EP 14: Lt. Governor Austin Davis

Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis joins Anthony and Cyndie to discuss how unions power the middle class and why the state is investing heavily in apprenticeships and workforce development. Raised in a union family, Davis shares how organized labor shaped his path and how it continues to drive economic opportunity and community stability across the Commonwealth. He outlines new funding for career-technical education, the $20B Amazon data-center project with $10M in targeted workforce development, and Pennsylvania’s approach to balancing business growth with worker protections.

https://www.pa.gov/ltgovernor

https://eascarpenters.org/

https://cctmarketing.org/

00:00 – Opening and show setup with Anthony and Cyndie
07:41 – Introduction of Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis
08:23 – Austin shares how his union upbringing shaped his values and opportunities
09:55 – How unions create generational wealth and family stability
11:57 – The origins of workers’ rights: weekends, work hours, and safety from union advocacy
12:42 – The ongoing fight to protect organized labor and resist “right to work” efforts
13:38 – Growing up in McKeesport and seeing how unions built stable communities
14:40 – Pennsylvania’s investment in workforce development and apprenticeships
15:48 – Expanding career and technical education to meet the state’s labor demand
16:38 – Balancing business growth with worker protections under the Shapiro administration
17:05 – The $20B Amazon data center investment and workforce development funding
18:27 – Pennsylvania’s commitment to clean and renewable energy projects
19:07 – Bipartisan efforts to speed energy and infrastructure development
20:22 – Bringing both parties together under a shared “Pennsylvania jersey”
21:32 – How cooperation across political lines benefits workers and families
22:22 – The future of organized labor and new union movements across industries
23:46 – Rising union popularity and rebuilding the middle class across all sectors
24:09 – Closing remarks and appreciation for Austin Davis’s leadership