--- title: U.S. needs to prioritize domestic production of defense items description: Tom Buffenbarger, an independent labor voice, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the advantage of fulfilling the nation’s military needs domestically, especially in light of the tragic war in Ukraine. image: https://awf.labortools.com/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/Imported_Blog_Media/awf-blog-featured-image-v2-1-Apr-29-2022-03-08-56-82-PM.jpg --- 1 min read Season 3, Episode 56 # U.S. needs to prioritize domestic production of defense items [ awfblog ](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/author/awfblog) March 24, 2022 [America's Work Force Union Podcast](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/americas-work-force-union-podcast) [AWF](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/awf) ![AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_default](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_default.png?width=400&name=AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_default.png) Guest Name: --- Tom Buffenbarger Guest Website: --- Guest Social Media: --- Supportive Documents: --- Tom Buffenbarger, an independent labor voice, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the advantage of fulfilling the nation’s military needs domestically, especially in light of the tragic war in Ukraine. The war in Ukraine has made it clear why “Buy America” campaigns are critical to maintaining domestic independence, Buffenbarger said. The U.S. military relies on a significant portion of products and weapons made outside of the U.S. He questioned what would happen if the U.S. suddenly came under trade embargoes or sanctions, or if a country producing these goods suffered a catastrophic event or became our enemy. The U.S. needs to maintain or develop the ability to manufacture its defense items domestically, Buffenbarger added. He also spoke about the need to support fellow union Brothers and Sisters in Ukraine, a country with strong union membership. Lastly, Buffenbarger discussed the Federal Railway Labor Act, which prevents rail workers from going on strike. Poor working conditions caused many workers to leave the railway industry, which further exacerbated the nation’s supply chain problems, he said. Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics: --- 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. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ##### SUBSCRIBE ON: --- [![Group 342](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png?width=171&name=Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/id1511224946) [![Group 341](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Spotify%20Button-Dark.png?width=100&name=Spotify%20Button-Dark.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/0GzkHxFSBxiXvuX0lZpQBn) [![Group 343](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20343.png?width=135&name=Group%20343.png)](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast-62567752/) [![Group 339](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20339.png?width=110&name=Group%20339.png)](https://www.pandora.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/PC:47979) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20397.png?width=125&name=Group%20397.png)](https://americasworkforceradiopodcast.podbean.com/) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YouTube_button.png?width=125&name=YouTube_button.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQo1PAtRAel1_tS7-PQOkA)   #### [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/brotherhood-of-railroad-signalmen-on-the-union-pacific-merger-threat) : July 6, 2026 # Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat Brandon Elvey, Secretary-Treasurer of the [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen](https://www.brs.org/),... 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