Episode Details

Two powerhouses of the American labor movement join the America’s Work Force Union Podcast today to discuss the evolving strategy of the AFL-CIO in the nation’s most critical political and economic hubs.

Segment 1: Organizing and AI in the Golden State

Lorena Gonzalez, President of the California Federation of Labor Unions, joins us to explain why California is the nation's primary testing ground for worker-friendly legislation. Gonzalez breaks down:

• The Enforcement Gap: Why strong labor laws don't matter without accountability for wage theft and safety violations.

• Organizing at Scale: How the federation added 100,000 members last year through initiatives like the UnionizeCalifornia.org portal.

• The AI Frontline: Setting guardrails on technology to prevent surveillance and the "deskilling" of the workforce.

Segment 2: Mobilizing the Midwest and Honoring the Fallen

Tim Burga, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, provides a status report on the labor-to-labor outreach program as Ohio heads into a high-stakes primary. Burga discusses:

• The Path to Power: Supporting union members running for office and cutting through "big money" with direct, workplace leafleting and door-to-door canvassing.

• Political Energy: Why affordability and federal labor attacks are driving record-breaking engagement among Ohio union households.

• Workers Memorial Day: A look back at the 1940 Willow Grove mine disaster and why the fight for on-the-job safety remains a personal and professional priority for the federation.

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