1 min read

Season 4, Episode 11

U.S. government to replace dam operators with remote technology

IFPTE

 

Guest Name:


Matt Biggs and Gay Henson

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www.ifpte.org

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International Federation of Professional Technical Engineers International President Matt Biggs and Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed IFPTE’s efforts to prevent on-site U.S. dam operators from being replaced by remote technology.

The U.S. government wants to move the operation of dams online in order to reduce labor costs and save taxpayer money, but Biggs warned the benefits will not outweigh the potential risks.

The IFPTE cautions the government's plan to replace on-site, in-person dam operators with remote controls will leave U.S. energy infrastructure vulnerable to cybersecurity threats, destroy jobs and decrease waterfront safety. Briggs said the union will continue to battle with Congress until they consider limiting funds used for future remote operation. 

Henson then discussed recent progress the IFPTE made in organizing non-profits. She is excited to see younger generations fight for the right to have a voice in their workplace.

Listen to today’s 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.

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