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/ltgovernorhttps://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