Episode Details

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 Council, discusses a record-breaking apprenticeship outreach event that drew nearly 1,000 people—including 100 non-union workers—lining up for careers in the trades. We also dive into the data center boom, accounting for 40% of regional man-hours, and the critical May 5 Ohio Primary races, where labor-friendly candidates are on the ballot.

Segment 2:

A National Warning with Fred Redmond

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond joins us to break down the 2026 "Death on the Job" report. With 15 workers dying daily in the U.S., Redmond issues a frank assessment of how current federal OSHA rollbacks are putting lives at risk. We also get an update on new United Steelworkers General President Roxanne Brown’s early leadership as she navigates high-stakes lockouts at NIPSCO and BP Whiting.