Broadcast’s AI Threat vs. The Largest Union Surge in 16 Years

The broadcast industry is facing a "gut punch," but the labor movement is punching back. In today’s episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed "Flash" Ferenc navigates the two-sided reality of the 2026 labor landscape: an industry in crisis and a workforce in ascent. Segment 1: The Fight for the Voice of Journalism Mary Cavallaro, Chief Broadcast Officer for SAG-AFTRA, delivers an unflinching look at the wave of layoffs sweeping through Nexstar and the shocking closure of the 100-year-old CBS News Radio. The AI Threat: How "voice cloning" and generative AI are targeting the identities of correspondents and DJs. The Severance Standard: Why union contracts are the only thing standing between a worker and a financial crisis during consolidation. A Message to Non-Union Workers: Why SAG-AFTRA is opening its doors to those without a contract. Segment 2: By the Numbers—The Union Renaissance Margaret Poydock, Senior Policy Analyst at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), joins us to reveal the blockbuster 2025 union membership data. Despite a hostile federal environment, the numbers are the highest they’ve been since 2009. The Southern Surprise: Why nearly half of all new union growth is happening in the South. Gen Z & Millennials: Breaking down the 72% favorability rate among young workers who are "done" with the status quo. The Representation Gap: 50 million workers want a union but can’t get one—how states are bypassing federal gridlock to fix it. Links & Resources: Learn more about SAG-AFTRA: sagaftra.org Read the full EPI report: epi.org Subscribe for more: awf.labortools.com