Pat Gallagher, representing the North Coast Labor Federation, discussed the critical need for American shipbuilding, the impact of tariff uncertainty on industries and the importance of labor-friendly candidates in local elections. He highlighted the Ships for America Now Act, reflected on the legacy of former United Steelworkers president Leo Gerard and emphasized the significance of union representation in political offices.
Gallagher stressed the urgency of passing the Ships for America Now Act to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry. He pointed out the stark contrast between America's 80 ships flagged for international commerce and China's 5,000, underscoring the need for immediate action to rebuild America's shipbuilding infrastructure. Gallagher discussed the bipartisan support for the bill and its potential to create jobs and strengthen America's position in global trade.
The conversation turned to the impact of tariff uncertainty on American industries. Gallagher explained how the constant flux in tariff policies creates hesitation among businesses to make long-term investments, potentially costing jobs and hindering economic growth. He called for a normalization of tariff situations to provide the certainty needed for prudent business decisions and to safeguard American jobs in steel, auto and other major industries.
Gallagher also highlighted the importance of electing labor-friendly candidates in local elections. He discussed specific races, including Davida Russell's campaign for mayor of Cleveland Heights and Danny Kelly's bid for re-election to the Cleveland City Council. Gallagher emphasized how having union members and labor-friendly individuals in elected positions can significantly impact working people's causes, citing Kelly's successful efforts to ensure 100 percent union labor for the new Cleveland Cavaliers facility.
Listen to the full episode for more about the critical issues facing American labor and industry.
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.
