America’s Work Force Union Podcast

In the construction industry, the most dangerous threat isn’t always a falling object or a site accident—it’s the silent crisis of mental health.

In this powerful episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we sit down with Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council.

Timed with Mental Health Awareness Month, LaBarbe...

The landscape for working people in Ohio is shifting fast. In this episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we look at the immediate aftermath of the high-stakes Ohio primary elections and dive into the real-world economic pressures facing local job seekers—from the rapid rise of AI to the expansion of gig-style healthcare work.

Fresh off an intense election night, Ohio AFL...

The Pacific Northwest is at the epicenter of America's green energy future—but building the grid isn't happening fast enough.

In this episode, Travis Eri, Business Manager of IBEW Local 125, joins America’s Work Force Union Podcast for a candid look at the state of union electrical work across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. While data center growth and wildfire-hardening projects are keeping crews busy, a sudden winter slo...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was once the global gold standard for public health. Today, it faces an existential workforce crisis.

In this high-stakes episode, Yolanda Jacobs, President of AFGE Local 2883, pulls back the curtain on the "systematic dismantling" of the CDC. From the elimination of the agency’s EEO office to the mass terminations that left critical health programs in the dark, Jacobs details a ...

May Day and Workers Memorial Week arrived with a sobering reminder of the stakes for the American labor movement. On today’s episode, we explore the stark contrast between a regional construction explosion in Central Ohio and a national crisis in workplace safety enforcement.

Segment 1:

The Central Ohio Surge with Dorsey Hager

Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades...

The landscape of the American workforce is evolving at lightning speed, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is at the center of the transition.

In this episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed “Flash” Ferenc sits down with Brian Andersen, Business Manager of IBEW Local 601. Together, they dive into the critical state of the trades in 2026, focusing on how Local 601 is meeting the demands of ...

Is winning a union election enough? In Colorado, the answer is no. On today’s episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we dive into two distinct battles where the rules of the game are being rigged against working people—from the statehouse in Denver to the cockpit of the world's largest airlines.

Andy Jacob, Chief of Staff for SEIU Local 105, joins us to pull back the curtain on C...

Is BP using an ExxonMobil playbook to break the union in Indiana?

In this episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we dive into the heart of the labor struggle at the BP Whiting refinery. USW Local 7-1 President Eric Schultz joins us to pull back the curtain on the lockout of over 800 union members at the nation's largest inland refinery.

Schultz details how BP transitioned from "surface bargaining" to a full-scale lockout, h...

Sarah Anderson, Global Economy Director at the Institute for Policy Studies, joins us to break down a staggering new report on America’s 20 largest low-wage employers. While companies like Walmart, Amazon, and Home Depot report record profits and spend billions on stock buybacks, their median worker pay often falls below the threshold for Medicaid and SNAP.

Key Discussion Points:

• The B...

As the University System of Georgia enforces a sweeping return-to-office mandate, staff members are facing a harsh reality: commuting costs are effectively gutting already poverty-level wages.

In this episode, we sit down with David Hyde (UCW-GSU Chapter Chair) and Rachel Schrauben Yeates (Kennesaw State University Member-Leader) from UCW-CWA Local 3821. They reveal the staggering data behind the mandate—including a 100 percent inc...

A major legislative victory is brewing on Capitol Hill. Pete Ielmini, Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators LMCT, joins the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to announce the introduction of S. 4312—the bipartisan Senate companion bill to the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act.

Fresh off the NABTU Legislative Conference, Ielmini pulls back the curtain on the "ground game" in D.C., explaining how in-person visits with senat...

On this episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we examine the "grind" of organizing—and the massive results it's starting to yield across the country.

Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, joins us to celebrate a historic run of library victories.

• The Pay Gap: How newly unionized libraries like Worthington have already surpassed regional pay standar...

Live from the 2026 NABTU Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., NABTU President Sean McGarvey joins the America’s Work Force Union Podcast. McGarvey breaks down the landmark NABTU-OpenAI partnership, the record-shattering growth of union apprenticeships, and his urgent call for a bipartisan federal plan to protect workers from AI-driven displacement.

As thousands of building trades leaders descend on the nation’s capital, the ...

Segment 1: Building a Healthcare System That Works for Working Families Three decades of experience have given Kari Hedges, Senior Vice President of Market Solutions at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, a clear view of what remains broken in American medicine. Joining National Labor Office Executive Director Merrilee Logue, Hedges discusses the urgent need for data interoperability—the abilit...

Segment 1: Remembrance as an Action Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications for The American Legion, joins the show to preview the May issue of The American Legion Magazine. Stoffer breaks down the "Forever Promise" project—a deeply moving Dutch tradition where local families have adopted and tended the graves of over 10,000 U.S. service members since 1945.

We also tackle a growing domestic challenge: the staffing crunch...

“Washington needs more people who have worn a tool belt and fewer who take orders from donors.”

Today on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we’re joined by Brian Poindexter, a member of Ironworkers Local 17 and a five-term Brook Park City Councilman currently running for Congress in Ohio’s 7th District.

Poindexter shares his "old-school" approach to a modern campaign, focusing on door-knocking and direct voter contact over exp...

Segment 1: The Midwest Primary Ground Game with Frank Mathews The 2026 primary season is officially underway, and for the Communication Workers of America (CWA) District 4, this isn't just a warmup—it's a proving ground. Administrative Director Frank Mathews joins the show to discuss why labor is prioritizing "lived experience" candidates in Ohio and Wisconsin. From the momentum of the Wisconsin Supreme Court victories to the groun...

Five years ago, the American retirement system faced a "cascading collapse" that threatened to wipe out the hard-earned security of union households nationwide. Today, the Butch Lewis Act stands as a landmark victory for organized labor.

On this episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed “Flash” Ferenc sits down with Austin Keyser, International Vice President for the IBEW 4th District. Keyser provides an insider’s look...

What does it take to grow a union to 50,000 members across three states? According to UFCW 3000 President Faye Guenther, it isn't a branding exercise—it’s a disciplined strategy of building "strike-ready" leverage.

In today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Guenther joins us to pull back the curtain on how Local 3000 became a regional powerhouse. From her roots as the daughter of a seasonal worker to leading one ...