeptics against the unions.
How do you ease skeptics minds and say, yes, unions.
Speaker 1 (48:04):
Are good for people. Yeah, well, there's always going to
be skeptics, as there always has been. But I'm betting
on the home team. I mean, I think that with
our communication programs and outreach to members, I think we've
turned the tide. And I can only use our union
as an example. You know, we were founded in nineteen
oh three. Today we have more members than we've ever
(48:26):
had gradual history of our organization, and a lot of that,
quite honestly, has has to do with the Biden administration,
the infrastructure built Chips Bill. I mean, it has been
an absolute grand slam. And you know, I'm going to
say it because I'm going to say it any Joe
(48:48):
Biden has been the best union president we ever had,
at least in my tenure. And I don't mean any
disrespect to anybody else.
Speaker 2 (48:56):
Well, he also grew up in the union world, and
he did he did.
Speaker 1 (49:01):
He says, he says union more than some union leaders.
But a lot of the credit goes to, you know,
with the first two years of his administration, with Speaker
Pelosi and with the Majority Leader Schumer and the President
and his administration think about the jobs bills that were created.
(49:25):
Never saw that before. I saw a lot of effort
on it. But you know the results. And how about
pension reform, sure sure, I mean that was a game
changer for all of us.
Speaker 2 (49:36):
The Build Back Better bill also as well. I mean
a lot of these different things that they've accomplished. Now,
how are you going to reach across all the unions
to make sure this real project goes? It's a team effort, isn't.
Speaker 1 (49:48):
It, without a doubt? You know, on the construction side,
work with the building trades and and with each individual
union as well, and put a lot of time and effort.
You know, in the job creation things have been teed up.
Now we have to take advantage of.
Speaker 2 (50:04):
He says something very poignant just a couple of minutes
ago about how what you're doing today is touching the
lives of families in their own homes, and that's important
to get the message into the homes, isn't it. And
it sounds like that hasn't been happening for a little bit.
Speaker 1 (50:18):
Well, I think it has been happening for a while,
And I mean that's strategic communications. I mean, we need
to get to family members. Wife needs to be engaged
and involved, and unfortunately some unions, and ours being one
of them, not as many members go to union meetings anymore.
Now they're busy working and all the rest of it.
They have family obligations. But we need to continue to
(50:41):
do an even better job of reaching inside the house
and reminding people, you know, how they're making a living
and why they're making a living and what the union
does form.
Speaker 2 (50:52):
Terry, you're obviously going to speak today, So what's your
message to the audience here at teams As Local two
eighty two and to our listeners here on the radios.
Speaker 1 (50:59):
Yeah, today, my message just is one of thanks and appreciation.
You know, I'm going to talk about some of the
things that we're doing, but I'm also going to invoke
I have my dad's union card in my pocket from
nineteen forty seven, and to my point, before the O'Sullivans
(51:21):
would not be where they're at today if it wasn't
for the goodness and greatness of the Labor's International Union
in North America, in the labor movement, and we're not
unique in that.
Speaker 2 (51:32):
Do you feel like that should be a message as well,
that unions help build character for the people in them Yep.
Speaker 1 (51:38):
I think it has to be a constant message. You know,
some people do take for granted that you know, you
wake up one day and you're you know, you think
you're standing on third. I mean there was a lot
of strife and struggle that went in to building a
labor movement that we have today.
Speaker 2 (51:57):
Right saying on third, we see all these leagues sometimes
have their issues between the players, wization and all that.
Speaker 1 (52:02):
Those big issues can also.
Speaker 2 (52:04):
Impact other unions.
Speaker 1 (52:05):
Say hey, you know what, we need to speak up
as well, right yep, yeah, and I see that more though,
Like I say, these big difference twenty four years ago
to today, and I think that outreach has led to
more activists. And we're always going to have skeptics.
Speaker 2 (52:20):
How will we see you out there fighting for the union,
like if there ever picket lines where we see you
out there on the lines.
Speaker 1 (52:26):
Are well, I'll be anywhere and everywhere that I needed,
that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (52:32):
Amen to that. Well, Terry, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (52:34):
Your time today, Thanks for having me. Thank you, sanch
you well.
Speaker 2 (52:38):
I see this about an hour long presentation on Labor Day,
but I wouldn't have it any other way. We've got
to highlight how important it is to be union strong,
how important it is to honor labor and the hard workers,
as I said earlier, are working today as we speak
on Labor Day twenty twenty five. I just want to
(52:59):
thank the tech guys, my chief engineer at AM nine seventy,
Andy Gladdings setting things up at the high speed Rail
conference in September and then in October Ed Downey helping
me record those interviews and basically everything we did can
be found at my Labor Press Radio one leg up
Alex Garrett collaboration section of this podcast, and I'll drop
(53:22):
a link to that, and I'll also remind you that
on Wednesday, September seventeenth, it is the twenty twenty five
Apprentice Awards, highlighting and honoring the rising stars in labor,
put on by then Labor Press at Teamsers two eighty
two in Lake Success. Speaking of Team Seris, I cannot
(53:44):
let the show go by without honoring Greg Floyd and
Teamsters two thirty seven, for they too have the show
reaching out on AM nine seventy the Answer, and I've
been grateful to be their engineer and done remotes with
them at their offices at teams for two thirty seven Headquarters.
Thanks to Philip Schafflin for arranging that in every interview
we do on reaching Out. But President greg Floyd himself
(54:08):
joined my podcast in twenty twenty two to talk about Nightshaw.
But the surprise of it was he then aired on
his radio show at least a five minute snippet that
weekend following Governor Kathy Hockle. Thank you Grey. Maybe the
first government beyond, but I'm also going to be the
second governor beyond. I'll be back again. Thank you here
(54:29):
that Thank you very much.
Speaker 12 (54:30):
Thanks sure you've been listening to Governor Hokeel on reaching
Out with Gregory Floyd. We're going to do a brief
recap of a podcast we did with Alex Garrett on
the nightsche Trust Fund EVL.
Speaker 2 (54:47):
Governor Hokel is the right person to make this happen.
Speaker 12 (54:51):
This was on her desk, and she's working in real time,
and work speaks for itself.
Speaker 4 (54:57):
This bill was passed.
Speaker 12 (54:58):
Whether she was a governor or someone else, the legislature
would have passed this bill and it would have been
left for the governor to make a decision, whoever that
governor would have been at this time, whether they were
going to sign it or not. Fortunately this governor chose
to sign it.
Speaker 4 (55:14):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (55:15):
You know this was a special moment. Tell us being
next to her as she signed it.
Speaker 12 (55:19):
Oh, more than being next to you, I mean just
being invited. Labor had a seat at the table and
being included in the ceremony was special because this was
our first time ever being included in a bill signing
for a governor of New York State. But more importantly
(55:42):
than being part of that bill signing was the bill
that was signed that's going to help the people, the
residents of Knightscha and also our members who work in
the New York City Housing Authority. That was more important
than being next to the governor signing the bill to.
Speaker 2 (55:59):
Be Floyd teams are two thirty seven President. Where can
people find the coverage of you know, Teamster's role in
this can? I know you guys have a website, So
what what's thest wetting? Get in touch with you guys.
Speaker 12 (56:11):
Oh, on our website two thirty seven Local, two thirty
seven dot org. You go on a website, We'll put
up the short video of the bill signing. The governor
has the bill signing and Knightscha on her her platform,
the New York State government platform is on I believe
(56:32):
it's on YouTube. The knightscha bill signing for the trust.
The Knights your trust. So if anyone wants to take
the time to look at the I would say, forty
forty five minute ceremony, it'll be there.
Speaker 2 (56:49):
And it was.
Speaker 12 (56:49):
Really it was really historic historic, and the comments and
the commentary was really great. So if anybody has time
and they're really interested, I would just going on and
looking at it.
Speaker 2 (57:03):
Greg Floyd, thanks so much. Team turns through the thirty
seven and hey, we'll see you on the radio. I
am nine seven.
Speaker 12 (57:08):
The answer, thank you, and Alex has always has been
a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (57:13):
And as you know, over the years we've supported the
truck drivers through the supply chain, CRESI and all that. Well,
my friend Zach Miller has this to say on Labor
Day twenty twenty five, hashtag Tanka trucker For now, I'm
Alex Garrett. Have a great Labor Day and remember to
thank your local unions and to let unions flourish, not
(57:36):
try and take them down like an Amazon Wood or
a Starbucks would Because though it can get messy at times,
we see labor drives this country and that's how we
continue to make America great. Im one I got Alex
Garrett
Here's your host, Alex Garrett.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
All right, well here on Labor Day twenty twenty five,
I do want to first outright say one leg up.
Alex is union strong, and we love all the union
members and the blue collar workers that work their asses
off day and night. And we're working hard today as well.
In any industry, and of course any unionization effort should
(00:31):
be supported, but sometimes, like we see you with Amazon.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
They're just not.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
But in addition to being union strong, we've put it
into practice, as you.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Might know.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Through connections with Amlin sim and the Answer Darren Yellen,
we've spun off with Labor Press Radio, and I'd like
to present to you thirteen different clips of various voices
that have been so impactful in the union strong movement
in the labor movement this Labor Day. I am very
honored to say since last year's Labor Day, we've wrapped
(01:08):
up thirteen different interviews with some pretty pretty important figures
in the union strong labor movement. Let's start off with
Tom Swazi. Yes, Tom Swase, Long Island Congressman in District three.
All right, I'm here at the high speed Rail conference
(01:30):
and with Congressman Tom Swase I'm Alex Herrett, Congressman.
Speaker 5 (01:33):
Thanks for joining me today, Alex, thanks so much for
having me on.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
This event's put on by Labor pres and all the
good people there. But why did you come today talk
about your support for this high speed rail?
Speaker 6 (01:43):
I mean, the bottom line is is that high speed
rail is about making people's lives better. But it's also
about creating an enormous amount of jobs, jobs that have
good wages and good benefits. And we forget sometimes that
the basic idea of America has always been that if
you will work hard, you get a decent life in
return for that.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
I'll work hard in return.
Speaker 6 (02:03):
And make enough money so I can buy a house,
educate my kids, pay for health insurance, and retire one
day with healthing scared. And there's too many jobs in
America these days that don't make that promise anymore. So
having jobs by building something like a high speed rail
project will deliver good jobs at good wages with good
(02:25):
benefits for people for a generation.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
You were talking there, you wrote a letter about this.
Tell us about the letter if you can well.
Speaker 6 (02:32):
Back in twenty twenty one, when we were first talking
about the infrastructure project, the Infrastructure Bill, which has provided
so much money for creating big public works projects throughout
the country. I wanted to make high speed rail a
part of the conversation, and I wanted to make sure
that we could start getting people in the Northeast to
start talking about high speed rail. They're doing it in California,
(02:53):
they're doing it in some of the Southwest. I wanted
to try and make the Northeast Corridor and especially from
New York City to Boston, a part of the project.
And so that's what we're trying to still do.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Now.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
This is not going to happen today.
Speaker 6 (03:07):
It's not going to happen tomorrow. It's going to take
three years, four years, five years, six years. But these
kind of big visionary projects are what turnaround economies and
what provide enormous amount of jobs that change people's lives.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
For the better.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Being re elected, by the way, congratulations. Tell us about
your role with labor now back in Congress, I know
have the Labor Congress. I'll talk about that for a minute.
Speaker 6 (03:29):
Well, I've always been a very pro union person. I
was the mayor of my hometown. I was the county
executive of Nasal County. I was in Congress for six years.
I'm back in Congress now after my brief hiatus, and
I started the Labor Caucus back in twenty twenty one
or so. And the idea was is that whenever you're
(03:50):
looking at an issue like immigration or climate change, or
any issue that you look at as a legislator, you
should be looking at it through the lens of how
does this affect people's wages and benefits. My grandfather was
an electrician for the IBW Local three. He helped put
the lights on top of the mPire State Building. Well,
so I know that the union movement and the idea
(04:14):
of remembering that whenever you do a project, you've got
to provide people with good wages and benefits. That's what
makes people's lives better in our country.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Well, thanks so much for joining us today at here
the Labor Press event. Thanks for joining us, AWO for
having me now. Also, someone of this high speed rail
conference might be someone you know of, Gary la Barbara
of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. Well,
here at the Labor Press High Speed Rail Network Conference.
Our recognizable name, Gary LaBarbara, president of the New York
(04:47):
State Building and Construction Trades Council joining me today. Thanks
for joining me.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Sure, pleasure to be here. Nice to see you.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
So firstly, you're honoring Terio Sullivon. What is he meant
to you and why you speaking and honoring him?
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Well, let me just say, as a president of the
State Trades and the City Trades, Terry O'Sullivan as general
President of LAYUNA, has been just an incredible support to
me over the years. I've known Tony Terry a long time.
Terry is you know, obviously one of the nation's greatest
(05:19):
labor leaders.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
And that's why he's earned the title of you know,
General President Emeritus at LUNA. Uh. He was a driving
force in really creating much of of current legislation that
really helps hard working men and women in the labor movement,
in particular labors. He has been a extremely loud voice
(05:46):
on behalf of all workers, not just his members or
other members of the building trades. And he, you know,
my opinion, has remains still a force of nature. He's
just a very unique and incredible guy.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Well, today as a tribute him, but he's not stopping there.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
No, he's not. He's he's I think he's he's been
as busy as he's ever been, and he continues to
do good work and works hard on behalf of the
labor movement. And again, all working men and women.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Let's focus on me now. So you're sure to support
the high speed rail network, right, How from your standpoint
with this benefit, what your mission is as president of
the New York State Building and Construction breacounts.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
Well, there's a couple of components that I think are
important to recognize. First of all, let's just talk about
high speed rail for a moment. I mean, this is
something that is absolutely necessary in order for states, for
North America frankly, to remain relevant and remain competitive. High
(06:46):
speed rail is I think a very important necessity. Critical
infrastructure really is what drives our economy. And so I
mean that's just the fundamental fact. Beyond the virtues of
high spuel rail, the job creation for this would be incredible.
(07:10):
And again, I believe that there's opportunities to do things
that are very good for the states and for the
nation and for the economy, but at the same time
create meaningful pathways into the middle class with strong union jobs.
And so this is yet another example of one of
(07:32):
those areas much like renewable energy again, same theory. Right,
we have to address the climate change, we have to
address the needs, and by building out renewable energy, we
can do two things. We can address the critical needs
that are we face we face with the climate crisis
(07:52):
as well as creating meaningful pathways through union apprenticeships and
union careers into the middle class.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
I feel like when you can actually there's other You're
always on the news talking about it.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
So how is the construction seene in New York post COVID?
Speaker 2 (08:05):
I mean we're four years out of it now, So
how has it been since since that time?
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Well, I will tell you thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill,
which you know, obviously President Biden gets an enormous amount
of credit for you know, there hasn't been a infrastructure
program like what we have today since post World War Two,
and that I think is something that should be recognized
(08:32):
that that bill has created an enormous amount of infrastructure work,
which is employing you know, hundreds of thousands of members
in here in New York State and millions of members
in North America. So that has been a critical component
of creating tremendous work opportunities there's still in New York City,
(08:55):
in New York State there's some very major projects that
are taking place and water. So the construction outlook looks positive. Unfortunately,
due to you know, the interest rates, the private sector
remains a little sluggish. But in terms of institutional work
or healthcare projects or some very big mega projects like
(09:20):
for example, in Queen's we have a new soccer stadium
which is come up right field right there, so that's
going to be a great buffalo you got done flow
bill stadium. And this is all done under project labor agreements,
which you know, assures that these will be good building
trades jobs and many many others right and more to come.
So I think overall that the outlook looks good. I
(09:43):
think twenty twenty five is going to be a fairly
robust year in the construction industry, and I would believe
those projects that will be starting next year and into
twenty twenty six, frankly, will generate strong work opportunities for
the next several years. Beyond that.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Talk about navigating you know, your work and then dealing
with construction companies and all that through all the negotiations
talk about it was a little insight into all the
negotiations that maybe public doesn't the same, right.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
So what I would say is that my role as
the president of the Building Trades Councils is is multi level.
You know, not only do I you know, negotiate project
labor agreements with state agencies, city agencies, UH, private sector owners,
(10:32):
private sector contract is there is a big piece of
what I do is really on the economic development front,
and that is to try to move forward projects. And
you know it's hard to get projects yes, right, so
and and and you know it's all in terms of
there's always issues whether it's a public work or private
(10:55):
work to move projects forward. And so I spend a
lot of my time dealing with those issues, right And
and another big component of of what I do is,
you know, legislation. The construction industry is unique in that
where we come when you think about construction, big construction
(11:16):
companies or even subcontractors, we have a very different relationship
than many other labor management relationships because we're all on
the same page in terms of moving projects forward. And
so there's a very strong collaboration between employee associations and
the Building Trades Council and that helps a great deal
(11:38):
and I look like with any negotiations on Project Lava agreements,
you know, there's always some competing issues, but for the
most part, the relationships are strong in this industry. We
all sides of this industry consider it the industry, and
so I think that really makes the relationship stronger and
(12:01):
unique in a lot of ways.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Well, Gary, thank you, thank you very.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Much for having me. It was a pleasure to see
you again. Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
Gary L.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Barbara, president of the Building Construction Trades Canslow Greater in
New York. Always great to see him on the parade
route so to talk to him for Labor Press Radio
very special. Now another member of Labor Press Radio that
I want to talk to and got a chance to.
He's also president of Local three thirty eight and is
(12:30):
a Viscardi Center board member. Mister John Durso had this
to say from that High Speed Round conference. All right
here at the High Speed Rail Network conference, I'm a
johnder So and John, you are an MC here at
Teamser's Local two eighty two with Labor Press and you
are actually the president of Loyland Federation of Labor and
(12:52):
Local three thirty eight.
Speaker 5 (12:53):
Thanks for joining me today. It's my pleasure, happy to
be here.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
So your message today was very loyal and focused. Tell
us about why this high speed reil could affect and
could help Long Island.
Speaker 5 (13:03):
Well, this project is a long time coming. You know,
they're doing it in California. They're doing it. They've done
it successfully in parts of Florida. They want to do
it in Texas. The opportunity to connect Washington, d C,
New York City in Boston is absolutely vital to the
(13:27):
future of the Northeast. And if you're going to be
involved in the Northeast, Long Island has to be a
player in this.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Absolutely.
Speaker 5 (13:35):
You know, we are three millions of your closest friends
and relatives. Okay, everybody knows everybody on Long Island.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
And people are literally working in the city from Long Island, right,
So what are the stats on that.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
If you have, there's a tremendous amount. But you know,
during since COVID and so many people have now learned
to work from home. You have a good combination of both.
All right, So, but look, New York City, regardless of
what other people might feel, New York City is the
center of the world. Okay, everything is built around New
(14:07):
York City, and if things are going to get done,
New York City has to be involved in This high
speed rail project can be and will be an economic
engine for tens of thousands of people in this region,
you know, and it will be the future and it
is the future. And so we in Long Island want
(14:29):
to make sure that not only are we involved with it,
but we take a leading role in making this project happen.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Well, you know, I'm thinking of the Long Island Railroad
because obviously that's where where you guys had that experience,
right dealing with the lar R. You could take that
experience and say, hey we can we know how to
work on a rail system, So get involved us, right.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
There's no question about it. Now, there's money in the
infrastructure built for improvement in the Northeast with the Acel line,
but there's tens of millions of dollars in the Industryructure
Bill that can be used to kickstart this program. And
let's face it, you will never have a more pro
(15:09):
union administration that we currently have. And working with the
Biden Harris administration, and then in the next over the
next four years, if Vice President Harris is elected, we know.
Speaker 8 (15:23):
That that project will continue and this is an opportunity
to improve the quality of life for people on Long Island,
not just for them, but for their children and grandchildren.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
This is that kind of a game changing project.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Now I hear this high spiratic will also attract like
different kinds not just on the rail but like the
entertainment and hospitality.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
Right absolutely, yes, this is this job. When you have
something like this, when you have you put a dollar
in infrastructure, you get three dollars back in ancinliliy, jobs
and money into the economy. So you're talking about food, entertainment, hotels,
all of that is involved when you do a project
(16:05):
like this. You know, when we have built things on
Long Islands, all of the communities, all the communities are
affected and gained from it. So and all the women
and men of the labor movement are the best trained,
the most motivated workforce you will ever meet. And all
(16:25):
people here on Long Island are ready to do this
project all right.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Well, obviously you have to deal with day to day
things as well along. So when people turn to Long
Island Federation of Labor, what can they expect?
Speaker 5 (16:38):
People come to us. We are an advocate for working
families here in our region. And while we are bases
on Long Island, in my other positions, you know, I
have I'm an international president with my with my the
ufcw THERWT issue, so I have the opportunity to learn
and speak to people around the country. But when you
(17:01):
come to the Long Island FED, you're going to get
the very best of what we have to offer. And
that is not only the quality of the people who
are our affiliates, but the people that we can speak
to in Washington, the people that we could speak to
in Albany, and the people that we can speak to
in the City of New York. That is who we are.
(17:23):
We're a service organization and we're all about making sure
that the people we represent and it's a privilege. It's
a privilege to represent working people and odd jobs to
make their lives better. And that's what we do each
and every day.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
I feel like the other side makes it very separable
about the union. So for those skeptics out there, how
do you ease their fears of joining a union? Like,
don't tell me about that.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
So seventy percent of the American work force, or seventy percent,
i should say, of the American people feel very positively
about the union movement. There is no reason anybody should
be skeptical about joining a union. Our mission is to
improve the life of our members. The employer is not
(18:06):
our enemy. The employer is our partner. Sure, no employer
is able to do his job without working the working
women and men of labor. It does us no good
to put an employer out of business, because that affects
our jobs. We make an agreement, we negotiate contracts, We
(18:30):
shake that employer's hand. We keep to it. We don't
break the rule. Okay, if the employer breaks breaks the rule,
we address it.
Speaker 9 (18:40):
But our job is to lift up people, lift up families,
and give hope to those who don't have hope, speak
to those who have no voice, to encourage people to
be the best they can be.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
That's what the labor woman's about. That's what we do
each and every day.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
I feel like last year had a lot of labor disaputes, right,
I mean you saw the SiGe after all that This
year has been a low commerce so that that cordiality
between employer and union helps the year go smoother, doesn't it.
Speaker 5 (19:08):
Well, look, as long as employees understand that people are
entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. That people
are entitled to make a living. Nobody objects to an
employee of making a profit. He should make a property's investment,
but he does not make that profit without the men
(19:28):
and women that do the job. So they are entitled
to have a living wage, a good wage, to be
able to retire with dignity, have good healthcare, to have
job protections. When an employee decides they don't deserve that
because it might infringe upon his bottom line, well then.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
That's a problem as someone with his ability. You know,
full disclosure. Year. Are the members that are disabled in
your union? How do you represent them?
Speaker 5 (19:58):
Represent them very same same way we represent everybody else.
We represent everybody the same way. You have a problem,
we try to help you. If we can't help you,
we'll find a way to do something.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
To love to help you.
Speaker 5 (20:11):
This is about a family. The union movement is a family.
About protecting the people we represent.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
And you know, I'm just thinking people in disability sometimes
don't work, so you probably encourage people to work.
Speaker 5 (20:22):
Of course, listen, I have the honor of city on
the board of the Viscardi Center. I went, yes, I did, Okay,
So it is a phenomenal organization. Phenomenal and it's it's
it's an honor for me to sit on that board, Okay,
and that's what we do.
Speaker 8 (20:39):
Look, everybody, everybody has the same dream.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
You want to have a good life. They want to
love somebody, be loved by somebody, be able to have
a job and live life with dignity.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Amen, Okay, And that's what the labor movement's all about.
We just passed Labor Day, and I feel like the
conversation with labor goes away after Labor.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
So you guys, not this household.
Speaker 5 (21:02):
So you should come to the Labor Day Parade.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
The largest Labor Day parade in.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
The United States. There'll be tens of thousands of men
and women in the labor movement out there marching and
celebrating labor. In who we are and what we do.
We are the American workforce. We are your neighbors, were
your litterally coaches, were your people who work at the
(21:27):
different churches or synagogues or mosque.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
We are America.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Okay, We're not too the special interest group. We are
the community and we are.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Proud to be Hey, man, well thanks so much, John,
I know it all. Love off topic, but this is
a great conversation. Thanks for joining me too much. All right,
Before we continue with this Labor Day special on one
leg Up with Alex Garrett, I have to shout out
Neil Tappell, the man the visionary behind labor Press Radio,
(21:58):
as well as Stephanie West and Darren Yellen and of
course Jay the man who puts all these interviews on
the website. Very thankful for that in collaboration with One
look Up Alex adapts. But Labor Press Radio is having
their twenty twenty five Apprentice of the Year Awards Wednesday,
September seventeenth. This year's Labor Press Apprentice of the Year
(22:20):
Awards is going to honor the rising stars in the
world of labor at the twenty twenty five Apprentice of
the Year Awards. We hope to see you there the
September seventeenth, twenty twenty five, and for more information, I'll
drop the link in the website below Laborpress dot org
and event bright is where you can get the tickets.
(22:43):
We'll get to a couple of big names from that
High Speed Row conference. But I got a shout out
right now, Karen mgnanni, the emblem Health CEO, who was
at the Heroes of Labor Awards put on at Emblem
Health headquarters last October. And here's what Karen mg Nani
and I talked about live from Emblem Health headquarters in
(23:04):
downtown Manhattan for the Heroes of Labor Awards put on
by Labor Press. All right, well, a very special moment
here for Labor Press as we welcome once again Karening Nanni,
the CEO of Emblem Health at your Heroes of Labor Awards.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Thanks for joining us today. Thank you so much for
being here.
Speaker 10 (23:20):
We're so happy to welcome you.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Talk about Emblem Health's commitment to the unions.
Speaker 10 (23:24):
Firstly, our commitment to the unions is long, it's deep,
and it's wide. We have been partnering with labor unions
for decades and it will continue for many decades to come.
Because we are a union company. We are the only
health plan that's a union company, and we provide health
(23:46):
benefits for one point two million city workers, along with
another number of other unions as well and employers. And
we feel very strongly that our commitment to labor un
unions is something that they deserve, something that we work
very hard to do. Every day and we will continue
(24:07):
to do it.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
How does EMBLEM because I know you're basically the leading
union healthcare and how do you guys manage.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
All the different unions you're partnered with?
Speaker 10 (24:14):
Basically, it's just such a pleasure actually, just to have
gotten to know so many union leaders and so many
of the rank and file union members here to make
sure that we're doing what they need. We're thinking ahead,
we're bringing innovation, we're bringing modernization, and we're bringing the
(24:36):
best of the best of their members because they deserve it.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Now all about Emblem Healths, you're also out there for
the public. You make sure the public knows everything. So
what as we talk now is most concernative when it comes.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
To New York City.
Speaker 10 (24:49):
What we're most concerned about is what everyone else is
most concerned about. That we get people moving across the
city safely, that we have the opportunity as a city
to thrive and grow, and to make sure that people
have the healthcare they need, which includes physical health, mental health,
(25:11):
and all the other services that are so important to people.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
He now a million people in New York City.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
What's it like to you to lead one of the
leading healthcareism in New York City.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
What does that mean to you?
Speaker 10 (25:22):
It is such I get out of bed every morning,
and I think it is such an honor to have
this role. I come from a union family. My dad
was a firefighter, my mom was a city worker. So
I and my dad actually worked for the firefighters union
and for the firefighters as a firefighter before they had
(25:42):
health benefits. So I understand what it's like and how
important it is to have health benefits. So we take
this job in this role very very seriously.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Now you're honoring the transit workers today. I mean without them,
we're not getting anywhere in the city, right, So talk
about the TWU you're honoring today.
Speaker 10 (26:00):
Oh, I'm so excited about this because talk about keeping
the city rolling. They keep the city rolling. I'm a
bus rider. I love the crosstown buses. I'm a subwive rider,
and I so appreciate the work that the men and
women of the TWU do every day.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
I'm so appreciably said, you're taking subway in bus because.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
CEO, you're not just wheeling in. You're with us amongst
the crowd, I can tell you.
Speaker 10 (26:23):
And I try to outsmart the schedule, so I end
up taking three trains, and just to make sure I
can get to from point A to point B the
quickest possible.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
I understand there's an annual event the Heroes of Labor,
so to put this on here at Emblem Health for you,
it seems like it means a lot.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
And every year just having all these people here, what's
that mean?
Speaker 10 (26:42):
Oh, I just wouldn't miss it.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
It means it just makes me so proud.
Speaker 10 (26:46):
It gives me goosebumps when I hear even though I
read about these stories ahead of time, when I see
these individuals, these individual heroes, hear their stories, hear their
words from their own mouths, it just gives me pride.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
And one message from Emblem Help to the same of
New York, as we said right now October twenty four, just.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
It's our pleasure to serve you.
Speaker 10 (27:12):
We will continue to do so. Please understand how seriously
we take that responsibility.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Well, I love that Alex Garrett here with Karen ing Nanni,
the CEO of EMBELM Help, thanks for joining.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
You so much.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
I mean for Neil and Darren to put me next
to these luminaries of the healthcare industry and of the
transit industry and of course of a political world. Like
Tom Swase, it means a lot. That's why I want
to give him a big shout out today on Labor
Day twenty twenty five. But I want to wrap with
(27:45):
these two legends. Okay, I mean, if you're in the
afl CIO, you know about Fred Redmond, right, And here's
what he and I talked about last year at the
high speed rail event. Now this was a few months
before the election, so we did get a little political.
But as to why the Dems are always union strong
(28:08):
and labor strong, according to a fl CIO president Fred Remand,
all right, back here at the Labor Press High Speed
Rail Network conference, I'm Alex Garrett with the Secretary Treasurer
of the afl CIO, Fred Remand thanks for joining me today.
Speaker 4 (28:23):
Fred, thank you, Alex, glad to be here.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
You had a fired up speech in there. What is
the afil CIO's role going to be should this high
speed rail come into existence? How are you guys can
help people get jobs to this.
Speaker 11 (28:34):
Well, first of all, we had a fid of revised
because we're fired up as a labor boat bit to
see an investment being placed in American workers because this
is what this is. This is an investment in the
American workforce. This is a challenge to American manufacturers. Okay, well,
(28:55):
we can build out this high speed rail, create good jobs,
uplift and sustained communities. And it's an exciting time to
be really committed to a new form of transportation that's
going to take off in the United States.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
And what could I guess even Congress's role in toms
Wwasey today, what could Congress's role, What could the administration's
role be to make this happen.
Speaker 4 (29:20):
Funding, they have to be committed. They have to provide
the funding.
Speaker 11 (29:24):
They have to provide the resources for us to do
the job. Training, workforce development programs.
Speaker 4 (29:32):
Need to be engaged.
Speaker 11 (29:34):
So the federal government play a huge role because a
commitment from the federal government in terms of resources and
a commitment from employees throughout this country, we can actually
build a manufacturing chain regarding the component parts the high
speed rail. We could train communities and as I stated,
you know, we need to bring in people who have
(29:56):
historically been locked out, people of color, underserved community and women.
And we have an opportunity to build a transportation sector
that can uplift communities uplift families and help rebuild the
middle class.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
All right, soxiety where does this commerce today? What's the
next steps?
Speaker 11 (30:13):
Next step is to make sure that we get through
November with the right team in office that's going to
fulfill this commitment when it comes to funding, when it
comes to making sure that these projects continue, that the
commitment of Bided Harris administration continues with the funding and
(30:35):
able to make these sort of projects possible.
Speaker 4 (30:39):
And then from there it's just going to take.
Speaker 11 (30:41):
The wheel of creating a big table, a big tent
where everybody is coming together in order to really really
move this technology to the next levee.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
So those I'm familiar with the AFLCIO talk about the
day to days. We're talking long term as well, talk
about day to day responsibilities.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
The afl CIO is a labor federation.
Speaker 11 (30:57):
We have sixty affiliate unions. We represent twelve and a
half million members around the United States. Every industry in
the United States, public sector, private sector, service employees, we
represent screen actors, we represent athletes, and we are Americans workforce.
We're based in Washington, DC. Our members work at all
(31:20):
fifty states. We have a state fed and fifty states
around this country, four hundred and thirty fourth Central Labor
counsuls around the country, and we are the voys for
Americans work.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
And one more thing to those are in today, what's
your message on behalf of the unions like to the
averages early, what's your message to them?
Speaker 4 (31:37):
We can do this work.
Speaker 11 (31:39):
We can do the work if you with the proper funding,
with the proper resources, with the proper commitment. American unions
are prepared to train the next generation of workers, starting
off with high speed rail and where it takes us,
who knows, right, We're ready. We got the best training
capabilities of the world. Our training programs, apprenticeship programs is
(32:03):
the gold standard and we're ready to take these huge
investments and build the next generational workers.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
A fl CIO Secretary Treasurer Fred Redmond, thanks for joining
me today.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
All right. Well, I mentioned luminaries of the transit world,
and I meet Bose who served as the Administrator of
the Federal Railroad Administration. UH is part of the US
Department of Transportation under Pete Buddhaj Well. Administrator Bose joined
me from that high speed rail conference last September, and
(32:41):
here's what he had to say.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
Of course he is.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
No longer part of the FIRA, but but these words
will live on through the labor press, radio and want
leg got alex network. All right, Well, a very special
guest here from me I feed Rail Network conference, a
meet Bosey administration with Federal Railroad Administration. Thanks for joining
(33:07):
me today. Thank you so I under saying you were
alongside people first of all, talk about that experience.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
It's fantastic.
Speaker 7 (33:14):
He's such a remarkable Secretary of Transportation, a remarkable individual,
and for me the bonuses. He's a very big booster
of rail across the country, passenger rail, high speed rail,
freight rail. So it's incredible to work side by side.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
And have you here means the buy maansician clearly is
invested in this am I right.
Speaker 7 (33:38):
We are, we are and that's reflected from March of
twenty twenty one with the introduction of the American Jobs
Act that became the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November of
twenty twenty one, and right on through with the implementation
of the programs that were funded through that law, and
now it's leading to projects and corridors that we fund
(34:00):
that we've selected and now we're delivering and building those
projects now to.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Be toopular over But this is an election year, so
does this election year, does this project.
Speaker 5 (34:10):
Hang in the balance with the election year, if you will.
Speaker 7 (34:13):
In The good news is there was a five year
transportation will. We're in roughly year three of that bill,
so there's two more years of funding remaining in that
and the projects that we've selected already, projects like the
California High Speed Rail project, also the Brightline West project,
which are both high speed rail projects, along with plenty
(34:35):
of Northeast corridor projects including the Hudson River Tunnel East
River Tunnel that people in this area are very familiar with.
Those projects are funded and will continue, and what we're
trying to do is make sure that those projects are
successful so that Congress can give even more funding to
(34:57):
rail across the country. But the sixty six billion dollars
at the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided was absolutely historic, game
changing and transformative.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
With all the railroads we.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Have out there, can we all what kind of what
can we learn from all the railroads currently to make
this a success.
Speaker 7 (35:14):
Even we have a lot of lessons learned, we have
a lot of experience with projects that we have built
that are in service right now. Just as an example,
there's a new service called Borealis between Saint Paul and
Chicago that we started that Amtrak is running. We also
(35:37):
know that there's been an increase of service in Virginia
in their rail program in places like North Carolina, so
there's there's a strong effort across the country and it
really reflects the demand that people across the country have
for passenger rail as an alternative, not as a substitute,
as an alternative to vehicle riding in vehicles and sitting
(35:59):
in highway traffic. And of course this also comes with
labor support. To talk about your support of the labor
unions that are really going to be impacted in a
positive way by this project. Well, first of all, labor unions.
Labor unions represent skilled workers and craft workers, and American
workers are second to none. And it's going to be
(36:19):
the American workers who are building these projects who are
also when these projects are in operation, running the trains,
who are providing the services on the rail cars, and
who are maintaining the rail cars. So it's a real
opportunity to create jobs. It's also manufacturing because we want
(36:40):
the train sets that we haven't had high speed rail
train sets to be manufactured here in the United States,
and that's a great opportunity.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
Is the measures committed to having all of this American
made I feel.
Speaker 5 (36:52):
Like, yes, we are, we are very much So.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
One last thing I just saw, La had a train
built not too long ago. So these probably are always ongoing.
What can we learn from the West coast high street
rail and turn into the northeast.
Speaker 7 (37:06):
Well, an example of that is there's a service called
Caltrain which is between San Francisco and San Jose, and
the California High Speed Rail project will eventually run on
those tracks. But right now there's a service called Caltrain
and they just put new electrified rail cars on that
(37:27):
and they electrified that whole corridor. So it's an example
of very positive things going on in the western part
of the country. And you're right in some respects. The
West right now has the possibility of having a real
high speed rail network, as I mentioned Las Vegas, southern
California and also southern California going into the Bay Area
(37:50):
through the Central Valley.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
Well, you're here to speak, so tell us what your
message was and is going to be for all people.
Speaker 7 (37:55):
Well, my message is the rail program that the Biden
Harris administration has can be a win win for workers.
It can be a win win for rail companies, for
the railroads. And it's a win win for the railroads
because we can sell we can separate freight from passenger
rail traffic so that they don't interfere which with each other.
(38:17):
And it's also a win for the private sector and
the communities and the future passengers.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
I mean, Bose, thanks so much for joining me today.
Speaker 7 (38:25):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
These interviews, by the way, did take place at Teamsters
two to eighty two. As you might have heard a
reference earlier on in the shop. The one big honoree
was Terry O'Sullivan and of course thanks to Darren and
(38:47):
Neil once again we got to talk about talk to
this luminary on September fifth, twenty twenty four with me
at the Labor Press High Speedborough conference. Is a very
special guest. You know, when you have about four or
five six people talking about well man, I means this
guy is a legend. Terry O. Sullivan, thanks for joining
AM nine seving the answer today.
Speaker 1 (39:09):
Yeah, thank you, thank you, and thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
We're very proud to have you on a Salem media
group as well. So first of all, talk about your
history with labor and being honored today.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Well, my history, I was more or less born into it.
So my father was with the labors and ran our
local in San Francisco and he ultimately became the general
secretary treasurer in Washington, d C. So I've been a
member for just over fifty years. I was general president
(39:41):
for twenty four So I have obviously a long history
with LAYUNA and with the labor movement.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
And talk about the labor movement, I mean, this is
we just passed Labor Days, so you know, I feel
like the conversation with labor sometimes ends in the media
with Labor Day, but we were continuing it here. So
talk about what the labor movements meant for you.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
Well, the labor movement has meant everything for not only me,
but for our family adventure. I wouldn't know exactly where
we would be if it wasn't for the Labor's International
Union North America. My father, his parents both were from Ireland.
His father died when he was thirty seven years old.
His mother was pregnant with his brother, so his brother
(40:22):
never even met his father. He was a grave digger
at Holy Cross Cemetery where he is buried in a
doorman at the Palace Hotel, pretty famous hotel in San Francisco,
and from there, my dad's mother knew somebody in the
laborers and they put him out to work because they
(40:43):
knew he was bringing every paycheck home to take care
of his mom and his seven his brother. So yeah,
if it wasn't for it wasn't for the labor movement,
we wouldn't be where we're at today.
Speaker 2 (40:56):
Terry, You've obviously seen the labor women evolved, So talk
about seeing as a kid with your dad to.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
Now, Well, I think there are some differences. Yes, back
then we had more strikes. There was I won't say
more activism, but their share sec was a lot of activism,
and I think that was what's evolved in my twenty
(41:22):
four years of being president. At thirty years I was
in DC. Unfortunately I still can't get out of there,
but the longest sort of become even more politically active.
They were always politically active. Organized labor always was. But
I've seen more activism in my time in d C
than I saw before.
Speaker 2 (41:43):
You know, I was just thinking last year it was
a big year for labor disputes and all that. But
when you see those kinds of things and you see
the fight that sag After had and all that, what's
that mean? It must make it kind of proud that
these guys are fighting for their rights.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
They are, and I get encouraged by those things. I mean,
take the teamsters and ups and some of the other
things you mentioned sag After, uh, you know, the Big three,
the auto workers. I mean, there is a there's a
real spark in the labor movement, and I think that
spark leads to a fire and I see a lot
(42:19):
more engagement, involvement and activism, which is always a good thing.
So this high.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
Speed rail feels like the next generation for union workers, right,
That's why it's so important.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
Yeah, definitely, And I applaud Neil, you know, for having
this conference this morning. It's much needed and just not
here in a whole host of places. So I think
to get the ball rolling this was an important thing
to do. And having experts from you know, not only
(42:52):
political life, but from the industry everywhere, from everywhere.
Speaker 2 (42:56):
So Terry, obviously you've been on the West coast, right,
you said you were to save, just go. They already
have this, so why not? Why can't it work here?
Speaker 1 (43:04):
That's my question. Well, he can work. There has to
be a political will to make it work. And I
think that political will is here, and I think by
partnering together labor management and industry, maybe we can get
it over get it over the top.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
Being sorry with your dad through this whole moment, when
he was, when you were, when he was here, What
did you learn from him and how have you applied
that as president?
Speaker 1 (43:30):
I learned about loyalty from my father, about solidarity, and
I learned it by watching him. He was a hands
on leader.
Speaker 2 (43:40):
They said.
Speaker 1 (43:40):
He was a member of ours and a leader of
ours for sixty nine years. So he lived by example.
He's one that back in the fifties we went on
strike for eighty six days get three cents for health
and welfare fund. So they were rough and tumble times,
(44:03):
but he was a man of his word. And and
to tell you that the other labor leaders that I
had the privilege to know when I was a young man,
sometimes and in some cases very young man, sure, I
was always inspired by their dedication and commitment to the cause,
the purpose and the mission of the union movement.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
It's maybe a controversy. Did you ever cross paths with
Jimmy Hoff?
Speaker 1 (44:25):
I have to ask, I have so. Uh, my father
knew Senior. I obviously worked with Jimmy and now with
Sean when when Jimmy was president for for years. I
haven't seen him in a while.
Speaker 2 (44:41):
But I know, and Sean's been been doing great. But
at the l i U, right where you're at, where
you're president at, there's a daily support of your union workers.
Talk about the daily operations of the LU from where
you sit as president, I.
Speaker 1 (44:54):
Mean as far as the activity, yeah, and how you
support every day to make it well. And I think
what's different now is with technology, it's a lot easier
for us. So I have to be able to reach
out to union members and union families. And you see that.
I mean that. I know my wife Vett, she oversees
(45:16):
communications department at while you're in the headquarters in our
political and legislative department, and the engagement is set. If
I go back twenty four years and I look at
what we were doing twenty four years ago versus today,
it's light years ahead today.
Speaker 2 (45:35):
Well, it's funny you say that because a lot of
people that are in their associations are worried that AI
is going to take over. And why is manpower so.
Speaker 1 (45:42):
Vital even in twenty twenty four. I mean, we can't
build our roads and bridges and tunnels and waterways and
all the rest of it without haveing skilled labor. Sure,
I mean I think you always have to be concerned
about AI. I'm less concerned about it, but there are
industries and unionized industries that I get it.
Speaker 2 (46:05):
Terry, it is we're honoring you today, but I feel
like your work's not done yet. So you know you're
going to honor today, but.
Speaker 1 (46:11):
Tell us where you go from here. Well, I'm involved
in a number of things. So I am now the
chairman back as chairman of ULIKA with the untimely passing
and unfortunate passing of Eddie Smith. I'm emeritus with with Liuna,
and we launched a union prescription drug company.
Speaker 2 (46:30):
Well, and that's so important as you're saying those members
who need that are not getting represented.
Speaker 1 (46:36):
Enough for well, we can't have PBMs, gouge and us.
I mean every nickel, every dime, every dollar is important
because I always used to say if it wasn't going
towards benefits, tould be going on members check. But we
stand for great benefits. But we have to get our
hands around PBMs. When you have two percent of your
(46:58):
claims right are costs and almost fifty percent of to spend,
something's broken needs to be fixed.
Speaker 2 (47:06):
I feel that this kind of ears into my next
question about people disabilities. Do you guys represent people disabilities
as well born with them on the job of them
talk about that sector of the.
Speaker 1 (47:17):
Union, I mean critically important. We have a lot of
members get hurt on the job, some of them, some
of them unfortunately permanently, and we try to make sure
that if somebody is injured on the job that we
can get them back to work within Sometimes you can't.
But I think it's critically important as a society and
(47:40):
as a labor movement to take you know, to work
with quite minded groups and find opportunities, because there are
plenty of opportunities for the individuals that do have disabilities
to go back to work.
Speaker 2 (47:54):
I've asked a few other people. I want to ask you, Terry,
from your experience here, there are skept skeptics against the unions.
How do you ease skeptics minds and say, yes, unions.
Speaker 1 (48:04):
Are good for people. Yeah, well, there's always going to
be skeptics, as there always has been. But I'm betting
on the home team. I mean, I think that with
our communication programs and outreach to members, I think we've
turned the tide. And I can only use our union
as an example. You know, we were founded in nineteen
oh three. Today we have more members than we've ever
(48:26):
had gradual history of our organization, and a lot of that,
quite honestly, has has to do with the Biden administration,
the infrastructure built Chips Bill. I mean, it has been
an absolute grand slam. And you know, I'm going to
say it because I'm going to say it any Joe
(48:48):
Biden has been the best union president we ever had,
at least in my tenure. And I don't mean any
disrespect to anybody else.
Speaker 2 (48:56):
Well, he also grew up in the union world, and
he did he did.
Speaker 1 (49:01):
He says, he says union more than some union leaders.
But a lot of the credit goes to, you know,
with the first two years of his administration, with Speaker
Pelosi and with the Majority Leader Schumer and the President
and his administration think about the jobs bills that were created.
(49:25):
Never saw that before. I saw a lot of effort
on it. But you know the results. And how about
pension reform, sure sure, I mean that was a game
changer for all of us.
Speaker 2 (49:36):
The Build Back Better bill also as well. I mean
a lot of these different things that they've accomplished. Now,
how are you going to reach across all the unions
to make sure this real project goes? It's a team effort, isn't.
Speaker 1 (49:48):
It, without a doubt? You know, on the construction side,
work with the building trades and and with each individual
union as well, and put a lot of time and effort.
You know, in the job creation things have been teed up.
Now we have to take advantage of.
Speaker 2 (50:04):
He says something very poignant just a couple of minutes
ago about how what you're doing today is touching the
lives of families in their own homes, and that's important
to get the message into the homes, isn't it. And
it sounds like that hasn't been happening for a little bit.
Speaker 1 (50:18):
Well, I think it has been happening for a while,
And I mean that's strategic communications. I mean, we need
to get to family members. Wife needs to be engaged
and involved, and unfortunately some unions, and ours being one
of them, not as many members go to union meetings anymore.
Now they're busy working and all the rest of it.
They have family obligations. But we need to continue to
(50:41):
do an even better job of reaching inside the house
and reminding people, you know, how they're making a living
and why they're making a living and what the union
does form.
Speaker 2 (50:52):
Terry, you're obviously going to speak today, So what's your
message to the audience here at teams As Local two
eighty two and to our listeners here on the radios.
Speaker 1 (50:59):
Yeah, today, my message just is one of thanks and appreciation.
You know, I'm going to talk about some of the
things that we're doing, but I'm also going to invoke
I have my dad's union card in my pocket from
nineteen forty seven, and to my point, before the O'Sullivans
(51:21):
would not be where they're at today if it wasn't
for the goodness and greatness of the Labor's International Union
in North America, in the labor movement, and we're not
unique in that.
Speaker 2 (51:32):
Do you feel like that should be a message as well,
that unions help build character for the people in them Yep.
Speaker 1 (51:38):
I think it has to be a constant message. You know,
some people do take for granted that you know, you
wake up one day and you're you know, you think
you're standing on third. I mean there was a lot
of strife and struggle that went in to building a
labor movement that we have today.
Speaker 2 (51:57):
Right saying on third, we see all these leagues sometimes
have their issues between the players, wization and all that.
Speaker 1 (52:02):
Those big issues can also.
Speaker 2 (52:04):
Impact other unions.
Speaker 1 (52:05):
Say hey, you know what, we need to speak up
as well, right yep, yeah, and I see that more though,
Like I say, these big difference twenty four years ago
to today, and I think that outreach has led to
more activists. And we're always going to have skeptics.
Speaker 2 (52:20):
How will we see you out there fighting for the union,
like if there ever picket lines where we see you
out there on the lines.
Speaker 1 (52:26):
Are well, I'll be anywhere and everywhere that I needed,
that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (52:32):
Amen to that. Well, Terry, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (52:34):
Your time today, Thanks for having me. Thank you, sanch
you well.
Speaker 2 (52:38):
I see this about an hour long presentation on Labor Day,
but I wouldn't have it any other way. We've got
to highlight how important it is to be union strong,
how important it is to honor labor and the hard workers,
as I said earlier, are working today as we speak
on Labor Day twenty twenty five. I just want to
(52:59):
thank the tech guys, my chief engineer at AM nine seventy,
Andy Gladdings setting things up at the high speed Rail
conference in September and then in October Ed Downey helping
me record those interviews and basically everything we did can
be found at my Labor Press Radio one leg up
Alex Garrett collaboration section of this podcast, and I'll drop
(53:22):
a link to that, and I'll also remind you that
on Wednesday, September seventeenth, it is the twenty twenty five
Apprentice Awards, highlighting and honoring the rising stars in labor,
put on by then Labor Press at Teamsers two eighty
two in Lake Success. Speaking of Team Seris, I cannot
(53:44):
let the show go by without honoring Greg Floyd and
Teamsters two thirty seven, for they too have the show
reaching out on AM nine seventy the Answer, and I've
been grateful to be their engineer and done remotes with
them at their offices at teams for two thirty seven Headquarters.
Thanks to Philip Schafflin for arranging that in every interview
we do on reaching Out. But President greg Floyd himself
(54:08):
joined my podcast in twenty twenty two to talk about Nightshaw.
But the surprise of it was he then aired on
his radio show at least a five minute snippet that
weekend following Governor Kathy Hockle. Thank you Grey. Maybe the
first government beyond, but I'm also going to be the
second governor beyond. I'll be back again. Thank you here
(54:29):
that Thank you very much.
Speaker 12 (54:30):
Thanks sure you've been listening to Governor Hokeel on reaching
Out with Gregory Floyd. We're going to do a brief
recap of a podcast we did with Alex Garrett on
the nightsche Trust Fund EVL.
Speaker 2 (54:47):
Governor Hokel is the right person to make this happen.
Speaker 12 (54:51):
This was on her desk, and she's working in real time,
and work speaks for itself.
Speaker 4 (54:57):
This bill was passed.
Speaker 12 (54:58):
Whether she was a governor or someone else, the legislature
would have passed this bill and it would have been
left for the governor to make a decision, whoever that
governor would have been at this time, whether they were
going to sign it or not. Fortunately this governor chose
to sign it.
Speaker 4 (55:14):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (55:15):
You know this was a special moment. Tell us being
next to her as she signed it.
Speaker 12 (55:19):
Oh, more than being next to you, I mean just
being invited. Labor had a seat at the table and
being included in the ceremony was special because this was
our first time ever being included in a bill signing
for a governor of New York State. But more importantly
(55:42):
than being part of that bill signing was the bill
that was signed that's going to help the people, the
residents of Knightscha and also our members who work in
the New York City Housing Authority. That was more important
than being next to the governor signing the bill to.
Speaker 2 (55:59):
Be Floyd teams are two thirty seven President. Where can
people find the coverage of you know, Teamster's role in
this can? I know you guys have a website, So
what what's thest wetting? Get in touch with you guys.
Speaker 12 (56:11):
Oh, on our website two thirty seven Local, two thirty
seven dot org. You go on a website, We'll put
up the short video of the bill signing. The governor
has the bill signing and Knightscha on her her platform,
the New York State government platform is on I believe
(56:32):
it's on YouTube. The knightscha bill signing for the trust.
The Knights your trust. So if anyone wants to take
the time to look at the I would say, forty
forty five minute ceremony, it'll be there.
Speaker 2 (56:49):
And it was.
Speaker 12 (56:49):
Really it was really historic historic, and the comments and
the commentary was really great. So if anybody has time
and they're really interested, I would just going on and
looking at it.
Speaker 2 (57:03):
Greg Floyd, thanks so much. Team turns through the thirty
seven and hey, we'll see you on the radio. I
am nine seven.
Speaker 12 (57:08):
The answer, thank you, and Alex has always has been
a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (57:13):
And as you know, over the years we've supported the
truck drivers through the supply chain, CRESI and all that. Well,
my friend Zach Miller has this to say on Labor
Day twenty twenty five, hashtag Tanka trucker For now, I'm
Alex Garrett. Have a great Labor Day and remember to
thank your local unions and to let unions flourish, not
(57:36):
try and take them down like an Amazon Wood or
a Starbucks would Because though it can get messy at times,
we see labor drives this country and that's how we
continue to make America great. Im one I got Alex
Garrett
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