Episode Details

In this action-packed episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we tackle the legislative and local battles shaping the lives of industrial workers in the Midwest and beyond.

Segment 1: Policy and Pathways with U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) joins the show to discuss her "worker-centered" agenda in Washington. As the lead sponsor of the LEAP Act, Budzinski explains how bipartisan tax incentives can expand registered union apprenticeships, providing a debt-free route to the middle class.

• The Battle for Granite City: An update on the ongoing fight to secure long-term investment for U.S. Steel’s Granite City Works.

• Fair Trade: Why the upcoming USMCA review is a critical moment for domestic manufacturing and trade enforcement.

• The $15 Minimum Wage: Lessons learned from her time leading wage negotiations in Illinois.

Segment 2: Contract Victories with Pat Gallagher Pat Gallagher, President of the North Coast Labor Federation, breaks down major developments for the United Steelworkers (USW).

• Libbey Glass Ratification: More than 1,000 workers in Toledo have officially ratified a new agreement, ending a five-month strike marked by hedge fund pressure and demands for concessions.

• Oil Sector Bargaining: The latest on the tentative agreement with Marathon, designed to set the "pattern" for safety and wage standards across the industry.

• Global Steel Overcapacity: A look at how the Congressional Steel Caucus is addressing the 700-million-ton global surplus that threatens U.S. jobs.

Key Topics Covered:

• Registered Apprenticeships (LEAP Act)

• United Steelworkers (USW) Contracts

• Toledo Libbey Glass Strike Resolution

• Pattern Bargaining in the Oil Industry

• USMCA Trade Review and Steel Dumping