Brown Releases New Episode of “Canarycast,” Focused On Importance of Unions to Building Strong Middle Class

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) released the third episode of his podcast, “Canarycast.” The latest episode is titled, “When Workers have a Seat at the Table, Everyone Prospers,” and features discussions with AFSCME President and Ohio native Lee Saunders and Mt. Vernon worker Jeana Campolo, who cares for several developmentally-disabled Ohioans and is an AFSCME member. 

Download Canarycast, Episode 3, “When Workers have a Seat at the Table, Everyone Prospers”:

• iTunes here
• Soundcloud here

Brown talks with Saunders and Ms. Campolo about the importance of workers having a seat at the table and a voice in the decisions that are made about their lives and their work. They discuss the Supreme Court case Janus vs. AFSCME, which is the latest attempt to chip away at workers’ power in the workplace. If the Supreme Court rules against the union in this case, it will limit workers’ freedom to organize and to advocate for themselves.

Last year, Brown introduced legislation, The Protecting Workers’ Freedom to Organize Act, to update and strengthen the outdated National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to protect workers’ rights to collectively bargain, even if they have been misclassified by their employer.

“When workers do well because they have a voice to fight for higher pay and better working conditions through their union – when those workers do well, everyone does better,” said Brown. “Our economy grows when workers have more money in their pockets. That’s how we build a strong middle class.”

Brown’s podcast is named Canarycast, a nod to the canary pin Brown wears on his lapel instead of the official Senate pin. An Ohio steelworker gave Brown the pin. He wears it as a reminder of the progress the country has made since the days when the only thing coal miners had to protect them was a canary – and all the work still left to do to ensure American workers are valued.   

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