America’s Work Force Union Podcast BMA Media Group

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about what can be done to show appreciation for teachers. Cropper also spoke about the funding of private school vouchers in Ohio and the FTC’s final rule on non-compete clauses.
Jeff Worthington, President of the Utah AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about Utah’s H.B. 285, the efforts by the state’s unions to defeat the bill and organizing in the state.

Justin Azbill, Director of National Environment, Health and Safety at Milwaukee Tool, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast as part of our continuing coverage of Mental Health Awareness Month. He started the conversation around Construction Safety Week and his work on safety and mental healthcare for construction industry workers.
As part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s National Stand Down to Prevent Falls in Construction week, Rich Danko, Business Manager and Financial Secretary-Treasurer, and Paul Ribarchak, Apprenticeship Training Coordinator, from Ironworkers Local 3 in Pittsburgh, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss what they are doing in their apprenticeship program.

Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer for the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the North American Building Trades Union Legislative Conference, getting more people into the trades and an update on the status of the Intel project. 
Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer for the AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss their report, Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, 2024. Redmond discussed the rise of workplace injuries involving minority workers and why there have been so many issues getting employers to provide proper protections for workers.

Sonya Bohmann, Executive Director of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to continue our coverage of Mental Health Awareness Month. Bohmann discussed the proper ways to discuss mental health resources available to leaders and workers.
Zack Tanner, President of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh — a Local with The NewsGuild-Communication Workers of America — joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the announcement from Region 6 of the National Labor Relations Board that they would begin the process for seeking Injunctive Relief following the decision to dissolve by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 205.

To begin Mental Health Awareness Month, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, noted psychologist, program trainer and speaker, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the state of mental health awareness in America. She also spoke about how unions can provide care and access to mental health, including the Man Therapy campaign.
Dave Megenhardt, Executive Director of the United Labor Agency (ULA), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the ULA Counseling Center, improving access to mental health care and a shortage of mental health counselors.

Merrilee Logue, executive director of the Blue Cross Blue Shield National Labor Office (NLO), and Mikal Sutton, the managing director of Medicaid policy for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the process for Medicaid redeterminations and how Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies are working to give American’s access to coverage.
In honor of International Painters Appreciation Day, America’s Work Force Union Podcast spoke with the General President for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Jimmy Williams Jr. He gave an overview of the work done by the union in 2023, their strength in diversity and how the increase in work creates a greater opportunity to fix worker misclassification.