EP 5: Jon Young of Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council Of Carpenters

In this episode, Anthony and Cyndie sit down with Jon Young, newly appointed Political Director of the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters. With nearly 30 years of experience in the labor movement and public service, Jon shares his powerful journey from working construction in Camden to leading policy for one of the most influential unions on the East Coast.Jon also reflects on his time as a Camden County Commissioner and how partnerships with local schools are shaping future trade workers. If you’ve ever wondered how unions truly transform lives or what it takes to create lasting change in underserved communities, this conversation is a must-listen.https://eascarpenters.org/https://cctmarketing.org/00:00 – Intro 01:03 – Meet Jon Young: Political Director, Commissioner, Advocate 02:24 – If you only knew one thing about the trades… it’s integrity 03:16 – The two biggest misconceptions about union construction 04:38 – Programs that promote diversity and access in the trades 06:56 – Las Vegas training stories and union leadership impact 09:11 – Jon’s journey: from non-union laborer to union leader 15:50 – The link between policy and good jobs 16:18 – How Project Labor Agreements benefit communities 18:36 – Defining success through “the dash” and impact 21:25 – The fight against wage theft and modern-day slavery 24:29 – Educating policymakers and students about labor history 26:25 – External vs internal challenges: wage theft vs aging out 28:44 – How unions support families, not just workers 30:18 – Reclaiming the labor movement’s story and relevance 31:12 – Partnering with vocational schools to build the pipeline 35:19 – Mentorship, expectations, and equity in recruiting 37:19 – Support systems, career pathways, and higher ed access 38:33 – Final thoughts and why representation matters