WEFT 90.1 fm

listener-supported, volunteer operated, community radio since 1981

Radio Free Labor
Saturday - 11:00 am

Radio Free Labor airs Saturdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. It's hosted by Gus Wood, Stephanie Fortado and Bob Paleczny. The show will discuss and debate current events, historical topics and political, economic, social and cultural aspects of working people across the world.

Shows are archived in mp3 format at 192kbps for fast downloads.

July 2025 shows

  • July 19, 2025 - Labor News.
  • July 12, 2025 - Labor News.
  • July 05, 2025 - Labor News (a rebroacast of the 6/7/25 show).

    • June 2025 shows

  • June 28, 2025 - Labor News.
  • June 21, 2025 - Labor News.
  • June 14, 2025 - Labor News.
  • June 07, 2025 - Movie Review "Sinners", Book Review "Class Warfare in Black Atlanta" by Augustus Wood, Labor News

    • May 2025 shows

  • May 31, 2025 - Dissecting Trump and House Republicans Big Criminal Bill, Labor News, Movie Reviews.
  • May 24, 2025 - Gus is traveling this week so it's Stephanie & Bob, labor news, New Jersey Transit update, House Republicans push through budget bill.
  • May 17, 2025 - Trump's bad week as Supreme Court rules against him on Alien Enemies Act, New Jersey transit engineers go on strike, RFK Jr. is this week's heel.
  • May 10, 2025 - Labor News, Steven Miller says the White House is looking at suspending habeas corpus.
  • May 03, 2025 - Steven Miller hints Trump might start using the National Guard to arrest and deport people, 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, what do McDonalds nuggets consist of?

    • April 2025 shows

  • April 26, 2025 - an encore presentation of our Oct. 19, 2024 show
  • April 19, 2025 - administration refuses to bring back Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Health & Human Services budget cuts, Supreme Court blocks further removal of citizens through Alien Enemies Act.
  • April 12, 2025 - UAW president Shawn Fein attempts damage control after supporting Trump tariffs, administration refuses to bring back Kilmar Abrego Garcia, replay of Cuban sugar cane revolution, replay of Women's History Month episode on Mary McLeod Bethune, movie review "Mindtrap".
  • April 05, 2025 - Babyface to billionaire JB Pritzker calling for folks to take to the streets in protest, tariffs will lead to the end of American excellence, UAW president Shawn Fein criticizes Stelantis seemingly supports Trump's auto tariffs, progressive Australian movie reviews.

    • March 2025 shows

  • March 29, 2025 - UAW president Shawn Fein supports Trump's tariffs on autos, MAGA = Make America White Again, Movie review "Picnic at Hanging Rock".
  • March 22, 2025 - Columbia University caves, Baby Face to Momodou Taal, Public Education in a Capitalist system, privatizing public assistance, German peasants war of 1525
  • March 15, 2025 - Steven Miller still orchestrating Trump administration's facist actions, Backbone less Senate Democrats pass Republican budget, Sugar cane workers and the Cuban revolution, Women's History Month featuring Mary McLeod Bethune
  • March 08, 2025 - Protests are working people are fighting back, UAW's Shawn Fein makes a heel turn, Women's History Month featuring Lucy Parsons
  • March 01, 2025 - Labor news, Trump task forceto investigate 10 universities for antisemitism, Behind The News segment on Eric Blanc's new book "We Are The Union: How Worker-to-Worker Organizing is Revitalizing Labor and Winning Big"

    • February 2025 shows

  • February 22, 2025 - Labor news, excerpts from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker State of the State address, article about Gus' involvement with ASALH, Black History Month segment about John Bracey Jr.
  • February 15, 2025 - Tariffs and their effects on the US economy, layoffs of federal employees, Gus talks about Carter G. Woodson starting Negro History Week in 1926 which develops into Black History Month.
  • February 8, 2025 - Steven Miller pulls Trumps's strings during the first few weeks in office, the history of DEI in the US, Gus talks about Carter G. Woodson starting Negro History Week in 1926 which develops into Black History Month.
  • February 1, 2025 - Bob reads an article from the Socialist Equality Party that summarizes the ghoul, Donald Trumps's 1st week in office, reruns of portions of February 2024 Black History Month shows on Black Film History.

    • January 2025 shows

  • January 25, 2025 - the 1st week of "the ghoul" Donald Trump's presidency as he starts to dismantle the federal government, LA fires and home prices, part two of film maker David Lynch.
  • January 18, 2025 - a critical look at Buffer Biden's presidency, a look back at French politician Jean-Marie Le Pen, part one of film maker David Lynch.
  • January 11, 2025 - Paul Mueth subs with 2 segments from Law and Disorder on labor issues, the second hour is 2 parts of Gus' history of Black film making.
  • January 04, 2025 - Look back at Jimmy Carter's life, Biden blocks Nippon Steel's proposed buyout of US Steel, 2024 Heels and Baby Faces.

    • December 2024 shows

  • December 28, 2024 - Republicans in disarray, Amazon and Starbucks strikes, economics of Hollywood, movie suggestion "Nosferatu".
  • December 21, 2024 - an encore presentation of our October 19, 2024 show.
  • December 14, 2024 - Time - Person of the Year, U of I Faculty Senate block honorary degree for Shahid Khan, deep dive into US health system, Senate NLRB vote, movie suggestion "The Order".
  • December 07, 2024 - a rebroadcast of the October 12, 2024 show.

    • November 2024 shows

  • November 30, 2024 - ...
  • November 23, 2024 - working class tears as some voters realize what deporting workers and tarrifs will do to prices, 24 hour general strike in Greece, media diverts attention with Tyson-Paul fight.
  • November 16, 2024 - a rebroadcast of our July 20, 2024 show (with very minor edits).
  • November 09, 2024 - decades of Democrats ignoring the working class, what do we do now, remembering Tony Todd.
  • November 02, 2024 - Fascists in the Republican Party, phone conversation with Colter a member of IAM Local 751 on the new TA with Boeing and Monday's vote, Union leadership and rank & file workers, gold and the weakening of the American dollar, movie reviews "House of Witchcraft" and "House of Lost Souls".

    • October 2024 shows

  • October 26, 2024 - Israel retaliates, Machinists with IAM Local 751 vote down the TA with Boeing, Satanic Panic, Shocktober movie review "Trick or Treat".
  • October 19, 2024 - remebering Jenny Barrett and Lilly Ledbetter, Marvin Gaye's album "What's Going On?", on the road with Gus, tentative agreement between IAM 751 and Boeing will be voted on Wednesday, Shocktober movie review "Cannibal Ferox".
  • October 12, 2024 - gender issues in the upcoming Presidential election, IAM 751 member Colter Arnold phones in with an update on Boeing strike, update on SEIU strike ending at U. of I., CWA strike ends in southeastern US, movie review "The People Under The Stairs".
  • October 05, 2024 - a rebroadcast of our July 20, 2024 show (with very minor edits).

    • September 2024 shows

  • September 28, 2024 - a rebroadcast of our August 17 , 2024 show (with very minor edits).
  • September 21, 2024 - University of Illinois, Labor & Employee Relations called out for poor bargaining with SEIU Local 73, Democrats have been lacking a backbone dealing with Republicans fascism and anti-immigrant stances.
  • September 14, 2024 - The nearly 800 Food Service and Building Service Workers, members of SEIU Local 73, at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign are planning to go on strike, conspiracy theories against Haitians in Springfield Ohio, Machinists go on strike against Boeing, anniversary of publishing "Capital".
  • September 07, 2024 - Federal trial begins in Tampa against the Uhuru 3 on charges of being "agents of a foreign government" (Russia), UAW secures union recognition at GM-LG battery plant in Tennessee, movie reveiw "Escape From The Bronx"

    • August 2024 shows

    • August 31, 2024 - analysis of Kamala Harris interview on CNN, possible strike among Boeing workers, preview of new movie "Reagan"
    • August 24, 2024 - Today on Radio Free Labor, schools are back in with a ton of repression against free speech, plus an analysis of the DNC, breaking labor news, Fannie Lou Hamer and the 1964 MFDP
    • August 17, 2024 - Gus goes through Bill Fletcher Jr.'s speech about our Cold Civil War and why this may truly be "the most important election ever", VP Harris' Economic Plan, Movie Review "Heathers"
    • August 10, 2024 - Racist violence in Britain, Layoffs & Job Cuts, Part 2 of Underground Hip-Hop
    • August 03, 2024 - July Jobs Report, Rachel & Danny update us on the proposed contract between Non-Tenure Faculty Coalition and U. of I. Board of Trustees, Labor News, Underground Hip-Hop

    July 2024 shows

    • July 27, 2024 - 7 International Unions sign letter to Biden to stop arms shipments to Israel, a Deep Dive into Kamala Harris some good and some bad, Labor News, Gavin Newsome is this week's Heel
    • July 20, 2024 - Remembering activist and writer Robert L. Allen, Labor News, Remembering union organizer and author Jane McAlevey
    • July 13, 2024 - why are the Democrats fighting amongst themselves, remembering Shelley Duvall
    • July 06, 2024 - Supreme Court's Immunity ruling, final wrap on Roger Corman movies

    June 2024 shows

    • June 29, 2024 - this week's Supreme Court decisions, Presidential debate, more Roger Corman movies
    • June 22, 2024 - various topics
    • June 15, 2024 - Orange County California judge ends University of California academics strike, Supreme Court decisions, Helen Gilbert calls in to talk about upcoming press conference in Washington D.C. "Labor takes action for Reproductive Justice, Pride month so we look at the history of the Lavender Scare in the 50's
    • June 08, 2024 - Food costs have skyrocketed, worker power on the killing floor in 1930's meat packing plants - PWOC and the CIO, DOJ files antitrust charges against Ticketmaster, more on film maker Roger Corman.
    • June 01, 2024 - Verdict in the Trump trial, on the ground reports from Mercedes vote against UAW in Alabama, more on film maker Roger Corman.

    May 2024 shows

    • May 25, 2024 - University of California academic workers strike in protest to the system's response to pro-Palistine demonstrations to expand to two additional campuses, Billy Bragg to give concert in Chicago.
    • May 18, 2024 - University of California academic workers vote to strike in protest to the system's response to pro-Palistine demonstrations, UAW loses vote to unionize Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama, remembering Roger Corman
    • May 11, 2024 - previous divestment movements, Anniversary of May 11, 1941 Belgium women strike against Nazi occupation during World War II, movie review - Amityville Island.
    • May 4, 2024 - current college encampments and the history of students pushes for change, will unions step up and join in, remembering Rico Wade, movie review - Civil War.

    April 2024 shows

    • April 27, 2024 - in-studio guest Theresa Dobbs of NTFC Local 6546 as the Non-Tenured Faculty enter into negotiations with the U. of I. oh and SEIU Local 73 also in negotiations, BSW workers, Labor News.
    • April 20, 2024 - Genocide in Gaza, US vetoes UN proposal, Labor News.
    • April 13, 2024 - an encore presention of a previous show, with a bit of a rough start.
    • April 06, 2024 - Study shows African-Americans get fewer kidney transplants Georgia Legislature passes anti-union bill, Michael Keaton movies, Wrestlemania Preview.

    March 2024 shows

    • March 30, 2024 - Ford Stellantis Deere all layoff workers, Oliver Cromwell Cox's book "Caste, Class and Race" compared to Isabel Wilkerson's book "Caste", Wendy's talks about dymnamic pricing, author Ayn Rand, new movie coming soon "BeetleJuice, BeetleJuice".
    • March 23, 2024 - Gus in Hollywood & IATSU, Minneapolis City Council passes minimum wage for Gig workers, Lyft & Uber say they're leaving, Neo-Confederate State of Texas, Jonathon Glazer and "Zone of Interest" fallout.
    • March 16, 2024 - a rebroadcast of the 2/17/24 RFL show with slight edits.
    • March 09, 2024 - Biden's State of the Union, Labor News, Bob Marley.
    • March 02, 2024 - Gaza Flour massacre, Labor News Starbucks & Google, Movie reviews.

    February 2024 shows

    • February 24, 2024 - Just the 2 of us, Stephanie & Bob (no Gus this week), Alabama & IVF, Labor News, Michigan repeals "right to work", History of NLRA & NLRB.
    • February 17, 2024 - Capitalism (AI) keeps workers underemployed, Teamsters IDOT Labor news, more Black Film history.
    • February 10, 2024 - Democrats fail on Border/Immigration Bill, UAW contract at Allison Transmissions, Oscar Micheaux & early Black Films.
    • February 03, 2024 - DeSantis sends Guard to Texas, Trader Joe's & NLRB, young Lenin, Oscar Micheaux.

    January 2024 shows

    • January 27, 2024 - Texas border lawsuits, Negro Seaman Act of 1822, Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Union Membership numbers.
    • January 20, 2024 - Teamsters Pres. Sean O'Brien meets with Trump, Auto layoffs, Movies.
    • January 13, 2024 - Gus' research in Mississippi, US bombs Yemen, movie review Godzilla Minus One
    • January 06, 2024 - a rebroadcast of the September 23, 2023 show, with minor edits

    December 2023 shows

    • December 30, 2023 - Maine rules Trump off 2024 ballot, Police shootings kill over 1200 in 2023
    • December 23, 2023 - a rebroadcast of the December 02, 2023 show
    • December 16, 2023 - Congress passes National Defense Authorization Act over 840 Billion dollars, Killer Santa Movies
    • December 09, 2023 - Democrats haven't supported Working Class people, Norman Lear
    • December 02, 2023 - Kissinger, Killers of the Flower Moon, Soviet Anti-War movies

    November 2023 shows

    • November 25, 2023 - Rising Fascism Worldwide, UAW SAG-AFTRA agreements, Holiday movie
    • November 18, 2023 - Biden's support of Israel, UAW SAG-AFTR agreements?, Thanksgiving movies
    • November 11, 2023 - Silencing Palastinian support, SAG-AFTRA TA, Regional horror movies Part II
    • November 04, 2023 - What is Bidenomics?, UAW and the TA's with the Big 3, Regional horror movies

    October 2023 shows

    • October 28, 2023 - Alienation and Oppression, UAW TA with Ford, Shocktober Korean Movies
    • October 21, 2023 - Hamas/Israeli War, SAG Strike, UAW Strike, Shocktober Movie Review "Day of Dead".
    • October 14, 2023 - UAW strike, Patrick McGinty Author of the book "Test Drive", rebroadcast of the 2nd hour of 50 Years of Hip-Hop
    • October 07, 2023 - Hamas/Isreal, UAW strike, Shocktober Movie Review

    September 2023 shows

    August 2023 shows

    July 2023 shows

    • July 29, 2023 - UPS/Teamsters reach Tentative Agreement, Labor News, Netanyahu
    • July 22, 2023 - Florida's revision of rascist history, Hollywood strike, Labor news
    • July 15, 2023 - Actors join Hollywood strike, Bastille Day
    • July 08, 2023 - Jenin, Teamsters/UPS, Alabama Prisons, Mutulu Shakur
    • July 01, 2023 - Supreme Court decisions, Labor issues, Peter Cushing

    June 2023 shows

    May 2023 shows

    April 2023 shows

    March 2023 shows

    February 2023 shows

    January 2023 shows

    December 2022 shows

    November 2022 shows

    October 2022 shows

    September 2022 shows

    August 2022 shows

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    June 2022 shows

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    April 2022 shows

    March 2022 shows

    February 2022 shows

    January 2022 shows

    December 2021 shows

    November 2021 shows

    October 2021 shows

    August 2021 shows

    July 2021 shows

    June 2021 shows

    May 2021 shows

    April 2021 shows

    March 2021 shows

    February 2021 shows

    January 2021 shows

    December 2020 shows

    November 2020 shows

    October 2020 shows

    September 2020 shows

    August 2020 shows

    July 2020 shows

    Link to 2016 and earlier World Labor Hour shows

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