Frank Mathews, Administrative Director, CWA District 4 | Tim Driscoll, President, Bricklayers

This week on America’s Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed "Flash" Ferenc speaks with two guests about the state of labor at the end of 2023 and the challenges ahead for 2024. In the first segment, Flash welcomes Frank Matthews, Administrative Director of CWA District 4, who discusses the union's organizing efforts and recent victories. Matthews highlights the successful organizing of workers at a Wells Fargo bank branch in New Mexico, a historic win as it was the first employee union at a major U.S. bank. He notes that the CWA's model of organizing, which involves members texting and talking to each other, is crucial for reaching a diverse workforce, including remote and teleworking employees. Matthews also addresses the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, sharing that CWA members at a large company successfully negotiated contract language that creates a joint labor-management committee to study the effects of AI on their jobs. Later, Flash is joined by Tim Driscoll, President of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC). Driscoll discusses the challenges and opportunities facing the construction industry. He highlights a recent partnership with the International Masonry Institute and the National Training Fund to create a "masonry skills challenge" for high school students, aiming to attract the next generation of bricklayers. Driscoll also talks about the BAC's work with the Biden administration to protect domestic manufacturing, which he says is crucial for national security and for providing good jobs for American workers. He addresses the growing use of non-union contractors on construction jobs and the need for stronger laws and regulations to protect workers from wage theft and unsafe working conditions. TIMESTAMPS 0:00-Introduction and Sponsor: LiUNA 1:23-Introducing Frank Matthews, CWA District 4 3:54-Introducing Tim Driscoll, Bricklayers President 4:30-In the World of Labor: Ohio State University announces a new contract with Communications Workers of America 6:56-Starbucks workers organize in Cleveland, OH 8:45-Sponsor: LiUNA 12:54-Frank Matthews on the CWA's organizing model and the Wells Fargo union victory 16:16-The CWA's fight for fair contracts and worker protections in the face of AI 19:02-The importance of member-to-member organizing and leadership development 23:09-Tim Driscoll on the Bricklayers' masonry skills challenge for high school students 25:52-The BAC's efforts to fight for American manufacturing and combat non-union contractors 28:34-The role of unions in protecting workers from wage theft and unsafe working conditions 30:57-Sponsor: LiUNA 34:11-Frank Matthews on the CWA's fight for fair wages and work-life balance 38:39-The CWA's successful negotiation of contract language to address the impact of AI 42:30-The importance of unions for a more just and equitable society 45:48-Outro SPONSORS & GUESTS Thank you to LiUNA for sponsoring today's episode. Learn more at https://www.liuna.org. Frank Matthews: Administrative Director, CWA District 4. Find out more at https://www.cwa-union.org. Tim Driscoll: President, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC). Find out more at https://www.bacweb.org. FIND US ON SOCIAL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWFUnionPodcast/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/AWFUnionPodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/awfunionpodcast/ LISTEN ON OTHER PLATFORMS Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/id1511224946 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GzkHxFSBxiXvuX0lZpQBn?si=8dcd24e399864ca2&nd=1&dlsi=485ea907a980479e Podbean: https://americasworkforceradiopodcast.podbean.com/ iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-americas-work-force-union-62567752/ Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/PC:47979 #UnionStrong #CWA #Bricklayers #LaborMovement #WorkersRights #UnionPodcast #FrankMatthews #TimDriscoll #WellsFargo #AI #Organizing #BAC #LiUNA