Can Unions Live without the National Labor Relations Act? A Roundtable Discussion

Can Unions Live without the National Labor Relations Act? A Roundtable Discussion

Author: KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Community Radio October 16, 2025 Duration: 1:00:02
Since 1935, the rules for union organizing and bargaining for most private sector companies have been set by the National Labor Relations Act. Since 1935 corporate America has repeatedly undermined and weakened labor law so that now both Trump and the Supreme Court are poised to kill or paralyze it. We’ll have a roundtable discussion on where we are with labor law and where we can go if unions and workers find ourselves without enforceable rights to organize and bargain. Guests are Peter Olney, former organizing director of the West Coast Longshore Union, Lynn Reinhart, former chief counsel for the AFL-CIO now with the Economic Policy Institute, and Bill Fletcher Jr., author, labor educator and former assistant to the President of the AFL-CIO to weigh in Our feature is Know Your Rights with Michael Amash.

Drawn from the archives of the long-running radio program, the Heartland Labor Forum podcast brings you direct, unfiltered conversations about work, power, and the fight for dignity on the job. Produced by KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Community Radio, this series stands as the city's sole dedicated program focusing entirely on the workplace. It’s a space where workers' voices take center stage, offering perspectives often missing from mainstream news. Each episode digs into the real stories shaping labor in the Heartland and beyond, from local organizing drives and contract battles to national policy debates that impact everyday lives. You’ll hear from union members, organizers, journalists, and workers in non-unionized settings, all sharing experiences that clarify, motivate, and sometimes rightly anger. This isn't theoretical commentary; it's grounded reporting and analysis that speaks directly to the challenges and triumphs of working people. Tune in for a podcast that cuts through the noise, providing essential listening for anyone who earns a paycheck and wants to understand the forces that shape it. The archive is rich with history and immediacy, ensuring every discussion-whether from last week or last year-remains urgently relevant.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Heartland Labor Forum
Podcast Episodes
Public Transit Union Fights Service Cutbacks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:58
The union of bus drivers in Kansas City local 1287 of the Amalgamated Transit Union or ATU is bogged down in negotiations with the Area Transportation Authority or ATA amidst […] The post Public Transit Union Fights Serv…
The Best of 2024 of the Heartland Labor Forum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:09
As we begin the new year, we look back at highlights from the Heartland Labor Forum in 2024. We’ll hear clips of some of the most interesting interviews, features, and […] The post The Best of 2024 of the Heartland Labor…
Heartland Labor Forum’s Annual Crystal Ball Show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:59
Anticipation or dread, what’s YOUR prediction for 2025? Will the current upsurge in support for unions and worker organizing continue, or will the next administration squash labor rights? Will threats […] The post Heartl…