‘State of the Unions’: An AFL-CIO Podcast

Working America: A Conversation with AFL-CIO's Community Affiliate

March 18, 2020: Julie and guest co-host Carolyn Bobb sat down with Matt Morrison, executive director of Working America, to discuss how the community affiliate is mobilizing millions of workers who lack union representation.

Special Episode: Coronavirus and the Labor Movement's Response

March 4, 2020: Tim and Julie sit down with M.K. Fletcher, AFL-CIO Safety & Health Specialist to talk all things coronavirus (COVID-19), what the labor movement is doing and how we are responding to ensure the needs of frontline workers are taken care of.

Redux: Can't Stop. Won't Shop. Stories from a UFCW Picket Line

Feb. 19, 2020: A look back at last year's wave of collective action and revisiting an April 2019 episode where Julie and Tim talk to Kristen Johnson, a deli manager and shop steward at the Stop & Shop in Somerville, Massachusetts, about the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) strike for fair pay, benefits and respect on the job.

A Refugee's Journey: A Conversation With AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre

Feb. 5, 2020: Tim talks with AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre about his journey from being an Ethiopian refugee to success in the labor movement in Orange County, California, and Washington, D.C., and the people and institutions that helped him along the way.

Healing a Community: A Conversation with Rev. Leah Daughtry of Reconnecting McDowell

Jan. 22, 2020: Julie and Tim talk to Rev. Leah Daughtry, CEO of "On These Things," about Reconnecting McDowell, a project of the American Federation of Teachers that takes a holistic approach toward revitalizing the education and community of McDowell, West Virginia, and how her faith informs her activism.

Collective Heroism: A Conversation with Fire Fighters President Harold Schaitberger

Jan. 8, 2020: Julie and Tim talk to International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Harold Schaitberger about its one-of-a-kind behavioral health treatment facility, the toll of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on firefighters and their families, the response of the IAFF in its wake, and the life of a firefighter.

A Year of Progress: Our Favorite Episodes of 2019

Dec. 25, 2019: Julie and Tim take a look behind the scenes of "State of the Unions" and chat with the team that makes the podcast about their favorite episodes of 2019.

The Far Right Today: A Conversation with Political Scientist Cas Mudde

Dec. 11, 2019: AFL-CIO International Director Cathy Feingold joins Tim to talk with professor Cas Mudde, a political scientist at the University of Georgia. about his new book, "The Far Right Today," which looks at the resurgence of right-wing politicians and activists across the globe, much of it cloaked in populist, worker-friendly rhetoric.

A Future Where People Will Have Jobs: A Conversation with International Labour Organization Director-General Guy Ryder

Nov. 26, 2019: Tim talks to Guy Ryder, the director-general of the ILO about the international labor movement, the idea of "decent labor" and the future of work.

Serving Those Who Served: A Conversation with Union Veterans Council Executive Director Will Attig

Nov. 13, 2019: Julie and Tim talk with Will Attig about his work connecting the labor movement and the veterans community.

Flexing Labor's Muscle: A Conversation with Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (Wisc.)

Oct. 30, 2019: Tim talks to union member and Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (Wisc.) about strikes, trade, health care, LGBTQ equality and the freedom to form a union.

Out of the Woods: A Maine Member's Journey from Logging to Senate President

Oct. 16, 2019: Julie and Tim talk to Maine Senate President Troy Jackson (IUPAT/IAM) about his path to power and the experiences that have shaped his life and career.

Dignity of Work: A Conversation with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown

Oct. 2, 2019: Julie and Tim talk to U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (Ohio) about worker power, automation, trade and his decision to stay in the Senate.

A Huge Deal: Workers Win Big in California

Sept. 18, 2019: Julie and Tim check in with Industrial Union Council Executive Director Brad Markell about the UAW strike at GM and interview UC Hastings Associate Law Professor Veena Dubal, whose work helped pave the way for the passage of AB 5, landmark pro-worker legislation in California.

Humble Courage and 90210: A Conversation with SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris

Sept. 4, 2019: Julie and Tim talk to SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris about the future of work, sexual harassment and her journey from young actor to labor leader.

Save Our Apprenticeships: A Conversation with North America's Building Trades Unions Chief of Staff Mike Monroe

Aug. 21, 2019: Tim talks to NABTU Chief of Staff Mike Monroe about a Department of Labor proposal that would undermine world-class apprenticeships in the construction industry.

Special Episode: The Labor Movement Responds to the El Paso Massacre

Aug. 7, 2019: Julie and Tim talk with Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Montserrat Garibay in the wake of the deadly mass shooting in El Paso. They discuss immigration, organizing and the need for solidarity in times of darkness.

Taking Risks to Organize: A Conversation with UNITE HERE President D. Taylor

July 24, 2019: Julie and Tim talk to UNITE HERE President D. Taylor about the activism of airline catering workers and the need for the labor movement to take more risks.

Demanding Better: AFL-CIO Trade Tour Highlights

July 10, 2019: Over three days in June, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka held town halls in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Detroit to talk with workers about the future of NAFTA. Listen to some of the highlights from that conversation.

Winning the Future: A Conversation with AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler

June 26, 2019: Julie and Tim talk to AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler who is pushing the labor movement to be bold, take risks and not be afraid of failure.

Union Proud: A Conversation with Pride at Work Executive Director Jerame Davis

June 12, 2019: Julie and Tim talk with Pride at Work Executive Director Jerame Davis as the AFL-CIO constituency group celebrates its 25th anniversary. They discuss the progress made by LGBTQ working people over the past quarter-century and the work still left to be done.

A Union Organizer Goes to Washington: In Depth with Rep. Andy Levin

May 31, 2019: Julie and Tim talk to Congressman Andy Levin (D-Mich.), a former AFL-CIO employee, and career union organizer and activist. They discuss labor law reform, trade, and the path to power for working people in Michigan and across the country.

Confronting the Health Care Crisis: A Conversation with NNU Executive Director Bonnie Castillo, RN

May 15, 2019: Tim talks to National Nurses United Executive Director Bonnie Castillo about the growing movement of registered nurses organizing for better jobs, a more just society and health care as a fundamental human right.

Not Good Enough: A Conversation on NAFTA with AFL-CIO Trade Policy Specialist Celeste Drake

May 1, 2019: Julie and Tim talk to Celeste Drake, AFL-CIO's trade policy specialist, about the flaws in the proposed new NAFTA and outlines how current and future trade agreements can meet the labor movement's high standards for working people.

Special Episode: Can't Stop. Won't Shop. Stories from a UFCW Picket Line

April 17, 2019: Julie and Tim talk to Kristen Johnson, a deli manager and shop steward at the Stop & Shop in Somerville, Massachusetts. Kristen, along with more than 30,000 of her co-workers and members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) are out on strike for fair pay, benefits and respect on the job.

#StampOutHunger: A Conversation with the National Association of Letter Carriers

April 3, 2019: Tim talks with NALC Executive Vice President Brian Renfroe and Assistant to the President for Community Services Christina Vela Davidson about #StampOutHunger, the annual one-day drive, which has collected more than one billion pounds of food for the hungry.

House Blue Collar Caucus

March 20, 2019: Julie and Tim talk with Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) and Marc Veasey (D-Texas), co-chairs of the House Blue Collar Caucus, which they formed following the 2016 election to better connect with blue collar workers. They say the path to a stronger America runs through the labor movement.

A Conversation with Teen Vogue Labor Columnist Kim Kelly

March 6, 2019: Julie and Tim talk with Kim Kelly, labor columnist at Teen Vogue and former music editor at VICE. She shares her journey from humble beginnings in rural New Jersey to writing for a publication that reaches millions, and provides insight into her experience forming a union at VICE, radical political activism and her desire for young people to challenge capitalism in today's economy.

Black History Month: A Conversation with IUPAT General President Kenneth Rigmaiden

Feb. 20, 2019: Julie and Tim talk with Kenneth Rigmaiden, general president of the Painters and Allied Trades. He details his journey from a floor-covering installer to the highest ranks of the labor movement, his experiences with racism and discrimination, the opportunities he seized, and his commitment to the next generation of union members, activists and leaders.

In-Depth with Kooper Caraway, 28-Year-Old Labor Leader from South Dakota

Feb. 6, 2019: Julie and Tim talk with Kooper Caraway, the dynamic, 28-year-old president of the Sioux Falls Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. Caraway offers ideas for how the labor movement can reach young people, recounts his own activist history and informs Tim that millennials don't use the word "cool."

Honoring Dr. King's Legacy: A Special Conversation with Andrew Gillum

Jan. 23, 2019: Julie and Tim talk with Andrew Gillum, the former Tallahassee mayor and 2018 Democratic nominee for Florida governor, who calls himself a "living, breathing, walking, talking result of [Dr. King's] legacy." Gillum shares his experiences on the campaign trail and previews the important fights ahead on voting, worker and civil rights.

2018 Episodes

Dec. 26, 2018: Year in Review: Collective Action on the Rise
Julie and Tim review the issues and figures that shaped the labor movement in 2018.

Dec. 12, 2018: Aviation's First Responders
Julie and Tim cover the recent worker victories at Marriott and speak with Association of Flight Attendants-CWA International President Sara Nelson.

Dec. 5, 2018: Special Episode: What's Wrong with GM?
In this special episode, Julie and Tim speak with the veteran autoworker and director of the Working for American Institute, Brad Markell, about the plant closures and layoffs at General Motors.

Nov. 28, 2018: 'I've Never Been More Optimistic'
Julie and Tim put a bow on the 2018 midterm elections and chat with AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.

Nov. 14, 2018: Midterms Debrief
Julie and Tim interview Rep. Conor Lamb (Pa.) on the outcome of the 2018 midterm elections and what issues and policies he would like the new Congress to tackle.

Oct. 31, 2018: Union Members in Public Office
Julie and Tim discuss the upcoming 2018 midterm elections and speak with Dahlia Vertreese, union member and mayor of Hillside, New Jersey.

Oct. 17, 2018: Speaking Truth to Power
Julie and Tim discuss Christine Blasey Ford's testimony and talk with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha about the Flint, Michigan, drinking water crisis.

Oct. 17, 2018: Introducing 'State of the Unions': An AFL-CIO Podcast
Join co-hosts Julie Greene and Tim Schlittner for the first episode of our new podcast, "State of the Unions."