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 increase in retirements at Georgia Tech—and discuss the irony of a Board of Regents that joins meetings via video call while denying those same remote options to their workforce.

We dive deep into:

• How a "Right-to-Work" state organizes without collective bargaining rights.

• The "Defend Remote Work" campaign and the push for a $41,000 living wage.

• The upcoming legislative strategy to legalize public sector bargaining in Georgia.

• Why the RTO mandate is driving a "brain drain" across Atlanta’s major universities.

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 senators like Steve Daines (R-MT) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) changed the momentum for this energy-saving bill.

In this episode, we also break down the "Four Pillars" of labor currently facing coordinated attacks in Congress:

• Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage: Why it’s a consumer protection, not just a union benefit.

• Registered Apprenticeships: The fight to maintain elite training standards against low-road competition.

• Housing Project Definitions: How anti-union interests are trying to "redefine" their way out of fair wages.

• Project Labor Agreements (PLAs): Why these agreements are the gold standard for staying on time and under budget.

Ielmini also looks toward the future of work, discussing the massive manhour opportunities in data center construction and the emerging wave of energy generation infrastructure.

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 standards, with some workers seeing 9 percent raises.

• The CML Fight: An update on the Columbus Metropolitan Library union election and why management-led delays are a hurdle for workers.

• Education Reform: A look at the new national higher education blueprint and first-ever contracts at Menlo Park Academy and CCAD.

In our second segment, we pivot to the entertainment industry with Kerri Wood Einertson, Executive Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for SAG-AFTRA.

• Tax Credit Victory: How California doubled its film and TV tax credit to $750 million, and why expanding to animation and competition shows is a game-changer.

• The LA Rollback: A look at Mayor Karen Bass’s executive order to reduce filming fees at iconic locations like the Griffith Observatory.

• The Federal Push: Why SAG-AFTRA is moving toward a stackable federal incentive to ensure American productions can compete with international subsidies and keep 50,000+ background performers working.

Subscribe to AWF: Never miss an episode where we go behind the scenes of the labor movement. Visit us online: awf.labortools.com

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 mission is clear: ensure the workers who build the future aren't left behind by it.

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed “Flash” Ferenc sits down with Sean McGarvey, President of the North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU), for an unfiltered look at the state of the industry in 2026.

McGarvey discusses the critical intersection of labor and technology, including:

• The OpenAI Partnership: A deep dive into the $500 billion infrastructure commitment and how it places union crafts at the center of the AI revolution.

• A "Rite of Spring" in D.C.: The goals of the 2026 NABTU Legislative Conference and why bipartisan engagement remains the union's strongest tool.

• The Apprenticeship Boom: Why 300,000+ workers are currently in the pipeline and how NABTU added 47,000 net new members in 2025 alone.

• Infrastructure at a Crossroads: A candid look at why projects funded by the CHIPS Act and IRA are stalling—and how the building trades are fighting back in the courts.

• The Missing Federal Plan: Why McGarvey is demanding a long-range, bipartisan strategy to support and transition workers displaced by artificial intelligence.

"The physical work of building, maintaining, and powering AI infrastructure cannot be automated away... but the transition for the broader workforce needs a plan from the government, and it needs it now." — Sean McGarvey

• Website: awf.labortools.com

• Follow us: Be sure to subscribe for daily interviews with the leaders and activists building worker power across America.

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 ability for different medical systems to share patient records seamlessly.

Hedges shares a moving personal story about navigating a fragmented system to save her own mother’s life, illustrating why BCBS is building a new interoperability hub to give physicians a real-time view of a patient's history. We also dive into the impact of electronic prior authorization, which has already shown the potential to resolve 84 percent of cases instantaneously and improve provider efficiency by up to 230 percent. Finally, the pair discusses the responsible deployment of Artificial Intelligence and the continued expansion of telehealth and behavioral health services for workers facing shift-work barriers.

Segment 2: Steel Benchmarks, Trade Enforcement, and the Ohio Primary In our second segment, Pat Gallagher, President of the North Coast Area Labor Federation, breaks down the economic signals heading into a pivotal bargaining season for the United Steelworkers. With hot-rolled coil trading above $1,000 per ton, the industry is entering a strong financial position just as contracts with Cleveland-Cliffs and U.S. Steel are set to expire on September 1.

Gallagher also addresses the complexities of trade enforcement and the upcoming USMCA renegotiations, highlighting how "trade cheating"—such as routing Chinese steel through third countries—undercuts American workers. Looking toward the May 5 Ohio primary, Gallagher emphasizes the importance of electing labor voices to the statehouse, backing a slate of union candidates including Davida Russell (AFSCME), Scott Demaro (OHEA), and Brian Poindexter (Ironworkers).

Subscribe to the America’s Work Force Union Podcast for more interviews with the leaders and organizers building worker power across America.

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 facing volunteer honor guards. With over 500,000 veterans passing away annually, Stoffer discusses the urgent need for volunteers to ensure every veteran receives their final salute. Finally, we take a look back at "Doom 34," the record-breaking 35-hour B-52 mission that signaled the start of Operation Desert Storm.

Segment 2: The Fight for Medicare & Social Security Rich Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, brings a warning regarding the WISeR pilot program. This initiative is quietly introducing AI-driven prior authorization into traditional Medicare across six states, leading to early reports of care delays and denials. Fiesta explains why this administrative shift—done without a vote in Congress—is a threat to the fee-for-service model seniors rely on.

Fiesta also provides updates on:

• Social Security Data Security: The ongoing legal battle over the handling of sensitive beneficiary information.

• Tax Confusion: Clarifying the reality of Social Security tax credits versus permanent tax elimination.

• Legislative Action: The push by Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Greg Landsman to halt the WISeR pilot before it expands nationwide.

Show Links & Resources:

• Learn more about the American Legion: Legion.org

• Advocate for retirees: RetiredAmericans.org

• Subscribe to the AWF Union Podcast for more labor news and veteran advocacy.

“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 expensive media scripts. We dive into the core of his platform: wages, healthcare and retirement security—issues that impact every working family regardless of party registration.

Key highlights from this episode include:

• The Path to the Middle Class: How a union apprenticeship at age 27 changed Poindexter's life and why he wants to expand that ladder for all workers.

• A Record of Action: His work in Brook Park opposing so-called “Right-to-Work” and using technology to increase civic transparency.

• The 7th District Map: Why Poindexter believes political operatives are wrong about Ohio’s 7th and how a pro-worker message can win in suburban and rural communities alike.

• Major Endorsements: The momentum behind his campaign, including support from the Ohio AFL-CIO, UAW, IAM, Sen. Bernie Sanders and more.

• The Brook Park Stadium: His perspective on the economic impact and the thousands of union construction jobs tied to the project.

Whether you're in the trades or want a government that prioritizes work over wealth, this conversation is a masterclass in grassroots labor politics.

Learn more at: https://poindexterforcongress.com/

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 ground game for candidates like Brian Poindexter and Adam Miller, Frank breaks down how member education is driving turnout. Plus: A critical procedural warning for union households on why you must verify your voter registration status now to avoid Election Day surprises.

Segment 2: Do You Have Free Speech at Work? with Andrew Strom Most Americans assume the First Amendment follows them into the office, but labor lawyer Andrew Strom reveals a blunt reality: for most private-sector workers, that promise stops at the time clock. Andrew explains the legal gap between public and private employment and why "at-will" work leaves many employees vulnerable to discipline for their personal opinions. We dive into the "just-cause" shield found in union contracts, the rise of social media risks, and why state laws like Connecticut’s offer a blueprint for protecting worker expression without disrupting business operations.