In a powerful new episode of The Manufacturing Report podcast, Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), brings us the stories of factory workers from across the nation. These interviews, conducted by AAM team members Megan Hasse and Jennifer Snyder, offer a glimpse into the lives and perspectives of the people at the heart of the organization’s mission to strengthen American manufacturing.
From the steel mills of Indiana and Ohio to the mines of Utah and the paper plants of Oregon, these workers share a common thread: pride in their work, their communities, and the power of American industry.
Arvela Greenlaw, a second-generation steelworker at Cleveland Cliffs in Burns Harbor, Indiana, speaks to the importance of union jobs for women, families, and entire communities. “Even though my children are grown now,” she says, “the benefits that they even get and then my grandchildren from me working in the mill in a union, is absolutely a lot of pride. I love my USWs.”
In Utah, Holland Fabula of Rio Tinto Mining Facility underscores the significance of his workplace to the local economy and the nation as a whole, supplying 14% of US copper. He also highlights the challenges in reviving American manufacturing and the need for policymakers to support sustainable jobs.
It’s kind of crazy to think that we can just pop up all these manufacturing companies at the drop of a dime, and it’s not going to happen. That takes a lot of time, takes a lot of money, and it takes a lot of licensing and planning to get those plants up and running. It’s huge to have any business in this country right now that’s currently here and operating.
Across the country in Oregon, Terry Gourley shares the family history and camaraderie that define her experience at Georgia Pacific, where good benefits and rising wages support rural communities and prevent job loss overseas.
James Evanoff of Cleveland Cliffs in Ohio speaks to the skilled and educated workforce in manufacturing, encouraging both educational paths and direct entry into factory careers. And in Colorado, fourth-generation steelworker Chuck Perko of Rocky Mountain Steel expresses his pride in making products that drive America and his hope for the future as a new rail mill project promises to sustain his historic facility for another 50-75 years.
“There is no shame in a factory job. This facility has been in operation since 1872. We are the heart of that city. If that steel mill were to shut down, as it almost did in the 1980s, it definitely will drive our economy into the ground. Thankfully, we’re building a new rail mill on the side that will drive us for another 50 to 75 years. Happy to be a part of that.”
Through these voices, the podcast paints a vivid picture of American manufacturing as a source of pride, community, and economic vitality. It’s a reminder of the human stories behind the products we rely on every day, and the importance of policies that support and strengthen this critical sector.
To hear more stories like these and learn about AAM’s work to keep manufacturing Made in America, visit americanmanufacturing.org and subscribe to The Manufacturing Report wherever you get your podcasts.
