1 min read

Season 6, Episode 37

AFL-CIO's Jody Calemine on workers' rights amid federal attacks

AFL-CIO-Logo_400x400

 

Guest Name:


Jody Calemine

Guest Website:


AFL-CIO 

Guest Social Media:


Facebook

Twitter

Supportive Documents:


Jody Calemine, the AFL-CIO'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 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.

SUBSCRIBE ON:

Group 342

Group 341

Group 343

Group 339

Group 397

Group 397

 

AFL-CIO launches Department of People who Work for a Living

America's Work Force Union Podcast featured a special announcement from Liz Shuler, President of the AFL-CIO, where she outlined the launch of the...

Read More

AFL-CIO's Jody Calemine on workers' rights amid federal attacks

Jody Calemine, the AFL-CIO's Director of Advocacy, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the labor federation's response to recent...

Read More

Richard Mack on federal worker firings and union rights

Richard Mack, a labor attorney with Miller Cohen, P.L.C., joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the recent upheaval in federal...

Read More