KQED's Forum Federal Workers Face New Round of Layoffs as Labor Rights Under Attack
Oct 20, 2025
William Gould IV, Professor emeritus at Stanford Law School and former chair of the National Labor Relations Board, shares insights on the current challenges facing federal workers. He discusses the impact of recent layoffs and the political attacks on labor rights, stressing the importance of grassroots organizing. Gould reflects on his career as the first Black professor at Stanford Law and offers thoughts on racism in unions, legal battles, and necessary reforms. His new memoir reveals personal anecdotes that shaped his journey in labor law.
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Roots Of A Lifelong Commitment
- William Gould recounts his family and church upbringing shaping his commitment to justice and public service.
- He connects his great-grandfather's escape from slavery and his father's experiences with discrimination to his legal career.
Formative Moments That Shaped A Career
- Gould describes watching the McCarthy Army hearings and Brown v. Board of Education as formative moments that pushed him toward law.
- He recalls summer work as a laborer and mentorship by a professor leading him into labor law and unions.
A Long Downward Arc Intensified
- Gould argues the Trump administration has been uniquely hostile to unions and labor protections.
- He sees this as part of a longer decline starting in the late 1970s and 1980s but intensified recently.
