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Season 6, Episode 105

Ironworkers Local 8’s BM discusses union growth and upcoming events

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Guest Name:


Charlie Falkner

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Ironworkers Local 8 

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Charlie Falkner, Business Manager of Ironworkers Local 8 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the union's growth, upcoming events and industry challenges.

Ironworkers Local 8 is home to about 1,000 active members and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisc. Local 8 serves Eastern Wisconsin and the entirety of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. According to Falkner, Local 8's apprenticeship program is thriving, with approximately 240 apprentices across their jurisdiction. He highlighted the impact of recent infrastructure bills, which have led to significant bridge work and other projects. He noted that including apprenticeship language in legislation has been crucial, requiring a certain percentage of workers on projects to be registered apprentices.

Organizing remains a priority for Local 8, with three full-time organizers dedicated to bottom-up and top-down approaches. Falkner acknowledged challenges in the current political climate, including changes at the National Labor Relations Board that have made organizing more difficult. Despite these obstacles, the Local continues to focus on recruitment, with Falkner emphasizing the importance of honest communication about the physical demands of ironworking. He added that the benefits offered to members of Local 8 also help with their efforts, ensuring members are cared for physically and mentally for their entire career.

Local 8 is preparing for its 125th anniversary celebration in 2026, with plans for a major celebration in Milwaukee. Falkner revealed ongoing discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers about involving them in the festivities. Among other upcoming events, Local 8 will also organize a Union Day at the Brewers' stadium on July 13. Through events like these, Falkner said, members can honor fallen ironworkers and celebrate union solidarity.

Listen to the full episode for more insights from Falkner on union growth, industry demands and union initiatives.


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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