Twenty-five years after September 11, LaborForce Media is launching Labor’s 9/11 Legacy, a new podcast series dedicated to preserving an essential part of the 9/11 story: the role of union members, first responders, workers, and leaders who helped New York respond, recover, and rebuild.
Hosted by New York attorney and broadcaster Arthur Aidala, the series brings listeners directly into firsthand conversations with people who lived through September 11 and the extraordinary months and years that followed.
The podcast is free to listen to and available wherever you get your podcasts, as well as through LaborForceMedia.com.
The Labor Story Behind September 11
Much of the history of September 11 understandably focuses on the attacks themselves. But the story did not end when the towers fell.
In the hours, days, months, and years that followed, thousands of working people answered the call.
Firefighters and police officers rushed toward danger. Construction workers and skilled tradespeople brought their expertise to Ground Zero. Operating engineers moved debris. Ironworkers cut through twisted steel. Electricians, laborers, truck drivers, sanitation workers, public employees, and countless others became part of the recovery effort.
They searched. They cleared. They hauled. They repaired.
And eventually, they rebuilt.
Labor’s 9/11 Legacy was created to make sure those stories remain part of the historical record.
“Twenty-five years later, we have a responsibility to preserve these stories while the people who lived them are still here to tell them,” said Kerri O’Brien, Co-Founder and CEO of LaborForce Media. “The labor story is an essential part of the 9/11 story. Thousands of men and women brought their skills, courage and sense of duty to one of the most difficult recovery efforts in American history. Their experiences deserve to be remembered by the generations that follow.”
Firsthand Conversations With the People Who Were There
Each episode is built around the personal experiences of the guest rather than a traditional historical timeline.
Featured conversations include Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York; Sal Cassano, former FDNY Fire Commissioner; Ray Kelly, former New York City Police Commissioner; Peter King, former U.S. Congressman from New York; and Mike Bove, whose experience reflects the role of New York sanitation and recovery workers in the aftermath of the attacks.
Through these conversations, Aidala explores what guests remember about September 11, what they witnessed, how people responded, and what it took to carry New York forward.
The series also looks beyond the immediate rescue and recovery effort. Episodes touch on the long-term health consequences faced by responders and recovery workers, the years of advocacy that followed, the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan, public safety, leadership, and the sense of unity that emerged during one of the most difficult periods in American history.
For Aidala, the series is personal.
“Like so many New Yorkers, I remember exactly where I was on September 11th, and I lost a close friend that day,” Aidala said. “These conversations are about more than looking backward. They are about remembering the courage, sacrifice and resilience of the people who carried New York forward, and making sure their stories are not lost.”
Rescue. Recovery. Rebuilding.
The legacy of September 11 is not only the story of one day.
It is the story of the people who responded immediately.
It is the story of the workers who remained at Ground Zero throughout the recovery and cleanup.
It is the story of the men and women who restored critical services and infrastructure.
And it is the story of the union trades and working people who helped rebuild New York and demonstrate to the country that the city would rise again.
“This is a union story, a New York story and an American story,” O’Brien said. “It reminds us what ordinary people are capable of when service, skill and shared purpose become more important than our differences.”
For LaborForce Media, the project reflects a broader commitment to preserving and amplifying labor stories through multiple media channels.
“Labor’s 9/11 Legacy is exactly the kind of story LaborForce Media was created to tell,” said Darren Yelin, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of LaborForce Media. “These are powerful firsthand conversations with people who helped carry New York through an extraordinary period in our history. By bringing these voices together through podcasting, digital media, radio and social platforms, we can make sure the stories reach not only the people who remember September 11th, but also younger generations who need to understand what happened afterward and who made the recovery possible.”
What Does “Never Forget” Mean 25 Years Later?
A central theme of Labor’s 9/11 Legacy is the meaning of the phrase “Never Forget.”
Twenty-five years later, remembrance means more than honoring one day on the calendar.
It means preserving firsthand accounts. It means remembering the workers who served and sacrificed. It means recognizing those who later faced serious health consequences because of the work they performed. And it means making sure future generations understand not only the tragedy of September 11, but also the extraordinary human response that followed.
Remember the people. Preserve their stories. Honor their service. Carry the legacy forward.
Via Benefits Supports Labor’s 9/11 Legacy
Via Benefits is a Supporting Sponsor of the series.
Via Benefits helps organizations support retirees, active employees, and individuals through individual health insurance enrollment, funding, and benefits administration solutions, combining personalized guidance with integrated technology and account administration.
Support from sponsors such as Via Benefits helps LaborForce Media preserve these firsthand stories and bring them to audiences across the country.
Listen to Labor’s 9/11 Legacy
New episodes of Labor’s 9/11 Legacy will continue to be released throughout the series.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts:
Or listen and learn more at:
Share Your 9/11 Labor Story
Were you, your union, or someone you know involved in the rescue, recovery, cleanup, or rebuilding following September 11?
LaborForce Media wants to hear from you.
We are working to preserve the firsthand stories of the workers, union members, first responders, and families whose experiences are part of this history.
About LaborForce Media
LaborForce Media is a labor-focused news and media platform dedicated to covering the people, organizations, issues, and developments shaping working America.
Through original reporting, interviews, podcasts, digital media, special projects, events, and media partnerships, LaborForce Media works to elevate labor and workforce stories and connect them with broader audiences.
LaborForce Media is also the media partner behind The Daily Jolt with Rick Smith, a radio and podcast program focused on the news, issues, and conversations affecting working people across America.
Tags: 9/11, Labor's 9/11 Legacy, Union Workers