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Season 6, Episode 66

Frank Mathews on Labor's big win in Wisconsin Supreme Court

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Frank Mathews

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CWA District 4 

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Frank Mathews, Administrative Director for District 4 of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the recent judicial victory in Wisconsin, the role of labor in political advocacy and the implications of tariffs on working families.

District 4 of the CWA is comprised of over 200 Locals across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. These Locals represent workers in telecommunications, informational technology, publishing, print and electronic media, manufacturing, higher education, local government and health care.

Mathews said the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court election marked a pivotal moment for labor unions. He discussed the importance of this win, noting that it prevented a potential rollback of workers' rights and underscored the power of organized labor in shaping political outcomes. According to Mathews, the CWA, alongside other labor organizations, played a crucial role in mobilizing voters and educating them on the stakes involved.

By focusing on member education and engagement, unions effectively countered the significant financial influence of figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump. Mathews pointed out that the election served as a referendum on anti-union policies, with voters rejecting attempts to undermine collective bargaining and worker protections. He said the victory highlights the critical role of labor in defending and advancing the interests of working families.

Finally, Mathews shared his concern over the lack of a coherent strategy from the Trump administration, noting that abrupt policy shifts create uncertainty and hardship for workers. He argued that while tariffs are intended to protect domestic industries, they often result in unintended consequences that harm the very communities they aim to support. Mathews said there needs to be thoughtful, targeted economic policies that prioritize the well-being of working families.

Listen to the full episode above to hear more from Mathews.


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.

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