--- title: AFL-CIO's Jody Calemine on workers' rights amid federal attacks description: The America’s Work Force Union Podcast is the nation’s premier daily labor program. Jody Calemine from the AFL-CIO joined us on today’s show. image: https://awf.labortools.com/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/featured%20images/AFL-CIO-featured-Image.png --- 1 min read Season 6, Episode 37 # AFL-CIO's Jody Calemine on workers' rights amid federal attacks [ awfblog ](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/author/awfblog) February 20, 2025 [America's Work Force Union Podcast](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/americas-work-force-union-podcast) [AFL-CIO](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/afl-cio) [AWF](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/awf) ![AFL-CIO-Logo_400x400](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/AFL-CIO-Logo_400x400.jpeg?width=400&height=400&name=AFL-CIO-Logo_400x400.jpeg)   Guest Name: --- Jody Calemine Guest Website: --- [AFL-CIO](https://aflcio.org/)  Guest Social Media: --- [ Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/aflcio) [ Twitter](https://twitter.com/AFLCIO) Supportive Documents: --- Jody Calemine, the [AFL-CIO](https://aflcio.org/MadeInAmerica)'s Director of Advocacy, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the labor federation's response to recent attacks on federal workers and agencies, the ongoing legal battles against executive orders and the potential impact on workers' rights and public services. The AFL-CIO recently launched the [Department of People who Work for a Living](https://deptofpeoplewhowork.org/?source=website) in response to Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Calemine explained that this initiative aims to give working people a voice in policy discussions and counter-proposals from billionaires. According to Calemine, the department will push for an efficient, effective government that is responsive to working people's needs. He said the department would operate contrary to DOGE's agenda, which raised concerns about data privacy and the dismantling of critical community services. Calemine highlighted the legal challenges the AFL-CIO is pursuing against recent executive orders that threaten workers' rights and federal agencies. He emphasized the lawlessness of actions that ignore existing laws and regulations, necessitating court intervention to enforce workers' rights. Calemine also discussed the potential consequences of proposed budget cuts, particularly in areas like Medicaid, which could lead to reduced access to healthcare and economic devastation in poorer rural areas. Finally, Calemine discussed the attacks on key labor institutions, including the Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board. Calemine expressed concern over DOGE's attempts to access sensitive worker data and the recent firing of NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox, which has effectively disabled the board's ability to issue decisions. He stressed the importance of maintaining the independence of these agencies and protecting workers' organizing and collective bargaining rights. Listen to the full episode to hear more from Calemine on the AFL-CIO's efforts to protect workers' rights and public services. --- America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues. America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ##### SUBSCRIBE ON: --- [![Group 342](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png?width=171&name=Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/id1511224946) [![Group 341](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Spotify%20Button-Dark.png?width=100&name=Spotify%20Button-Dark.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/0GzkHxFSBxiXvuX0lZpQBn) [![Group 343](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20343.png?width=135&name=Group%20343.png)](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast-62567752/) [![Group 339](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20339.png?width=110&name=Group%20339.png)](https://www.pandora.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/PC:47979) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20397.png?width=125&name=Group%20397.png)](https://americasworkforceradiopodcast.podbean.com/) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YouTube_button.png?width=125&name=YouTube_button.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQo1PAtRAel1_tS7-PQOkA)   #### [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/brotherhood-of-railroad-signalmen-on-the-union-pacific-merger-threat) : July 6, 2026 # Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat Brandon Elvey, Secretary-Treasurer of the [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen](https://www.brs.org/),... 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