Silica Safety Milestones & The Defense Capacity Questions

The America’s Work Force Union Podcast tackles two of the most pressing issues facing the modern industrial landscape: the long-term health of construction workers and the strategic strength of our national defense. Segment 1: 10 Years of Silica Progress Lily Calderon, Health and Safety Director for the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC), joins us to mark the 10th anniversary of the OSHA silica rule. We discuss how the BAC turned a hidden hazard into a regulated standard, the importance of engineering controls like HEPA vacuums, and why "Table 1" guidance needs an update to reflect modern jobsite technology. Segment 2: Defense Capacity & The Skilled Labor Gap Retired IAM Union International President Tom Buffenbarger breaks down why massive defense budgets won’t fix production shortages without a skilled workforce. We explore the erosion of the industrial base, the critical need for apprenticeships in precision machining, and how artificial intelligence is reshaping aerospace manufacturing and strategic planning.