{"id":10035,"date":"2023-11-20T12:23:54","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T18:23:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/?p=10035"},"modified":"2023-11-28T14:45:52","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T20:45:52","slug":"union-strong-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/2023\/11\/20\/union-strong-live\/","title":{"rendered":"Union Strong LIVE!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Union Strong LIVE!<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

October 20, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n

\"WCPT<\/p>\n

OAK BROOK\u2014 When Chicago Labor leaders recently joined forces on WCPT 820 AM<\/a><\/span><\/strong> for a 2-hour candid discussion covering organized labor topics, you\u2019re going home with A LOT<\/em> of information.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Oct. 18 broadcast of WCPT\u2019s Union Strong LIVE was the first to be broadcast in front of a live audience in years at the Oak Brook-based Roofers and Waterproofers Local 11.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Hosts Joan Esposito and Santita Jackson questioned several panelists on topics ranging from workforce development, qualifications for a Union apprenticeship, retention and pensions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"WCPT<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all here to help people understand what the trades do, what Unions do and why working collectively makes us all stronger,\u201d said Jackson to applause from the live audience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Labor panelists were: Roofers and Waterproofers Local 11 President\/Business Manager Gary Menzel; SMART Local 265<\/a><\/strong><\/span> President\/Business Manager John Daniel; Megent Financial<\/a><\/strong><\/span> Co-CEO Ron Whittingham; Chicago Federation of Labor<\/a><\/strong><\/span> President Bob Reiter and CFL Secretary Treasurer Don Villar; CISCO ED Dan Allen and Education-to-Careers Director Jamillah Muhammad; CTU<\/a><\/strong><\/span> Legislative\/Policy Director Kurt Hilgendorf, University of Illinois Chicago Professor of Labor and Employment Relations Dr. Bob Bruno<\/a><\/strong><\/span> and Illinois Economic Policy Institute<\/a><\/strong><\/span> Executive Director Josh Weger.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Professor Bob Bruno, Professor of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois Chicago, explained how Unions have built a pathway to a prosperous middle class by providing its members with higher wages, employer paid health care and defined pension plans.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"WCPT
Panelists started the live broadcast discussing the economics behind Unions and the value they bring members in terms of benefits and pensions.<\/strong> Photo courtesy of CISCO<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThis allows for home ownership, a more valuable home, and more options for your children to make their own American dream,\u201d Dr. Bruno said. \u201cWithout this Union Premium, you\u2019re going to have folks less able to live their American dream,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n

SMART Local 265<\/span> President John Daniel added to the discussion by bringing up the additional benefits a Union provides with pensions and health care.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHealth care is a huge added value Unions have done right \u2014 as well as pensions. Union pensions create a level of dignity, so that as our members retire, they can enjoy the fruits of their labors,\u201d Daniel added.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first step to these benefits is acceptance into a Union Apprenticeship program, which CISCO Executive Director Dan Allen likes to call the \u201cBachelor\u2019s Degree of the building construction trades.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"WCPT
CISCO Executive Director Dan Allen calls Union Apprenticeship programs the “Bachelor’s Degree of the building construction Trades.<\/strong> Photo courtesy of CISCO<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Every trade has its own Apprenticeship training program teaching individuals with a combination of classroom training, and paid, on-the-job training \u2014 which comes from the contractor you are hired by.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cApprenticeships are an actual <\/em>way to a free education, and you are paid to receive that education. At the same time, you are getting benefits you need \u2014 like health care and a pension,\u201d explained CISCO Education-to-Careers Director Jamillah Muhammad.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAn Apprenticeship is the best thing that can happen to you, but you have to understand what Apprenticeships are, and you have to know what your strengths and skill sets are, so you choose the right Union for you. I always say, \u2018you can\u2019t do what you can\u2019t see,’\u201d Muhammad added.<\/span><\/p>\n

See below for more photos from the WCPT Union Strong LIVE!<\/em> event<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"WCPT
At the end of the live broadcast, both hosts and panel members were all smiles for a successful show. Pictured, from left, are WCPT host Joan Esposito, SMART Local 265 President John Daniel, Roofers and Waterproofers Local 11 President\/Business Manager Gary Menzel, CISCO Executive Director Dan Allen, Chicago Federation of Labor Secretary Treasurer Don Villar, CISCO Education-to-Careers Director Jamillah Muhammad and WCPT host Santita Jackson.<\/strong> Photo courtesy of CISCO<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"WCPT
In the second hour of the broadcast panelists, from left, Roofers and Waterproofers Local 11 President\/Business Manager Gary Menzel and CISCO Education-to-Careers Director Jamillah Muhammad, discuss the Apprenticeship process and their curriculum.<\/strong> Photo courtesy of CISCO<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Union Strong LIVE! October 20, 2024 OAK BROOK\u2014 When Chicago Labor leaders recently joined forces on WCPT 820 AM for a 2-hour candid discussion covering organized labor topics, you\u2019re going home with A LOT of information. The Oct. 18 broadcast of WCPT\u2019s Union Strong LIVE was the first to be broadcast in front of a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[47,46,45],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Jennifer","author_link":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/author\/jennifer\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Union Strong LIVE! October 20, 2024 OAK BROOK\u2014 When Chicago Labor leaders recently joined forces on WCPT 820 AM for a 2-hour candid discussion covering organized labor topics, you\u2019re going home with A LOT of information. The Oct. 18 broadcast of WCPT\u2019s Union Strong LIVE was the first to be broadcast in front of a…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10035"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10035"}],"version-history":[{"count":54,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10035\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10102,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10035\/revisions\/10102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10035"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10035"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10035"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}