Michael D. Yates, Elise Gould, and Tom Webb

Friday August 7, 2009

Michael D. Yates, author of “Why Unions Matter,” will appear this week on AFGE’s “Inside Government” radio show to discuss the role of unions in the U.S.

Yates will discuss his book, and some of its major themes including union organizing, collective bargaining, and strategies for forming a union. Yates also will share his thoughts on the Employee Free Choice Act and how it will strengthen the labor movement in the U.S. Listeners also will learn why public sector unionization has increased, and what the private sector must do to increase its membership as well.

But first, hear from Economic Policy Institute Director of Health Policy Research Elise Gould and AFGE Social Security Administration (SSA) Local 3615 President Tom Webb. Gould will analyze health care reform and address the possible taxation of employer-sponsored health care benefits. She’ll also comment on where the small business community fits into the health care reform debate.

Webb then will discuss Local 3615’s victory to secure an increase in transit subsidy benefits for SSA employees in the Washington, D.C. area. The benefit now provides SSA employees the same subsidy amount as other federal workers in the region.