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Season 6, Episode 20

Tom Buffenbarger shares his thoughts on the future of workers’ rights

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Guest Name:


Tom Buffenbarger

Guest Website:


Machinists Union 

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Tom Buffenbarger, former International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to share his insights on the evolving landscape of labor rights and the challenges posed by the new Trump administration.

As the former International President of the Machinists Union, Buffenbarger has navigated numerous political landscapes, working with various presidential administrations to advance the interests of organized labor. In his experience, a new president can create new challenges for labor to overcome.

Buffenbarger expressed concern about the potential rollback of labor protections under the new administration, drawing parallels to the early days of the previous Trump presidency. He highlighted the risk of diminished enforcement of safety and health regulations, which could lead to increased workplace injuries and fatalities. Buffenbarger warned that agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be crucial in safeguarding worker safety.

He also reflected on the historical context of labor relations and noted some of the bipartisan efforts of past administrations to support workers’ rights. Buffenbarger recalled the presidency of Richard Nixon, a Republican, who signed the law establishing OSHA. To address potential challenges, Buffenbarger advised labor leaders and workers to build alliances and engage with all policymakers. This will ensure the interests of organized labor are represented in legislative decisions.

To hear more on Buffenbarger’s perspective on the future of workers’ rights, listen to the full show above.


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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