On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we were joined by Will Lindsay, Local Chair in Illinois with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWED), a division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Lindsay’s story is one of resilience and transformation, having started his career in carpentry, then finding his way into music and bartending before forging a path as a union railroad worker and community advocate.
After spending years in non-union construction, followed by a career as a musician and then a bartender, Lindsay transitioned to the railroad industry, thanks to a friend's recommendation. Once hired by Metra, he became involved in his union, attending meetings, engaging with coworkers and eventually being elected Local Chair. For Lindsay, the BMWED was truly life-changing, not only providing him with benefits he previously lacked, such as health insurance, paid leave and job security, but also immersing him in a supportive network of solidarity and advocacy. He credits the union for transforming his quality of life and providing opportunities that were previously unavailable to him.
Lindsay then discussed several significant legislative challenges that public transit workers face in Illinois. He played a hands-on role in organizing and participating in multiple lobbying trips to the state capitol with members from various transit and rail unions. These efforts aimed to ensure continued funding for critical transit agencies, such as Metra, CTA and PACE, which were facing potential service cuts without legislative action. Lindsay said the advocacy coalition emphasized not only the importance of transit for daily commuters but also the livelihoods of thousands of union workers whose jobs depended on stable funding.
Ultimately, they helped secure a significant legislative victory through the Labor Alliance for Public Transportation (LAPT) Campaign. The passage of a funding bill preserved essential services for riders and protected union jobs, while also laying the groundwork for future infrastructure improvements and expanding the rail network. Lindsay said his ongoing role as a union organizer, communicator and mentor to younger workers reflects his belief in the importance of collective action and workplace solidarity. He said his journey is a testament to how union engagement can empower individuals and drive positive change for entire communities.
For more from Lindsay, listen to the full episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast 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.
