On the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, retired International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) International President Tom Buffenbarger joined host Ed “Flash” Ferenc to assess the economic and labor impacts of broad tariffs, cross-border supply chains and rising unionization. Buffenbarger argued that sweeping tariffs function as a consumer tax that can raise prices on essentials, disrupt relationships with key trading partners and inject instability into retirement accounts tied to market performance.
Buffenbarger also pointed to new union membership gains — including among federal workers and younger workers — as evidence that workers are turning to collective action when job security and workplace fairness feel uncertain. Throughout the discussion, Buffenbarger framed unions as a stabilizing force that can protect wages, benefits and dignity as the economy and technology continue to change.
A retired leader of one of North America’s largest industrial unions is warning that broad tariffs can hit working families twice: first at the checkout counter and then in the form of economic instability that threatens job security.
Tom Buffenbarger, who served 18 years as International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast as an independent labor voice to discuss trade policy, cross-border manufacturing and the latest data showing union representation rising to its highest total in more than a decade.
Buffenbarger’s message was rooted in a machinist’s view of the economy: production is interconnected, supply chains are real, and policy choices quickly translate into changes in the cost of living.
Buffenbarger argued that tariffs have moved from an obscure policy tool to a headline issue because of their immediate impact on prices.
In his assessment, broad tariffs imposed across major trading partners do not stay at the border. They flow through the economy as added costs on imported goods and components, which businesses typically pass along to consumers.
He pointed to everyday categories that can be affected in a globalized economy — food, vehicles, appliances and even pharmaceuticals — and emphasized that working families feel those increases first. For unions, he said, rising prices can erase wage gains and intensify pressure at the bargaining table.
Buffenbarger drew a distinction between targeted tariffs designed to address specific trade harms and broad tariffs applied as a sweeping economic weapon.
He referenced prior labor support for narrowly focused trade enforcement in sectors such as steel and shipbuilding, where unions have argued that unfair trade practices can undercut domestic production and eliminate good jobs.
But he warned that across-the-board tariffs can create collateral damage. When tariffs are applied broadly, he said, they can destabilize industries that rely on imported machine tools and specialized equipment — inputs that remain essential to U.S. manufacturing capacity.
Buffenbarger emphasized that North American manufacturing is deeply integrated, particularly between the United States and Canada.
He described the two economies as intertwined in automotive and aerospace production, where components and subassemblies frequently cross borders before final assembly. In that environment, he said, sudden cost penalties can make planning difficult for employers and unions alike.
For unions with membership on both sides of the border, the concern is not only economic. It is also about reliability and stability — the conditions needed for predictable investment, steady production and meaningful collective bargaining.
Buffenbarger also highlighted the role of machine tools and industrial equipment in sustaining domestic production.
He noted that the United States imports significant quantities of specialized manufacturing tools from long-standing trading partners. Those inputs, he argued, are not luxuries — they are part of the backbone that allows factories to meet production needs.
His broader point: if the goal is to strengthen domestic manufacturing, policy must be paired with an industrial strategy that rebuilds capacity rather than simply raising costs.
The conversation also turned to new unionization figures cited on the program: 16.5 million workers represented by a union, an increase of 463,000 year over year and the highest total in 16 years.
Buffenbarger framed the increase as a response to pressure. When workers feel they have been pushed to the edge — by insecurity, unfair treatment or unpredictable economic policy — they look for a structure that can protect them.
In his view, collective action remains the most effective way to secure fairness at work and to defend jobs when employers or markets shift.
Buffenbarger pointed to the federal sector as a key driver of new union membership.
The Machinists Union includes a significant federal workforce presence, including through its affiliation with the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE). Buffenbarger said many federal employees are represented by unions but do not always join. That dynamic can change quickly when workers feel their rights and job security are under threat.
He described a trend of increased membership as workers seek representation, due process, and protection amid heightened uncertainty.
Buffenbarger also welcomed the growth of union coverage among younger workers and argued that the labor movement must embrace new ideas.
He said younger workers bring different perspectives on workplace expectations, technology and communication — and that unions need those perspectives to adapt.
He also flagged emerging questions about artificial intelligence and automation, arguing that unions must be prepared to bargain over how new technology is deployed, how jobs are redesigned and how workers are trained for new roles.
Across the discussion, Buffenbarger returned to a consistent theme: workers are stronger together.
He argued that an individual worker rarely has enough leverage to secure fairness on their own, especially in volatile economic conditions. Collective bargaining, by contrast, creates a unified voice that can negotiate wages, benefits, safety standards and job protections.
For Buffenbarger, the recent unionization gains are not an anomaly. They are a signal that workers are rediscovering a basic truth — solidarity is practical.
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